In Spanish lines.

As soon as the Spanish intrenchment came in sight the signal was given and was promptly answered by the enemy.  Two officers with a flag of truce advanced toward us, and we were halted at a little bridge very near Santiago and below the first intrenchjnent.  We were received very courteously by the officers and asked to a seat upon the grass in the shade of a clump of trees.  Rum, beer and cigarettes were furnished for the entertainment of the callers.  The object of our visit was explained, whereupon a hospital corps of about thirty men with sixteen litters in charge of a captain of the line and a medical officer made their appearance.  The wounded were unloaded from the ambulances and conveyed in litters to within the Spanish line.

The visit was such a cordial and pleasant one that we found it very difficult to part from our newly made friends.  After bidding the officers a hearty adieu and mounting my horse I was urged to dismount and say another farewell—­a request which was responded to with pleasure.  The two little parties then separated and made their way in a slow and dignified manner in the direction of the respective breastworks.

Tells of bombardment.

The first armistice expired at noon July 11.  In the afternoon a heavy cannonading commenced and was kept up until late in the evening.  Next morning it was resumed, however, with less vigor.  During this bombardment the Spaniards renewed their recently gained reputation as effective marksmen.  One of our best cannon was hit and literally lifted into the air.  An officer was killed and a—­ number of men injured.

During the afternoon, while cannonading was still going on, I went to the front, but on reaching our line the bombardment was discontinued, and under a flag of truce the commanding generals met and held a conference.  The result of this interview remains a secret at this hour.

Major-General Miles and staff reached Siboney yesterday on the steamer Yale, and to-day he proceeded to headquarters.

The appearance of yellow fever at different places occupied by our army has made our troops more anxious than ever to complete their task.  The frequent drenching rains and inadequate equipments have also done much to render the men restless and anxious to fight.

W. B. Collier of the Second United States cavalry, in a letter dated August 3, describes his part in the fight on San Juan hill and the scene when the American flag was flung to the breeze in captured Santiago.  He says: 

We have our 2 o’clock rains each day and then the sun comes out and just burns.  This is a good climate for snakes, lizards, etc.  Many of the boys have died, but, thank God, I am still in the land of the living.  Words are inadequate to express the feeling of pain and sickness when one has the fever.  For about a week every bone in my body ached and I did not care much whether I lived or not.  The doctor shoved quinine into me by the spoonful until my head felt as if all the bells in Chicago were ringing in it.  I could hear them, even when delirious.  The news that we are to go back to the United States in a few weeks has saved many a boy’s life.