The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-23
SIEGE LAID TO THE STRONGHOLD
OF THE SPANISH AT SAN
TIAGO DE CUBA.
GENERAL CAMPOs IS BEATEN.
IN A CABLEGRAM TO THE SPANISH
GOVERNMENT He ADMIT
HIS DEFEAT.

BOSTON, Mass. Oct. 22.-Dispatches
which were received from the seat of war
in Cuba to-day brought matter of more
than ordinary Importance. The first dis
patch, dated Santiago de Cuba, October 10,
says: The Cuban war is practically over.
The whole country is now practically in
the hands of the rebels and an attack is ex-
pected on Santiago de Cuba any day.
During the last week the soldiers and
stores at the outlying Spanish garrisons
have been in retreat and are now in the
main garrison. The insurgents are sur
rounding the city in large numbers and it
is expected that they will make their at
tack daily. Their numbers are far greater
than have been reported and they outnum-
Der the Spanish garrison, while they now
have control of all the natural highways,
SO that it is impossible for an expedition to
leave the town in any direction.
The Spanish troops are making active
preparations to leave at a moments notice.
and already the transport ships in the har-
Dor are ready TO sail. 1t will be an impossi-
bility for the town to hold out much longer,
as, in addition TO the insurgents, who
are actively at work without, the Spanish
soldiery themselves are almost in state OF
mutlnv, and each hour sees several brawls.
Already over a dozen men have been
killed in these street fights, and the
authorities have now ordered that if any
more such fights occur the ringleaders
will be shot.
Among the soldiery there is a constant
feeling of fear, and each hour there are
many desertions to the ranks of the insur-
gents. Sentries have been stationed and
orders have been given to shoot down any
man seen outside the gate. AS result of
this order a young lieutenant was shot to-
day. He was not deserting, but was
simply making an investigation of an OBJ
lect outside the wall. when he was seen by
sentry and killed. The insurgents have
planted their field batteries near the city
in the most advantageous positions, and
their shells are causing much damage. |
Ten men were killed to-day by the explo- |
sion Of a shell in one of the gun caissons
near the north wall, four OF the number |
being officers.
Every preparation is being made to
Withstand the last determined attack, |
which may come at any moment, but it is |
very doubtful if the garrison can hold out. !
If this important city falls it will mean the |
entire triumph OF the insurgents move
ment in the eastern part of the island, and |
thev will then turn their attention to the i
west and Havana.
Another dispatch, dated Havana, Octo- !
Der q, says: The Spanish officials to-day |
received notice of the condition of affairs |
in the east, and Immediately ordered that
the five regiments quartered in the garri- |
son should start for the beleaguered citv |
OF Santiago de Cuba at once. This will |
practically leave the capital city at the |
mercy of the rebels if they should strike.
General Campos IS doing all in his power
to prevent the disaster which is surely i'm
pending, but it will be impossible for him
TO avert the defeat which is staring him in |
the face. The following cablegram which
be sent to the War Department of the
Spanish home Government was gathered
from an official source. The dispatch reads:
The insurgents have everything. We
can meet nothing but defeat. Our only
chance Is to make terms. They have con-
troll OF the whole west, and in order to
stop them 1 have TO withdraw nv troops
In the west, leaving the capital bare. Send
ten more regiments. CANposn
inns cablegram was gathered from a
source OF the highest authority, and show.
that the great Spanish leader has practi- |
calIy given up the struggle.
Another thing that will render the do |
feat Of the insurgents an imnossibilitv 10 |
that most rampant state of anercbv ;e |
reigning among the whole Spanisb admin
lstration. Since the opening Of tho strrn
gle the power of General Camnos boo boo,,
steadily on the wane, and to-day he ia tho
most thoroughly hated man in tho Snantsb
army, and this fact probably more thar
any other will be strong factor n +ba ~
innate defeat of the regulars.
a few of the most startling Disclosure. &c
the whole struggle leaked out TO-DAY +bor
also coming from the same high ofici.,
source. This is, that every moraot
Campos' life is in danger from his own
troops, and that already attempts To aesos
sinate him have been made on several 30
casions, but the true facts of the case bayo
been kept behind for political reasons
The officers themselves who have been
quartered in Havana are giving M
thoughts of the war. but are passing their
time in riotous living. All offenders are
being treated with a summary hand, and |
wholesale executions are following each |
other in rapid succession daily, rank or
position counting for nothing. General |
CamPos reported to the home Government |
the state OF affairs and this action is sim. |
ply carrying out their orders. These rig |
orous practices are causing desertions bv
the wholesale, and if they go on with such
alarming rapidity in the future as thew
have In the post, the Spanish army will be |
reduced to a minimum. The rebels are
now at all points, and it is impossible to
tell at what point they will strike.
The marines on the warships in the har-
Dor have been landed and held under or |
ders for immediate service The Spanish !
loss during the week in the several hard
fought battles and the almost innumerable |
n irra ishas has hoar, IT. /