The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-04

and wounded, the condition there is des-
hood OF any Spanish sorties in force under
such circumstances, but the possibility still
opens that the Spanish garrison may seek
relief by evacuating the city and retiring
to the mountain paths to the north. But
the American plan is for offensive, vigorous
action and with the full resources of men
and arms at the command of the country.
AS General Miles said. $1,000 men, if need
be, viii move on Santiago; if more are
needed. then it will be 1900. The lesson
OF Santiago has served only to enkindle a
nue. of official life at the national capital,
and there is a deep-set determination to
meet heroic conditions with heroic treat
ment
Following the receipt Of General Skaters
telegram there was hurried war confer
enee at the White House. Secretary Alger,
accompanied by General Corbin. reached
there a few minutes before 1 o'clock and
were Immediately closeted with the Presi-
dent Secretary AIger brought the Shafter
dispatch with him and also maps and other
data necessary for the important meeting
about to take place General Corbin was
with the President and the secretary for a
few minutes and then hurried back to the
War Department, where he made public
such portion of General Skaters dispatch
as was compatible with the public interest.
Assistant Secretary MeikeIjohn, who has a
thorough knowledge of the transport serv-
Ice was also hastily summoned and reached
ference lasted for some time.
General Miles. who also was at the White
House. said that reinforcements would be
rushed to the assistance of General Shafter,
and If necessary these would aggregate So
600 men, though the general had no idea
that s1ch number would by any means
be necessary.
The combined American forces now under
command of General shafter amounted. APP
proximately, he said, to $4,000 men, while
those available for the Spaniards was prob
ably $1,000 soldiers. These included, how
( ever, the men at Holguin. presumably about
10000, and the force under another Spanish
general amounting to about 5000 men, Gen.
Miles did not say whether the two bodies of
men last referred to had actually Joined
General Linares. but the understanding is
here that they have not. Colonel HUMPHREYS
Is in charge of the transport service with
Skaters army and he will send back to
Tampa as rapidly as possible the vessels
that can be spared. In fact, word has been
received that the transports had started for
the United States this morning. If possible
the War Department will send 5000 men
from Tampa on these transports. Six YES
sells have recently loaded with men, am
munition, arms, supplies. etc. and are now
either at Key West or on their way to rein
force Skaters army. Included in this ex-
petition are some batteries of artillery. In
all. these forces constitute about $500 or
s.OOo men. sys4
General Miles, in the course of a brief
talk said to-day that General Shafter might
contemplate the withdrawal of his forces
TO the highlands in the direction of Siboney
where they would be near the sea. This,
however. would be temporary expedient
enabling the soldiers to rest and prepare
for the work ahead.
ments to General Shafter. so that there will
be from $1,000 to 5000 men under his COM
mand within the next ten days and sooner
If this can be arranged. This is exclusive
of the insurgents of whom General Garcia
has been able to bring to Skaters COM
mand approximately 1900 men. There were
about 1900 men and officers in the expedi-
ticn that set out from Tampa less than a
month ago. These have been reinforced by
the troops of Brigadier General Duff1eld's
command. amounting to 5000 men. and con-
sisting OF the Thirty-third and Thirty
fourth Michigan and the Ninth Massachu-
sets regiments. The first 1900 of General
for week, while the remainder have just
debarked. During the past week a second
expedition of large proportions was sched-
uled to leave Tampa carrying a good por-
tion of General Simon Snyder's division of
the Fourth Corps as reinforcements for
General Shafter. Assistant Secretary Meik-
eljohn said to-day that eleven transports
were available to carry snyder's troops and
while without any official information on
the subject he assumed that probably 5000
of them were now on their way in these
transports to join those in Santiago prov
ince. The other troops to be sent to the aid
of General Shafter will. according to the
understanding here. be the remaining por-
ton of General Snyder's division, and such
other regiments now at Tampa best
equipped and ready for active work
General Brooke, commanding at Chicka-
manga has already received instructions to
hAve fifteen regiments prepared for imme-
date movement. General Snyders divi-
sion. which was under orders for Santiago,