The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-26
Prove Effective in the Engagement
at Santiago is the Concern of
the Department..
SKATERS ARMY
Will Number Twenty-Five Thousand When the
Expedition of Next Tuesday
Lands in Cuba.

Washington, June 25.-Army officer!
today read the news of yesterdays en-
gagement with interest, but say these
tial to enable one to form a clear con.
cepuon of the movements attempted Dy
General Lawton and Colonel oung which
resulted in the seyere loss for the rough
;lders. The rough riders were supplied
with at least two Colts automatic ma
.hine guns when they started from Tan.
pa, and the officials are waiting 70 heal
whether these were used win effect OF
not. These little guns weigh only thirty
pounds, so they are easily transported or
muleback and may cen be packed along
with a tripod by a soldier for a short dis.
lance
only one message came during the
night to the navy department from Ad-
miraI Sampson, and it is in no wise con-
nected with yesterdays engagement The
report was current that he had notified
the department OF his intention 10 begin
the bombardment of the forts at the en-
trance Of Santiago harbor oday and TO
gun was silence1. No such cablegram
was received. No doubt IS felt that Al
miral Sampson, who IS in full and free
communication with General Shafter,
viii use his ships in the manner referred
10 if it be deemed best 70 do so. He mas
not notified the department, however, of
any such intention.
At General Miles headquarters deep
interest was manifested in the reports
Of the first bloody engagement. The SEN
eral was ,at'v AT his desk, but when he
arrived found nothing from General Shat
ter OF ne Others or tire field He sand
he did not regard this as surprising and
looked for fighting instead of reporting.
Al 10 O'Clock General Miles and Secretary
Alger held a long conference. The gen.
eral. when asked as 70 the situation, said
the press reports told the whole story
so far is was known. It showed the terri
bic earnestness and the courage Of our
men and the spirit with which they were
entering upon this attack. The loss Of
Captain Capron and the other brave men
from the rough riders and the cavalry
men was a serious blow. General Miles
said He spoke in III ehighest praise Of
Captain Capron. saying that he had been
one Of the best officers in the United
States service. a man who knew no fear.
He was type Of the stalwart American
soldier broad shouldered and athletic in
build and man of mosth prepossessing
personal appearance. Running over the
list fthe dead and wounded, General
Miles had a good word to say for each
one. so far as he knew them and among
the regulars he knew them almost man
for man. Whe masked if he felt that Cen
eraI Pando, the Spanish commander at
Holguin, could be kept from bringing
endorsements Of Il, 900 men down to Cen
eral Linares at Santiago. General Miles
said that the Cubans must be depended
upon to hold back Pando.
General Garcia had been specially
charged with throwing his Cuban forces
across the line Of communication between
H0Iguin and Santiago. and this. together
with the difficulties Of progress along the
1oo mile stretch between the two places
promised 70 prevent Spanish reinforce
ments reaching Santiago. General Miles
observed his usual reserve as TO the
sending Of new expeditions with reinforce
meuts, 1t is quite evident. however. that
endorsements will be hurried forward.
both from Tampa and from Newport
News. Already General Dufields force
on the Yale are well on their way. The
Harvard viii take another force today.
and by next Tuesday about 1000 more
American troops viii be at the DISPOSE
ZION Of General Shafter. Within another
week the rest Of General Hardy's divis-
ION, including the Garretson brigade. will
be there. The first class transports Sc
cured yesterday are likely to 80 10 Tam
pa as fast as possible. 10 take forward
the hes tseasoned men at that point, with
additional cavalry horses. mules etc.