The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26

was being shipped home and new men coming.
there was even a greater demand for men TO
do this work who understood these
stubborn beasts and were not afraid 81 Cuban
sun and jungle fever. Toward the end Of the
campaign negroes from the Southern States
were shipped to Santiago for this work. A
kicking mule and Il Georgia negro seem to lie
afinitics. There were many negroes among
the irst drivers OF the war. when the lie was
dangerous as an outpost sentry's. Although
these men worked like slaves under most dis
couraging conditions. they were better of than
the soldiers because OF two great items: they
always managed to get their rations. and they
never had to sleep on the ground or In the
rain-they had plenty OF canvas and q plank
bottom To stow themselves on at night.
The names Of the men who did this neces-
sary work so efficiently will never be known to
history. They were not enrolled In volunteer
or regular commands. Only Il deep digging
among the humble and unilluminntcd rayrolls
ofthe Commissary Generals Department would
ever bring them to light.
The general run OF Spanish trenches differed
from the American. in being narrower and
deeper. The trenches on San Juan Hill. when
the Americans captured 1t. were about shoulder
high. with hardly room for a man to turn
around. These were evidently made to stand
up In only; certainly not to sit in nor to sleepin.
For long distance firing and not too long
watches they answered the purpose admir-
abIy. a spahlaru could lean against the rear
wall OF ms trench anu IRE from that easy POSI-
ton with right shoulder supported against the
bank and his lett loot well braceu against the
forward wall; or, for closer work. he could lean
forward on the front bank and fire with ease
and comfort.
When the Americanst took possession OF these
trenches they generally wiIened them. Be-
sides this. they put bags OF earth on the bank
nearest Santiago to add to their defensive
strength. The American trenches we're gen
orally VIDE. nut not deep. A lying down POSI-
ton was the idea In the minds OF the Ameri-
cans. Trenches. therefore. were dug 80 as To
Afford room to stretch at Bull length. with head
to the enemy. Asa man was not supposed TO
stand UP. but TO fire lying or HneeliDg down. the
Americans dug trenches somewhat shallow.
Just deep enough to allow a man to sit down.
back to the Santiago wall, and have his heal
protected. The earth floor sloped slightly.
Gunnybags filled with earth and placed on the
front embankment they found a great addi-
tional protection. The men poked their rifles
through the %crevices between bags and frod
with much greater deliberation because head
and shoulders were better protected than be-
fore. A Mauser bullet that would 90 through
twelve inches of hard wood and kill a man on
W. ~N'N' ''s~ va N'N'
bags OF earth. The loose dirt would catch 1t
and defect it and utterly Kill its rifling mo-
ton. so that it soon came to a rest. No case IS
on record where n bullet went through q
bag or bank OF earth. ana hurt anybody. Inc
Spanish trenches nearest the city were moro
like tho American. being wide and not deep.
This. however. was probably not so much
owing to Spanish ideas as to the local condi-
tons. The Spaniards simply took things as
thnv found thnm such "a roads alFpniV in aN-
istence. and improved them somewhat.
The long trenches occupied by the Second
and Twentieth Infantry and the Ninth Massa-
chusettS Volunteers. on the lett flank OF the
line. was a natural gully. once the bed oil u
were thick bushes in front OF the greater
length Of it. The work there was compare
lively light. They had only to shovel in earth
for cross embankments and slightly level up
the floor to be well fixed. Some OF the regu-
lars dug special deep crosscuts for their own
particular selves. making them still safer.
Up at the blockhouse on the right OF San
Juan Hill the Twenty-ffth Infantry lcolored)
spent DAYS tniiinG in the hot sun. making over
the old Spanish trenches. They widened them
and completely covered the front crest with
earth bags three high. When they got through
they had the safest trenches in the whole line.
and the most comfortable. Here they could
cooh' III Shc'p II p"' 'uiui uahSci SN'h
under a heavy fire. Indeed. when the Amer
leans had completed their trench work on
the hills before Santiago they could have
held their position against an immense
force. The decisive way in which they re-
pulsed that night attack on July 2. showed
what they could do with only partially COM
pleted breastworks. Some companies were eX-
ceedingly ingenious in application OF their
ideas Of defence. Several bomb proof roofs
were noted over parts OF the American line.
Presumably. the men retired under these when
things were coming their way too fast and
they could do no good outside. bamboo poles
filled with earth were used to strengthen the
line at other places.
The courage OF the Spanish sharpshooters
who perched themselves In the trees before
Santiago and did signal damage to the Ameri-
cans was never properly appreciated by the men
ofthe American Army. Here were a lot OF men
mill nntrpnftnnd N cat nIf If