373 SKIRMISHING NEAR SANTIAGO.

CHAPTER XXX THE AMERICAN ADVANCE I HKi KP.li.

THE result of the day had been on the whole disappointing for the Americans It had been anticipated that Santiago would be taken before sundown, but the Spaniards had offered a wholly unexpected resistance, and as the result of a long summer's day of hard fighting only the two outworks of the city had fallen. This success had been won at the cost of heavy losses, which General Shaffer only partly realisedwhen in the eveninghe sent hisfirst despatch toWashington, a message which came like a cold chill on the American public after the glowing accounts of decisive victory that were too hastily issued by the more sensationalnewspapers. The general's despatch ran thus:— " Siboney, via Playadel Este, "July i,1898. "Had a very heavy engagement to-day. which lasted from 8 a.m. till sundown. We have carried their outer works, and are now in possessionof them. There is now about three-quartersof a mile of open country between my lines and the city. By morning my lines will be entrenched, and considerable augmentation of force will be there. General Lawton's divisionandGeneral Bates's brigade, which have been engaged alldayin carrying II Caney, which wasaccomplished at 4 p.m., will be in line andinfront of Santiago during the night. T regret to say that our casualties will be above400;of thesenot many are killed. " W. R Shafter, Major-General."

The American loss was certainly- nearer 1,000 than 400, and, thoughmany may not have been killed on the spot, the condition of even the most slightly wounded was serious for the simple reason that no adequate provision had been made for dealing with any number of wounded men. Those who were not badly hurt dragged themselves painfully to Sevilla or Siboney. The more se\erely injured were carried down by comrades on improvised stretchers. But hundreds lay till next day or the day after, unsheltered, unaided, without drink or food, under driving rain showers or scorching tropical sun, worriedby insects, sometimes gnawed by the hideous land crabs as they lay helpless in the bush. When they did reach the base, they lay in huts through the open roofs of which the rain drove down. There were feu il" tors, and these wereshort ofproper drugs and antiseptic dressings. Food supplies were scanty. Eat bacon, coffee, andhard biscuits