. An illustrated history of our war with Spain : its causes, incidents, and results. ions alongthe line came floating in across the Plaza the strains of regi-mental bands and the cheers of the troops. When the American officers had an opportunity to observethe nature of the entanglement of defenses of the city, theywere convinced that General Shaffers patience and modera-tion in dealing with General Torals exasperating delays andexcuses were wise. Fighting as the Spaniards did the firstday, it would have required a loss of 5,000 men to have takenthe city. Indeed, in the face of a determined an
. An illustrated history of our war with Spain : its causes, incidents, and results. ions alongthe line came floating in across the Plaza the strains of regi-mental bands and the cheers of the troops. When the American officers had an opportunity to observethe nature of the entanglement of defenses of the city, theywere convinced that General Shaffers patience and modera-tion in dealing with General Torals exasperating delays andexcuses were wise. Fighting as the Spaniards did the firstday, it would have required a loss of 5,000 men to have takenthe city. Indeed, in the face of a determined and well-drilled enemy, it is doubtful if the city could have been takenby assault. But if the strength of these defenses furnished a sufficientreason for putting up with some delays, there was anotherdevelopment of the case which provided abundant reasons,not simply for declining to haggle further, but for makingsome apparent concessions to soothe the Spanish pride. To-wards the latter end of the truce the dreaded yellow jack began to make its appearance in the American camps, and. VICTORY IN SPITE OF OBSTACLES 753 while soldiers had not quailed before Spanish bullets, theyfeared the prospect of such a contagion in the ranks. Theconditions under which the soldiers fought, lying in wettrenches, exposed to a fierce heat or to the deluges of the rainyseason of a tropical climate, made the appearance of feversalmost a certainty. Toral, undoubtedly, kept hanging offin the hopes that yellow fever would appear in the Americancamp and enable him to secure better terms. Santiago itselfwas in a dirty condition; typical Spanish indolence and dis-regard of common sense in time of peace had left the city un-defended against disease, and when the refugees left the cityand mingled with the Americans, Toral felt certain thatthe contagion would be introduced among them. But whenhe saw no indications of it and he was completely hemmed in,he had no recourse but to yield. Xeither in the Spanish lin
Size: 1272px × 1965px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidillustratedh, bookyear1898
