The herald., 1898-06-29
NEWS FROM SKATER
ALL Is WELL AND REINFORCE
NENTs ARE BEING RUSHED
WOOD AND WATER CUT OFF
The Blockade of the Cuban Coast Being
frightened at Every Point-No
News From Cadiz Fleet
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, June est was very
late in the day when the first dispatch
within two days came to the war depart
ment from General Shafter, but the news
was regarded as so good that there was
no disposition to complain. 1t disclosed a
very satisfactory rate of progress on the
part of General Shafter toward the town
Of Santiago itself and apparently he has
gained all the grounds and has come within
three miles of Santiago without suffering
any losses since the bloody skirmish of
Friday last. Altogether the performance
is regarded as very gratifying to the de-
partment here. AS near as can be gath
cred from the brief dispatch the American
army is now at the fork of the road, one
branch of which leads to Santiago and the
other to Moro castle, at the entrance of
the harbor. General Shafter Is thus free
to move in either direction, according to
the demands of the campaign. With the
1900 men who reinforced him yesterday on
the Yale and the additional brigade that
will reach him by tomorrow, it may be
possible to make even more rapid progress
in the advance upon Santiago, as the men
of troops from the necessity of keeping
open the line of communication between
6hafter and his base at Baiquiri.
Rushing Reinforcements
Meanwhile further achievements are
being prepared and being dispatched as
rapidly as the best energies of the depart
ment can direct and it is believed that sew
eral thousand men sailed from Tampa di-
rect for Santiago today. The department
has had in mind the difficulties of the cam
paign that are just developing to the pub
lie eye, such as the use for the first time
in civilized warfare of barbed wire fencing
as means of defense and acting upon the
advice of some of our army officers who
were in Cuba while the fighting was con-
fined to the Spaniards and insurgents
certain number of men in each regiment
have been provided with wire cutters and
charged with the duty of cutting down
these fences so as to permit the advance of
troops. 1t probably will be necessary to
shell out the force defending these wire
chevaux de frise before they can be cut
unless the men in charge of that duty are
to be unduly exposed to danger. This will
involve a larger use of field artillery than
would be required in ordinary warfare.
to these details and in fact have provided
for the use of barbed wire by our own
forces, having sent about $50 tons Of this
wire with General Merritts expedition.
A Closer Blockade
The lines are being frightened around
Cuba, and it will soon be impossible for
even small quantities of wood or war sup
plies to reach the Spanish there. The proc
fovx fo, tee, cd dipr !,
ade to the south coast and to San Juan, 1t
Is believed, will accomplish this result. On
the south ocast the Isle of Pines will be
cut off as transfer depot for cattle or food
supplies coming from Jamaica and Central
America. By closing San Juan harbor the
6paniards will lose the last chance of Snug
Cling war supplies to Cuba and the future
operations of the army and navy looking
to the occupation of the Island of Porto
Rico will be materially advanced by the es-
Establishment of a successful blockade
There was no further word from the Ca
diz fleet today, though it is still known to
be lying at Port Said, under pretext of re-
pairing one of the torpedo boat destroyers.
The delay on the part of the Spanish fleet
has not stopped the preparations for the
sending of the eastern squadron under
Commodore Watson to the Spanish shores.
The commodore is fastening with all speed
southwark on the Newark to join and con-
fer with Sampson off Santiago.
1t has been known to our government for
Tome time past that the Spanish govern
ment was trying to obtain possession of the
splendid modern armored cruiser OHiggins
Our agents, however, have watched these
negotiations carefully, and our government
has been finally satisfied that they have
failed. 1t is needless to say that the result
was agreeably received here as the grav-
est complications might have resulted out
Of the sale of the warship by a neutral
power to Spain.
Skaters Dispatches
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-The War De-
partment late this afternoon posted the fol-
lowing:
"Baiquiri q. via Playa del Este, 2S-Sec-
rotary of Wharf.-The Yale arrived this
morning all right. Troops now disembark-
ing. Your son, who has been at the front
as volunteer, assigned to duty on the staff
of General Duffield. SHAFTER,
'Major General Commanding"
"Of Sibony, June q, 9 p. M, via Playa
del observation-disclosures Washington:
All is progressing well. We occupied today
an advanced position abandoned by the
enemy yesterday on the Sevilla and Santi-
ago road west of San Juan River, within
three miles of Santiago and from which it
Fan be plainly seen. SKATER,
"Major-General Commanding"
Fresh Troops
JURAGUA, June 27, per the Associated
Press Boat Wanda, via Kingston, June 2S
10 am.-The auxiliary cruiser Yale has
arrived with some Michigan infantry.
commanded by Colonies Peterman and
Boynton. and the Harvard is expected to-
night with more Michigan troops and the
Ninth Massachusetts.
All the roads over the hills to Santiago
are choked with American and Cuban in
fantry and cavalry pack trains and bat
teries of artillery moving to the front.
Only Three Miles
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-General Shaft
er reports that at o'clock last night the
army was west of San Juan river, within
three miles of Santiago and in plain sight
of the city. His position had just been
abandoned by the enemy and all is pro-
crossing well.
A Startling Report
AT THE FRONT ON THE RIO CJrAMA