The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-30
THE WAR SITUATION.
Relative Strength of Opposing Forces
Forecast of the Operations.

Forecast of the Operations.
Washington, June 29.-The opinion
prevails here that within day or two at :
Most Gen. Shafter will have begun his
attack upon the city of Santiago proper. |
The important event of the day was the
generals announcement that he could
take the city in fOrty-eight hours, but It
considerable loss. Taken in connection
with the announcement contained in an
other dispatch that he is going to attack
without waiting for reinf0rcements 1t
will be seen that the officials have some
ground for their expectation that the first
great engagement of the war will begin
in Il very short time. Numerically the
opposing armies are not very different.
the estimate of the Spanish force being
placed at 14,000 men thoroughly en-
trenched and behind barbed wire fences
and blockhonses, as against about $4,000
under Shafter's command aided by 1000
Cubans. One of the gravest elements
in the problem. however, is the Spanish
warshipS, for unless Shafter is material
ly assisted by Sampson, who might en-
gage the full attention of the Spanish
war ships. their fire upon the American
advance forces would be very hard TO
meet. The military authorities here say
Gen. Linares has shown great military
tact in slowly retiring during the last
few days as he has gradually drawn our
troops away from the protection of the
American ships and brought them close
to the fire of the Spanish ships in San
tiago harbor. For this reason it was
with relief that the announcement was
received here that Shafter had succeed
ed in landing all of his artillery includ-
ing his siege train. for unless Sampson
can he relied upon to force his way into
the harbor and attack the Spanish ships.
The siege guns planted on heights com
mandng the bay will be the main re-
lance of Gen. Shaftcr in offsetting the
presence of the Spanish ironclads.
Undoubtedly Shafter is animated TO
attack as soon as possible by his knowl-
edge of the approach Of the reinforce
ments for LinareS from Manzanillo. for
with this additional opposing force
Shafter's position would he diSagreeable. !
1t not perilous, at least until he had
received reinforcements. The War De- !
partment received the first definite news
to-day as TO the approach of these I
Spanish reinforccments This was in an !
official dispatch stating that 5000 men |
with pack trains and droves of animals |
were advancing from Manzanilo. and |
were 81 miles from Santiago. 1t has |
been known through reports from Lieu |
tenant joyce, made to General Miles, |
that the Spaniards have 10000 men at |,
Manzanillo and 10000 ut H0lguin and |
every precaution has been taken to guard |
against their advance from either quart !
er The official report to-day showed
that 5000 of those at Manzanillo had ,
covered half the distance to Santiago |
and it is the belief of military officials |
here that General PandO is making SINH |
lar advance with his 10000 men from
Holguin. These advances. now pract- |
cally unopposed, are regarded as one of ,
the most serious phases of the situation. !
There is the further element to which /
the military authorities are giving care
ful attention that one man entrenched !
behind earthworks or in rife pits. is |
worth three men in the open. 1t is said !
that the battles of ChancellorsviIle and
Spottsylvania. afforded the most direct
proof of this fact. 1t was announced
at the War Department that by their re-
ports 5000 soldiers should be leaving
Tampa to join Shafter. They will he
three or four days on the voyage, and il |
is probable that it is the force that
General Shafter refers to rs likely To ar
rive too late for his action
The Navy Department today gave out
Il message from Admiral Dewey which
was brought to Hong Kong by the Me.
Culloch, so that it must have left Cavite
on the 23rd The admiral made no
reference to the landing 6f German ma.
rines, and the officials here are satisfied
that Germany is acting in good faith,
n - ~.
The report that the Egyptian govern
ment finally had refused coal to Ca-
mara'S feet ut Port Said, has not yet
been officially confirmed, but its accu-
racy is not questioned. There is still
some doubt whether this refusal in it
self will operate to prevent the further
of the Spanish squadron to-
ward the Philippines as Madrid adj
vices alleged purpose on the part OF
the Spanish government to send addi-i