The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-31
ATLANTA Journal.)

tAuanta J0ufnal.)
After spending three months with the
American army under General Shafter
as the representative of the Atlantis
Journal, find myself once more at home
having left the army at the conclusion
of the Santiago campaign, some days
ago.
TO no one does the news that Spain
has tired of war and is suing for peace
seem so welcome as to the man who
has gone through the Santiago campaign
with the American soldiers. To no other
would Il cessation of hostilities bring
more satisfaction For the man who
went with Shafter and his men to Cuba,
who marched with them from Baiquiri
to Santiago. who shared with them the
hardships of life in the field, and who
saw the battle of Santiago. in which
nearly 1000 American soldiers fell,
knows what war in all its horror is.
Such a man wants no more of war.
= =
Many facts regarding the condition of
the American army in Cuba have never
been printed. At every cable station is
Il censor representing the government,
and nothing preiudicial to the interests
of the army is permitted togo by wire.
AS for the mails, they are uncertain AMI
the problem of living is so great that
few of the newspaper correspondents
have the time or the opportunity to
write letters OF any length.
The American army has undergone
hardships that seem almost incredible
in this Santiago campaign The men
have been on half rations ever since they
landed The order for half rations was
promulgated on the day the army be-
gan landing and that order was never
revoked.
The reason for this was not a lack of
supplies. but the lack of transportation
facilities with which to move them.
From Siboney, the base of supplies,
where the commissary department was
located it was II miles to the front,
where 10000 men We're camped. 10
reach the front it was necessary to ira
verse narrow winding road on which
the mud was often knee-deep Pack
mules and wagon trains were used for
carrying provisions to the front. but
there was mot half enough to properly
supply the army .e
TO make matters worse, sometimes
two wagon trains would meet where
there was no room to pass. Then a
long argument, almost ending III blows
often, would elislie before either would
back his team to u place where pas
sage could be effected. A wagon train
carrying supplies would thus often be
delayed an hour or even more on its way
to the camps.
Army rations consist of 16 pieces of
bareback daily, together with some ba-
con and canned vegetables, such as to-
matoes, beans, peas, etc. The hair ra-
tons consisted of eight pieces of hard
tack and small bit of bacon daily.
The canned vegetables were not obtain
able for many days after the men went
into camp.
Every regiment was supposed to Keep
three days rations ahead Not one ever
got more than one and a half days
ahead.
The soldiers were thoroughly soaked
with water the second day after a land
ing was effected. and it is doubtful if
some of them have ever been entirely
dry since. Rain falls in torrents every
thing would be so wet after the rain that
It would be impossible to build fire.
So the clothing would remain wet all
night. The next morning the dew would
he as heavy as IN ordinary American
rain. and would so dampen the blankets
and clothing that they would not get
dry before the rain would fall again.
There are thousands of soldiers in San
tiago who will tell you they have never
been thoroughly dry since they landed
on the island.
Every one who goes to Cuba is eau
toned to drink only boiled water, and to
keep thoroughly clean. 1t is not posi-
Bile to do either. The wood is always sc
wet that it is almost impossible to make
fires to boil water. Besides, one is gen
orally so thirsty that he is unwilling to
wait to have water boiled.
Cleanliness is out of the question fol
the man who remains at the front
Strong guards are placed over al
streams and kept there to prevent tho
uollution Of the water, which must be-
used for drinking and cooking purposes
No one is permitted to even wash ms
hands in Il stream. Wash basins are
not obtanable for love or money at TN
front. Consequently, the only chanc'
for bath is in the rain.
With such conditions existing 1t IS NJ
wonder that yellow fever has seized th'
soldiers. The wonder is that the drea'
disease did not attack our army sooner
1t is thought that the first yellow 1eVe'
came from Aguadores, Il little town Oh
the coast between Siboney and Santiago
The Spanish force in this town was at
tackled by the Thirty-Third Michigan reg
iment under General Duffeld, on t'rida!
morning, July /, at the same time the at
tack was made on Santiago by the man
body of the Americans. Gen. Duffield
regiment was repused with heavy loss
Two days later one of his men wa:
stricken with yellow fever, and severa
other cases were soon found in the
same regiment.
Among the newspaper men with thu
Thirty-Third Michigan that day wa