Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1898 — SURE TO FIGHT SOON [ARTICLE]

SURE TO FIGHT SOON

Spanish and American Outposts * Within Hailing Distance. COLLISION MAY COME AT ANY TIME. Gen. Shatter’s Army Rapidly Poshing Forward—Attack on Santiago Expected to Be Commenced on Wednesday. , On the Rio Guamai, via Kingston, Jamaica, June 28. —The Spanish and American advance posts ant now almost close enough to see the whites of each' other’s eyes and a collision may occur at any moment. Th@“ Spaniards are using brass- , sheathed lead bullets and the bjass | rips on touching and tears the flesh hor- ! ribly, while the small brass splinters j cause blood poisoning. They are prac- | tically explosive bullets and are used in j the Remingtons. They also cut a small ( cross through the end of the Mauser j bullet so that it mushrooms on striking, i with similar result. Strongly Intrenched. The top of every hill and mountain north and east of Santiago is occupied by blockhouses, from whence the Spaniards can view the, movements Of the American army as it advances beyond Sabanillu, while to the eastward of the city’ gashing every knoll and bit of high ground, are Spanish entrenchments. On Monday there were counted from an elevated position 34 of these intrench ments, completely fencing every approach to the city. The trenches have been dug as the conformation of the

ground admitted. The ends of the trenches overlap where breaks in the line occur, thus securing comparatively safe retreat from rifle fire in case parts of the trenches are captured. Upon one of these works modern guns have been mounted. They can be plainly seen with the naked eye. More Artillery Needed. Spies report that inside the intrenchments are four parallel line* of rifle pits, shoulder deep, and in front of them are mnrkeil ranges and several . rows of barbed-wire fences. No officers who have surveyed the field over which the advance.must be made underestimates' the task ahead of the Americans. The general opinion is that more artillery will lie necessary before it will be safe to attempt to make an assault upon the Spanish works, as the fire of the rifle pits must necessarily be deadly and sufficient to demoralize any force, no matter how brilliant in its courage, when baited by wire obstructions. Some officers believe it will be necessary to lay a regular siege to Santiago and advance with a line of earthworks until the rifle pits can be shelled with shrapnel by the light artillery. Army Faslilna Forward. Off Rajquiri. June 2ft, via Kingston, Jamaica. June 28. The Third and Ninth cavalry only remain here, guarding the material ashore. All the other regiments are being pushed ns rapidly as possible towards Santiago de Cuba. Active operation* before that pluce are officially expected to begin on Wednesday next. Interruption of communication between the army and the fleet by storm is possible at any time. Juraguu and Baiquiri are both open roads with no protection. . Gen. Shatter expresses satisfaction with the work of the officers who had chaage of the landing of the troops, in an enemy's oobntry and under conditions never before faced by an army, considering the character of the landing places and the adjacent country. Vesuvius Again at Work. Santiago de Cuba, via Kingston, Jamaica, June 28.—1 t is believed Admiral CerTera contemplated a dash out of the b&rbor Saturday night. Extra precautions were therefore taken and the Vesuvius alter midnight fired three guncotton shells in the direction of Morro castle.