The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-14
POSITIVELY NO POSTPONEMENT.
A Terrific Bombardment of Santiago to
BE Begun at Once-Dewey's
Good News.

BE Begun at Once-Dewey's
Good News.
Washington. July 13.-While the long
expected fall of Santiago did not take
place to-day, it is evident that the
crisis has been reached. Within the
next 20 hours il will either surrender
or receive such a baptism of fire as
seldom falls to the lot of besieged
town. IF he refuses, ! will open on
him at IL o'clock noon tomorrow with
every gun / have, and l will have the
assistance of the navy, who are ready
to lombard the city with 13-inch
Shells"
That is the programme laid out by
General Shafter, and it is to be car
ried out to the letter. General Shafter
is still commanding, according to the
war department, and although dis
patches have been received from Major
General Miles, signed major general
commanding, it is said that he has not
displaced General Shafter in direct
charge of the operations. The public,
in reference to these kilograms from
General Miles, was given the first no
tice that our government had offered
in the course of the negotiations with
General Toral to send the Spanish
forces in Santiago back to Spain. A
few days it was stated that the
president would insist upon uncondi-
tional surrender, but il appears that
the condition has been modified, as in
dicated by General Miles. This was
done frSm a desire to avoid useless
blodshed for with General ToraPs army
removed, Spain would be harmless to
prevent our further operations in Cuba
and this would serve as good a pur-
pose as would the destruction of the
Spanish army.
To allow the Spanish general to with
draw to the interior and fall back on
Havana on the other hand, would put
us under the obligation of overcoming
that additional force when it comes to
the siege of Havana. Our government
also is moved to make this proposal TO
remove the Spanish forces to Spain
through a strong desire to close up the
operations at Santiago at the earliest
possible moment. This desire has been
materially strengthened by the appear
ance of yellow fever within the Ameri-
can lines. 1t was at first supposed that
the men were falling i'll with malarial
and climatic fever, so the cases were
reported as simply suspicious Now.
however, comes the final admission that
they are genuine fellow fever cases.
The appearance has determined the au-
thorities upon a more active proseeu-
tion OF the campaign. Orders will soon
go forward to General Shafter to dis
cuss no more with the Spaniards the
terms of surrender, but to proceed to
assault the town with all the force at
his command as soon as the present
truce expires.
1t is expected by Shafter that the
navy VIII cooperate, and while Secre-
tary Long has received no direct adj
vices on that point from Admiral Samp-
son, he fully credits this expectation.
Reluctant as the war department is 10
sacrifice the many lives that may be
lost in the assault Ii is deemed to be
the better policy to make IL than to AL
low the men to rot away with fevers
and other diseases during the long pc
riod that would be required to perfect
the reduction of the city by steady in
vestment. An expectation is still en-
tertained here, however, that the as
sault will be unnecessary through Toral
surrendering before ii begins 1t was
perhaps the spread of this belief, caused
by knowledge of the more energetic
steps in prospect, that tended TO re-
move the feeling of depression mani
tested with the opening of the day up
on the circulation of rumors of the ap-
pearance of yellow fever in the Ameri-
can camps.
Regarding the future OF Santiago.
nothing has been officially stated but
IL is significant that orders were issued
in the department this afternoon to pre-
pare the LIST and I'd regiment of volun-
lttT immediate departure
for the front. This would seem to in
dicate purpose on the part of the gov-
ernment to garrison Santiago with these
fever proof men after its capitulatio
thus permitting the removal of the reg
ular troops to more healthy points.
Turning to the far East, IL was re-
freshing to receive to-day good news
again from Dewey. In fact. IL is begin
ming to be remarked that that officer is
usually able to make felicitious reports
The administration is very much
pleased with the readiness shown by
the admiral in meeting the grave issue
presented to him at Subic bay. just
reported. as he did. Naval officers. too,
were not little gratified at the speedy
retirement of the German cruiser Irene
after the appearance OF the Raleigh
and Concord. A comparison of the
ships shows that the Irene was much
superior to either of these two Ameri-
can vessels. and in tonnage was almost
as large as the Raleigh and Concord
together. From this IL is inferred that
the retirement of the Irene was from
motives Of general policy rather than
from any indisposition TO try conclusions
with the two American ships. In ar
NOR the German ship was much strong
er than the Americans. but in guns the
Americans had the advantage.
In official quarters here there appears
TO be no disposition to look upon the
action Of the Irene as a menace which