The Indianapolis journal., 1899-10-30

tail. Coming down to the fight at FL Caney.
the court declares that one-half Of the OFF,
GERS engaged were either killed or wounded.
1t points out with pride. however, that the
Spanish artillery, during the morning
fight, on July /, was able 70 silence the
American battery at FL Paso and cause 1t
to withdraw.
OF the general engagement on July IL
is said that over five hundred men ana
fifty generals. chiefs and officers were killed
and wounded. 1t is pointed out that dur
ing the engagement of July only LOO men
OF the Spanish command were actively en-
gagged, the others, IL is explained, being 10
the westward, occupied in guarding threat
ened points and unable to be OF material as
sistance. Following the loss OF San Juan
and Caney, the court declares that the
water supply was cut off and that the mill
tary force surviving the two days fight
ing of July and was entirely inadequate
to defend the fourteen kilometers OF pro-
tective works around the city. The total
force available is placed officially at 1000
infantry and 900 guerrillas. The remainder
of the forces, 1t is explained, were garrison
ing the MORO and the batteries at Socapa
and Punta Gordo, and performing also the
services OF carrying water to different
points. patrolling the city land rendering
such other services as the Inhabitants could
have rendered had the city remained loyal.
GARRISON STORES.
Referring to garrison stores, the court
says that at the time of the surrender all
that was left to the army was a million
Spanish Mauser cartridges. These would
not have lasted for more than two attacks
on the part Of the enemy. The Argentine
Mauser ammunition. of which there was a
considerable supply, could not be utilized
for want Of weapons of that type, nor could
the Remington ammunition, these weapons
beiag in the hands of the irregular forces
only. The provisions in the city at the time
of the surrender. it is said. consisted only OF
rice, salt, oil, coffee. sugar and brandy. and
Of these only about ten days supply re-
mained. There were over 100 sick in the
hospitals, who had to be fed, Ito say moth
ing of the soldiers who spent day and night
in trenches, after three years of campaign,
during the last three months of which they
seldom had meat to eat and were often re-
duced to the rations mentioned above"
Great stress is laid upon the presence of
the American squadron off the coast, and
the court declares that besides the numer-
ical superiority Of the enemy on land. with
seventy pieces Of modern artillery and the
support of powerful squadron no rein
forcements could reach Santiago except by
| sea, and this eventuality became vain
hope from the moment when the American
ships completely closed the harbor entrance.
In addition TO the decree of the court ex-
oneratipg the above-named defendants.
| the-e are two supplemental DEGREES, direct
| ing tho captain general Of New CASTLE to
| take steps to fix the responsibility for the
| fact that there were not sufficient war ma
terials in the city to provision Santiago, and
to ascertain to what extent the administra-
| tive chief Of the army of Cuba is response
| BILE for not having compiled with the order
| Of the general-in-chief of the same TO provi-
| sion Santiago for four months.