The Mena star., 1898-07-13
ONLY EXPECTANCY.
War Officials Had Heard Nothing Tuesday Morning from Santiago.
Shafter Probably Waiting to Be Certain That the Saanisn Army Cannot Retreat from City-Sn"ther Flag of Truce
 Plans for General Assault

hdNy dJ odubldgO ndu redcuSu Iuc department so far as the public was informed Though the possibility of interrupted cable communication was suggested as an explanation for the lack of advices, it was announced at midnight that nothing had been l filed at Playa del Este for the officials here. Both Secretaries Long and Alger were at the white house during the evening, but returned to their residences early and gave no outward sign of anxiety or ex- pectation of startling news The arrival of Gen Miles and the confer ence between him and the command ing officers of the army and navy is taken by some to indicate that 1 If fighting occurred yesterday it was not of a serious character, l for with heavy engagement 1 progressing it was hardly pos 1 sible that Admiral Sampson or Gen. l Shafter would find time for confer ence. It is thought that possibly the arrival of Gen. Miles caused suspen- sion of active operations, in order that the entire situation might be dis cussed.
 The officials here are satisfied that what appears to be delay on the part of Gen. Shafter YVES really caused by his efforts to carry out strictly the presidents injunction to pre- vent the. Spanish army from escap- ing from Santiago. He nigh have at tackled the town several days ago, with the result that if the Spanish were overcome they would have re- treated without obstruction to the northwest, beyond the reach of our soldiers to follow.
 Another Flag of Truce Sent.
 OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July 12- At 9:30 yesterday morning, after sew eral range-fnding shots over the ridge protecting Santiago from the sea, the United States cruiser Newark opened fire into the city with her eight-inch guns. The signal corps officers sta toned on top of the ridge reported the effect of the shots. The New York, Brooklyn and Indiana participated in the firing at intervals of five minutes The bombardment lasted for two hours, when Gen. Shafter reported that the shells were mostly falling in the bay and doing but little damage. The last shot, however, struck a promi- nent church in the heart of the city, which was heavily stored with powder and ammunition, causing tremendous explosion. The extent of the damage is not yet known. When the warships ceased firing, and before Gen. Shafter began land attack. flag of truce was seen coming from the city. The object of this was not known yesterday at noon.
 Plan for a General Assault.
 W WAsHINeTnN, July 2-The plans for the attack on Santiago, as outlined by Gen. Shafter and Admiral Sampson to the president yesterday, include a general assault on the harbor fortifi- cations from land and sea and an att tempt on the part of the navy to force an entrance. Once in the harbor. Ad- miral Sampson's ships will draw up before the city and then an- other chance will be given Lin. ares to surrender It is believed here by the department officials that when the Spaniards find themselves entirely surrounded and looking into the muzzles of the guns of the navy and artillery, they will capitulate internationally. Should the other horn of the dilemma be taken by the enemy, it will not take long for Sampson and Shafter to complete the | work thus far we'll begun. A few hours assault by the combined forces will insure the reduction of the fortifi- cations and the surrender of the en- emy.
 Only Unconditional Surrender Acceptable.
 When Gen. Toral offered to sur- render the city on condition that he be permitted to withdraw his army. with colors flying Gen. Shafter promptly replied that only uncondi- tlonal surrender would be considered. At the same time he agreed to cable Toral's proposition to Washington and to extend the armistice until noon yesterday to await a reply Before the armistice expired Gen. Shafter's declination of Toral's offer had been ratified in Washington and Toral had replled in the negative to Shafter's demand for unconditional surrender
 shafter Has Sufficient Force
 uen. Shafter has nearly 50 siege guns and large number of seven-inch mortars, besides light artillery, at his disposal. These guns, taken in con. nection with the work by the fleet will, 1t is believed. carry terror and destruction to Santiago Anxiety has been expressed by the war departments ohclals as to whether Gen. Shafter nad sufficient force to prevent the evacuation of Santiaro l.. .G