Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-07-14

Washington, July l1.-Shortiy after
midnight the war department gave out
the following dispatch from Gen.
Shafter: Enemy opened fire few
minutes past four with light guns.
which were soon silenced by ours.
Very little musketry firing and the
enemy kept entirely in their entrench
ments. Three men slightly wounded.
Will have considerable forces to-mor-
row, enough TO completely block all
the roads on the northwest"
BombardIng the Trenches.
Word has been received from Gen
Shafter that owing TO his belief which
is equivalent to a moral certainty, that
all the Spanish soldiers have left the
city and are in the intrenchments, he
is bombartling the intrenchments with
view of saving the buildings in the
city for future occupancy.
Both land and sea forces are work
ing in harmony, Sampson throwing
100 pound shells from his l3-inch
guns across the six miles of country
separating the sea from the city, and
Shafter firing from his howitzers, ten
at least OF which he had in position
early in the day.
Merely Preliminary.
When questioned as TO whether he
believed that there had been bonn
bardment of the city, Gen. Corbin re-
piled: You know as much about it as
] do. | have kept nothing back |
should say. however, that the firing
Sunday was but the preliminary to the
more serious business of to-day" This
being thr case, the attempt to take the
city viii probably be made to-day.
The belief is held by the best in
formed officials that Gen. Toral, the
Spanish commander. will surrender
when h" finds It will be impossible for
him TO evacuate the city. Upon what
grounds this belief is based could not
be ascertained. but that information
TO that effect is in the hands of the
war officials there is no doubt. Cen
Skaters dispatch shows that he is en-
gagged now in strengthening his posi-
ton and to-day will follow up his oper-
atoms with a final assault upon the
city.
Opposing Forces at Santiago.
The American forces before San
tiago are as follows:
Volunteers-Fir Illinois Seventy
first New York, Second Massachu
ty-third Michigan Thirty fourth
Michigan and Rough Riders ...,....s $500
Eegulars-Ciens. kent's, Wheeler's and
Lawton's divisions. 10 reeiments OF in
fantry. dismounted cavalry and
Cubaus-Gen Garcia .................... 3pe0
Reserves ......,...,.-.......--...... SEQ
Total 25. 600
sampsons Fleet--New York. Brooklyn, In
diana. Massachusetts,, Texas. Vesuvius
and aaNiiaries. u OF the 10. u and eight
inch guns.
The Spanish forces:
Regular infantry ......................90 c0
Cavalry OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 500
Artiliery s.'....,................-. 600
Total 900
MORO. Socapa. etc. at the entrance to
the haroor.
The oGer to Surrender Santiago.
On Board the Dispatch Boat Wanda,
on Juragua, July 9, via Kingston. ia
maica. July 1.-THE surrender of San
tiago was formally offered by the
Spanish commander, Gen. Toral, Sat
urday, but the conditions attached
caused prompt refusal of the offer by
Gen. Shafter. The negotiations, how
ever. resulted in the extension of the
armistice until noon sunday Gen.
Toral's proposal contemplated the inn
mediate surrender of the city but he
insisted that his army be permitted to
march away under arms and with fy-
ing colors and declared that he would
fish: 10 the last ditch unless the con
diticns were accepted. Gen. Shafter
replied that nothing but unconditional
4
but he consented to cable the Spanish
offer 10 Washington, ia the meantime
extending the armistice.
Prisoners of war.
Portsmouth, y. H., July 1.-THE
auxiliary cruiser ST. Louis with 74G
Spanish soldiers, including 81 officers.
arrived in Portsmouth harbor at s: 30
o'clock Sunday morning, and few
minutes later dropped anchor just
above Fishing island. The big liner
left Guantanamo at six o'clock Tues
day afternoon. July 5. and did not
make a stop until she dropped anchor
in Portsmouth hnrbor.
Much T'eace Talk
Madrid. July u.-lnformation re-
ceived from the mos reliable sources
Is 10 the rnect that the darkest pes
simism pervades Madrid oficialdom.
The hopelessress of the war is finally
recognized aud the peace idea now
seems To predominant in the cabinet.
and negotiations are considered urgent.
The cabinet is likely TO cohere until
peace is secured Il is now recognized
that Santiago de Cuba is completely
beleaEuered and canrot hold out, owing
to the lack Of provisions and munitions
OF war. 1t is considered certain that
the Americans viii blockade Cuban and
Puerto Rican ports. cutting of their
supplies. while the a9tlorities are con
yineed that an American fleet is com
ing TO the peninsula. There is no con
fdence felt that the naAers will inter.