The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-02
DANGERS or THE SITUATION.
Cubans Must Hold In Check For SUI
perior ReinforccmcntS.

pcriOr RefnGOrccmcntS.
Copyright. 1893, by the Associated Press
OF Santiago de Cuba, June 80, , PM
by the Associated Press Dispatch Boat
Wanda, Flied Port Antonio, Jam, July 1,
s a. ma two days visit to the Cuban
lines and outposts by a correspondent of.
the Associated Press has developed sit
uaton which If not broken by vigorous
and successful attack on Santiago, may
result in causing much more serious work
than has been anticipated with the Span
ish forces that have retired from the vi
cinity of Acerradores on the west and
Baiquiri on the east. to join Gen. I.inares.
The forces in Santiago and within the
fortified defenses Of the city now number
II 600, 1000 regulars and 1900 volunteers.
Concerning the later, the Cubans allege
that they will not fight With any heart
but will lay down their arms.
According TO Spanish soldiers captured
yesterday and held in the camp of Cen
Perez, near Guatanamo, half of the force
of men on the Spanish warshIps had been
landed with all the rapid-fre guns. This
would make total force in the city OF
1850 men, In addition to the protection
from the earthworks ana forts and the as
sistance of the ships in the harbor.
To meet this force, or at least to IN
wade its stronghold. the American com
manders now have 1850 men and 4ooO Gu
bans-the latter to prevent, If possible,
~
Americans.
Now here is the dangerous and most sig
nigcant feature. Marching from Manzanil-
10, 120 miles west, to Santiago and having
been on the road for six days, quite well
advanced now in his progress, is Gen.
Pando with seven baltalions, aggregaune
S,4OO men. To oppose him is Gen. Jesu
Rabi, with force of 2,2OO Cubans. lying
in wait seventeen miles from Santiago
and on two roads
or course 1t would be perfectly possi-
bic for Gen. Pando TO take his column
far to the north and make a junction
with the Spanish troops, supposed to be
on the way from Holguin, and number
ing, il is said, 5000 men. This advance
from the north is being held in check by
| about 1850 Cubans under Gen. Castillo,
who claims to hold the pass.
Gen. Castillo admitted in camp yester-
day. as he smoked his cigar and slipped his
coffee, that his method was to do Indian
fighting in the mountain passes. When he
was asked what his forces would do If
hanked, he gravely said he had not
thought of that, but he supposed he would
have to retire. The object of the Spanish
advancing from Manzanlllo may be to
elude Rabl, and by effecting juction with
the Spanish from the north, to form an
army Of 17,400 men. AS flank on the west
end of the American army facing the city,
Gen. Rabi's forces combined with those of
Gen. Castillo would only give combating
force of 300 Cubans, and the Cubans do
not hesitate TO run before Overwhelming
numbers.
Nor is that all that menaces. Leaving
Guantanamo camp of marines and plung-
ing into the wood to The west the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent found force
of 800 Cubans, under command Of Col. Pc
rez. This force had variously been esti-
mated at from 1880 to $500 Cubans; but
there were certainly not more than 800, as
Col. Perez admitted in the course of con-
versation, although he had distinctly
claimed to have about 1900 men This force
Of $50 is supposed to be keeping at bay
940O Spanish troops, who are in the town
OF Guantanamo. The marines are near
this camp, but 10 the east of it so that
they could do nothing to prevent the Span
iards from moving to the west on the
flank Of the American army. In 9TH
er words there are to the northwest and
west of the army Of invasion thanking
forces Of Spaniards comprising over $1,000
troops held at bay by less than 5000 Gu
bans whose fighting qualities are as yet
rather enigmatical.
In an interview with Gen Garcia, the
correspondent called attention to this sit
uatlon. Gen. Garcia replied: Il believe
that we should be left to the west and