The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-15

Stl ND6SA1SAASAs
a " permitted to go to our lines to
get food. The plight Of these helpless
people is ~heartrending. The Americans
are doing all they can for them"
FIGHTING WITH LION-LIKE
SPIRIT.
Headquarters of General Shafter,
Sunday, July 10, s p. m, per Associat-
ed Press Dispatch Boat, via Kings
ton, jamaica, July IL, Noon.-From 4
o'clock this afternoon until dark the
American guns have again been pour
ing deadly fire into the Spanish mes.
Our men are greatly refreshed by
their three days rest and have been
fighting with lion-like spirit. The
knowledge of the arrival Of reinforce
ments gives them new enthusiasm. The
artillery is in place and doing effective
work. The fire from the Spaniards in
the trenches is very weak.
The city of Santiago is almost in
darkness tonight and our men believe
that the resistance of the Spaniards is
about at an end. They expect a gen.
eral assault tomorrow, should the city
not have surrendered by day break.
The Americans are now much better
fortified in the trenches.
At General Skaters Headquarters,
July 10, via Port Antonio, July IL
Deserters from the Spanish ranks this
morning included a non-commissiOned
officer. He said that the situation in
Santiago was bad, but by no means
hopeless from the Spanish point of
view. He said troops had food enough
for their present needs, were in good
health, and would make a good fight
when they were called upon. He said
the men were given 81 each on Satur-
day, and as it was the first money
they had received in many months
they were feeling very cheerful. The
water supply for the Spanish troops
is getting quite bad and the amount
of it is somewhat limited, although
up to this time there a been on Sc
riOuS distress on this account.
DesertiOns from the ranks of the
Spanish volunteers continue, and it is
now said that fully 5000 men who
agreed to fight for Spain are out of
the city.
A party of 500 cavalry left the city
Sunday morning, marching in the di-
rectiOn of HOlguin. The Spanish in
fantry have removed all light arti-
cles from the trenches to facilitate
their movements in case the abandon
ment of the city is determined upon.
DISSEMINATING REINFORCE
MENTS.
Juragua, July 10, via the Associated
Press Dispatch Boat Dandy to Kings
ton, Jamaica, July II, $3.50 a. m.-The
shores of this little cov were the bust
lest place in Cuba this afternoon. Five
thousand men were either diSembark-
ing from steamers or preparing to take
up the march to General Skaters
headquarters near Santiago. Ehere
was as much confusion as if ten cir
cuses were preparing to make camp.
The officers were looking for horses
and mules, trying to keep their men
together, sending sick men to the hos
pital and attending to rations and
baggage. The engineers were building
a rough wharf of heavy timbers to be
used in landing artillery from the
lighters.
The First Illinois infantry, number
ing 1850 men, which arrived here
yesterday and began disembarking
last night, will probably be the first
of General Skaters reinforcements to
reach him. About $50 recruits for the
regular regiments in the field were also
well under way to the front.
The District of Columbia infantry,
consisting of 915 men, arrived this
morning on the Catania and began
landing at once.
The auxiliary cruiser ST. Paul has
also arrived here with the Eight Ohio
infantry, 1850 men. The steamer is
at anchor quite a distance from the
shore, which necessitates a long pull
in the boats in order to get the men
ashore.
The landing of troops here is neces-
sarily made in small boats carrying
fifteen to twenty each.
It takes a long time to unload regi-
mental stores, horses and mules, which
are taken ashore on lighters. The ar
tillery will be landed when the wharf
is extended. Six batteries of light ar
tillery n siege guns, if fully manned,
will require more than 900 men and
as many animals.
When the Dandy left Juragua it was
expected that the whole expedition
would be soon strung along the ten
miles between the landing place and
the front, the infantry going in light
order, with three days rations and
rain coats.
At : lock a heavy rain was fall
ing 1 threatening to make the road
disagreeable for the infantry and very
bad for the. artillery.
The Cuban auxiliaries with rifle and
machetes were out in large force,
drawing rations. They seem to have
recovered from their state of semi
starvation and are getting fat.
In spite OF the doctors orders, our
soldiers on landing bought and ate
mangroves and other PUPPY fruits. CO.
coanuts were very abundant and the
soldiers Toasted on them.
During the afternoon the hospital
ship Solace arrived here and all the
sick who were able to be moved were
taken from the tent hospital and plac-
ed on board her. The sight of the
wounded men had a depressing effect
on the volunteers.