The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-07-20
The Crisis IS at Hand.
Washlngton's Summary OF
the Essential Features of
the Good News.


" ashingson. July Is While the
long expected fall of Santiago did not
sass place 70 day it is evident that the
s.isis has been reached. Within the
next "a hours Saotiago will surrender
3or wifi receive such baptism of FIRE as
seldom falls TO the sos of besieged
soar ..If he refuses, / will open fire
on aim at l2. noon. 20 morrow with
every gun I have. and have the assist
ance OF the navy, who are ready to
bombard the city With 1Ssinch shells :
That's she programme laid down by
Gen. Shafter and it is to be carried cot
10 the letter
Gen. Shafter is still commanding.
according to the war department off,
osals, aud although dispatches have
been received FROM Maj Geo. Miles
signed major general comuanding, 1t is
said that he has not displaced Gen.
Shaf.er IN direct charge of the opera
tiens.
Ths public. in one Of these .slegrams
frou, Gen Miles, was given the first
no.sce that onr government 10 the
course Of nego.iatioos with Gen. Foral,
had offered 80 send the Spanish forces
in Santiago back to Spain. A few days
spo It was stated that the President
voald insist upoa unconditional surren-
der, bus it appears that coOdNtons hass
been modified By Gen. Mules This
Was done f.om desire TO avoid useless
blcodshed, fos Gen Taral's army re-
moved to Spain wouid be harmless to
prevent our further operations in Cuba
sed would serve as good purpose as
woaid be the destruction OF the Spanish
srmy 10 allow the Spanish general
70 @isbdraW to the interior ADD fall
back Oh Habaoa on the other haod,
you'd pus US u.der the obligations OF
overcoming that addi'iosal f5rce when
II cones TO the siege of HaDaoa Oar
government also is to make rhis pro-
Dosal to remove ,he Spanish forces to
Spain th-eugh a a,roog desire to close
op the Operatives at Santiago at the
earliest possible moment.
This desire has been materially
strengthened by the appearance of yell
.ow fever within the American lices
I: wss a. 6rss supposed that the men
we're falling i'll With malaria aud eli.
uasic fever, so the cases we're reported
as siwply suspi,ious Nov, however.
comes the foal admission that they are
genuine yellow fever cases. Their ap.
nearance has determined the authorities
upon more active prosecution of the
campaign
Orders either have or soon will GO
forward to Geo Shafser to discuss DC
more with the Spanish commander the
serms OF surrender. bus to p;oceed to
assault the soWp With all sbe force at
bse command as 5000 as the present
truce expires Il is expected by Shat.
ter .ha: the navy will cooperate aod,
while Secretary Long has received no
direct advices on that point from Ad
sairal Sampson. be fully credits the ex
oee,asiop. Reluctant as the war de-
psr,mens is to sacrifice the many lives
that mighs be lost 10 an assault, it Is
aeeued to be better policy to make ii
shan to ALLOW the meu to rot away With
;eyers aud other diseases during the
loce period that would be required te
perfect The reduction of the city by
steady investment. An expectation is
still entertained here, however, that
this assault will be unnecessary through
Toral surrendering before it begins L
was the spread of this belief caused BY
a knowledge of the more energetic
steps ia prospect. that tended to remove
largely the feeling of depression mani,
fes:ed at the opening Of the day upon
.be circulation of rumors OF the ap'
pearapce of yellow fever in the Amer'
can camps.
Regarding the fa'ure of Santiago
nothing has bsen officially stated. be-
j: is significant that orders we're 'ssuee
from the department. this afternoon te
n,epare the fest ADD second regiment O
vo!uoeeer imuuoes for immediate de
nsr,ure for the front. This wouIc
seem to be Indicative of a purpose or
.he part of the government to garrison
saotiago With these fever proof mer
after it's cspifu'a,ioo. thus permitting
:he removal Of the regular troops 'f
more healthy points.