New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-02
WHAT WASHINGTON HEARS.
BRIEF REPORTS FROM FRONT.
OFFICIALS HAVE UNLIMITED CONFI-
DENCE IN GENERAL SHAFTER'S
JUDGMENT AND ENERGY.


the battle Of Manila and on the first day OF the
month. Ike that glorious engagement. the first
set battle OF the war IN thi- -om.sphere began.
The result was not known when the War De-
partment closed Never before since the begin
ming Of host,lties have such intense interest
ana anxiety been manifested. The officials here
possible to strengthen General Skaters hands
and they have unlimited confidence IN his dis
cretion. bravery and energy The attack to-
day several days before the public expected the
battle. is a tribute to his energy as we'll as to
his Judgment. for ne undoubtedly found II
necessary 70 crush the enemy In detail instead
him.
REGARDED AS A HEAVY sKIRMIsH.
AS the day wore along without bringing any
news the anxiety increased. and the question
was IN every ones mouth: Why did he not
report" Adtutant- General Corbin's response
was brief hut po'nted-"He IS hghting. not
writng"-and this was accepted as a sound ex-
PLANTATION. Just before O'Clock brief dispatch
came from Playa del Este the cable station
nea. Santiago But II was from an engineer
officer to General Miles and made reference
TO the progress OF the battle. merely referring
TO certain necessary material and live stock.
On the whole this absence Of official news was
regarded as a favorable indication. the reason
Ing being tha, this mornings engagement. was
only heavy skirnsh. and that the Army was
feeling the enemy 70 discover and strike at his
weak spot. It was nearly o'clock when the
the enemy was rctreating.
General Miles was OF the opinion that the
action o, to-day was In the nature OF heavy
skirmish al along the American front. partic-
ularly the right and that its main purpose was
10 develop the strength % the enemy. and. I.
possible. 70 learn the vulnerable point OF the
Spanish front. This opinion. however. was
based on the lack ot definite Information. and
General Miles fet that any hour might bring
word Of general engagement. Br!gadler- Gen
eral stone was inclined to believe that after
rnairtaining Their stand today. the spaniards
would retire In the night. leaving the city evac-
uated
SPANISH LINES OF RETREAT
The military authorities here are fully con-
sdering the chances OF the retreat Of the Span
ish Army from Santiago. and are endeavoring
so TO shape Affairs tina, General shatter will not
only take Santiago. bu, will capture the Span
ish forces before they ge, away north TO et-
feet n junction with General Pando. Full In
formation as to possible lines ot retreat has
been placed a, the disposal - The War Depart
rnent. ore o. the most Interesting statements
is that OF MI cox general manage. &C. he Span
ish American Mining Company n "cqn!ri. who
is thoroughly acquainted with a. ihe country
surrounding Santiago. He shows that ;he two
possible lines o, re,rea, are. First. by the road
TO FL Cob.e: second. by following he line Of the
sabanG'o and Mara.o Railroad The nrst line
VIII be easy FOR about the first ten miles AZ fai
as Ell Cobre. but after that the country is noun
slstence. and ne pass TO reach the central
plateau ot the island would be diTcult.
PASSES ~ THE MOUNTAINS
The more likely lire Of retreat would be along
the line Of the above-nl ntoned railroad. cross
ing the Sierra Maestro at f. Cristo. a pass six
hundred feet above the sea. ten miles south OF
Santiago which Is the lowest pass through the
Sierra Maestro FOR many miles. The country
back OF this is a rolling plateau OF rich agri-
cultural LAND At Manaos. on the railroad two
miles north Of the pass. is bridge consisting
OF series OF thirty-foot spans on iron trestle
bents. This point is about two miles beyond
the cr!sto summit ard just beyond this bridge
the railroad divides into two branches The
destruction OF this bridge would be the most
feasible method 0, preventing the approach OF
General Pando's troops 10 relieve Santiago IL
is probable that II the Spaniards retreat by
.b,s road they will make a stand on the plateau
at FL Cristo and hold the pass Of FL Cristo
The only other pass through the mountains
near this point is at Escandel summit. about
six miles In a stralsht inc '"'' va ~ '
Pass. Escandel summit is 200 feet above the
sea and is reached from Santiago via Caney'
The road from Santiago TO Caney Is fairiy good
being wide enough for vehicles.
Between Caney and Escandel the road' "hich
10 no more than a trail ascends the mountains
and Is winding and broken. Beyond Escandei
across the range the country is heavily tmbered
o,a hroLeo and the roads are not good. 1t Is
an ideal country for amousA. ihis Is p'ooao''
the only pass through which the Spanish posi-
ton could be turned should the spanish troops
ooo,nv the FL Cristo plateau and pass
Tho railroad has been fortified by line OF
blockhouses protecting the uriuses' anu oe.'a'h
- :, or,,fvation inclosed between these forts
.,.,.od and would afford supply