Page:American Boys' Life of Theodore Roosevelt.djvu/200

168 between Spain and Cuba had started. He himself was little more than a skeleton."

That Theodore Roosevelt was warm-hearted enough to look out for other soldiers besides those of his own command is proven by what took place on the day following the this storm. Next to the Rough Riders were located a regiment of Illinois Volunteers. Because of the muddy roads and swollen streams, they could get no rations, and scant as were their own supplies. Colonel Roosevelt had the Rough Riders furnish them with beans, coffee, and a few cases of hard-tack, for which they were extremely grateful. Later in the day the commander of the Rough Riders also got to them part of a mule train of provisions.

The American position had been greatly strengthened, and many additional troops were now at the front. It was felt that an advance upon Santiago would surely result in victory, although the losses might be large. But the Spaniards were no longer in a position to continue the struggle, and on July 17 the city formally surrendered. The surrendered territory covered many miles, and the Spanish soldiers to lay down