New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-03
TENSION IN WASHINGTON
NEWS OF DESPERATE FIGHT
ING YESTERDAY RECEIVED.
ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY ARMY AND
NAVY OFFICIALS TO CARE FOR THE
WOUNDED AT SANTIAGO

Washington, July 2--This has been day of
almost unparalleled suspense and anxiety. From
President Mckinley down through all officia.
Washington everybody has been under tre-
nendous strain. Tidings from Shatter have
been eagerly awaited and momentariy ex-
pected. but except for brief dispatch on the
extent Of the losses yesterday nothing cams
from him during the day concerning the prog
ress Of the action at Santiago.
Just at the close Of the day the drst BIT OF In
formation coming directly to officiet reached
the President and Secretary Alger II was
private dispatch. not primarily intended for
them. although IT came through official chan
nes Briefly and eypressvely it told the story
OF day Of terrific hghtng. II was direct from
the field OF action. and was as late as 4 p m
It said that the engagement had been in prog
ress throughout the day that the dead and
wounded were being carried to the rear, and
that the American losses were heavy. Tho
exact wording OF the dispatch was not made
known, but one Of the high officials who read
It said that 1t conveyed 10 him the idea OF ex-
treme tension. and a battle in which all the
fercest elements Of warfare prevailed
Until this came the officials were positively
without word as to whether the engagement
begun yesterday was continuing to-day. They
could only speculate. some taking the View
that the assault Of yesterday had been followed
to-day by storml,g Of the city itself. others
maintaining that General Skaters troops. spent
with the terrible strain of yesterday. had
paused to-day long enough to clear the field
Of dead and wounded.
ANXIETY NOT RELIEVED.
It vas only by this brief private message
which under ordinary circumstances would
have received little attention. that the President
and his advisers were made aware that the
battle was still in progress. and still without
definite issue. AS II was the few words re-
lieved the suspense. but not the anxiety. 1t
made known only that the fight was going on
One Of the officials who read it said II con-
veyed as much hopeful information as could bs
expected for he had not looked for victory yet
But others were less h peful in their viewA
That the battle was still raging meant that the
American soldiers were passing through .
t!cally for thrty-six no RS The mere fact
that the dispatch did no, chronicle A decisive
advantage for the American forces was con-
strued by some officials ominous.
oHi
the day was utterly devoid OF any information
bearing on the situation at Santiago. Secretary
Alger said at the close Of office hours 'iat he
had not received word from General shafter
since the brief dispatch this morning referring
to the losses yesterday. Secretary Long said
at the same hour that nothing had come from
Admiral Sampson. The Secretary dismissed as
groundless the rumor that word had reached
him that Moro Castle had been demolished BY
the American squadron.
General Miles similarly without advices.
At o'clock he Joined Secretary Alger in the
la,ters Office and the two conferred for long
time on the military situation Neither the
Secretary nor the commanding General under
estimate the great task before the American
Army. with an enemy we'll entrenched In front
of them. with Cervera's guns pouring shot and
shell into the lines. and with the possibility that
Spanish relnforcements have now swelled the
ranks Of the enemy until they are greater than
the forces under the American commander
TO CARE FOR THE WOUNDED.
But all that the Government IN Washington