The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-07-09

and the pass to reach the central
plateau Of the island would be ditfic,llt.
THE more likely line of retreat Wli!#pe
along the line of the above mentionea}
railroad. crossing the Sierra Maestro
at FL Cristo, q pass556o0 feet above the
sea, ten miles northof Santiago, Whleh
is the lowest pass through the sierra
Maestro for many miles. Inc connty
back of this is a rolling plateau OF
rich agricultural land. At Mnnacas,
on5the railroad, two miles north OF the
pass, is an iron bridge, consisting OF q
series of S0-foot spans on iron trestie
bents. This point is about two mlles
beyond the Cristo summit, and Just
beyond this point the railroad DIVIDES
into tho two branches. The destruc-
ton of this bridge would be the most
feaeible method of preventing the ap-
proach of General Pandofs Spanish
troops to relieve Santiago. 1t is prob-
able that If the S%paniards retreat by
this road they will make II stand on
the plateau ut Eel Cristo aud hold the
pass of Ell Crista. The only other pass
through the mountains near this point
is at Escandel summit, about SIX miles
in q straight line east of lei Cristo pass.
Escandel summit is 1000 feet above
sea and Is reached from Santiago via
Caney. The road from Santiago to
Caney is fairly good, being wide
enough for vehicles. Between Caney
and Escandel The road, which is no
more than a trail, nscends the noun
tains and is very winding and broken.
Beyond Escandel, acros tho range,
the country is heavily timbered and
broken and the roads are not good. 1t
is an ideal country for ambush. This
is probably the only pass through
which the Spanish position could be
turned should the Spanish troops oc-
cupy the Cristo plateau and pass.
The railroad has beea fortified by a
line of block houses, protecting the
bridges and certain zones of cultiva-
ton enclosed between these forts
have been planted during all the time
of the wal and would afford Il supply
for the army for a time.
First Official News.
Washington, July 1.-"Battle be-
gun" This vas the startling news
conveyed in u dispatch received from
General Shafter at 10 o'clock this
morning. Brief as it was, it told the
whole story. The first shots of the
long expected clash of arms and prob
ably the first great land engagement
of til ewar was under way. 1t sent a
thrill through official circles, from the
highest to the lowest.
Secretary Alger preserved his usual
outward calm, hut those near him said
the news in the field had sent the same
thrill through the secretary that pre-
vailed everywhere, and even more, for
there was the personal consideration
that the secretary's son, young Cap
tain A1ger, now on the staff of General
Dutield, was participating in the en-
gagement. The secretary felt that our
forces We're on the aggressive, for the
mere fact that the action was going on
showed that Shaftcr had bided his
time and was ready to strike his blow.
Word had come, prior to the Shafter
dispatch, showing hat the artillery,
which had been broughtyt to the front,
was we'll placed.
General Miles, commanding the
army, received a copy of the dispatch.
He had anticipated it, for only a few
hours before a dispatch came to him
from General breckenridge, inspector
general of the army, sitting that the
spirit of the troops was high and that
they were eager and expectant of ac-
ton. Indications were that they would
soon be gratified.
Miles also received 4 dispatch carly
this morning from Skaters head
quarters saying that the big military
balloon was high in the air and was
giving opportunity for observation
over a great sweep Of country. After
the first announcement from Shafter
was bullctincd the time dragged wear
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