The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-28

SCA dIu "tIlCL"l AA~"
ence in the secretary's office at 4
o'clock this afternoon when the first
Madrid bulletins announcing that
fighting had begun was shown to
them. The secretary read it aloud
with evident satisfaction and both
gentlemen expressed themselves graf
flied with this favorable report, coming
as it did from the enemy. There was
nc surprise that the fighting had be-
gun so soon. 1t was suggested by the
reporter that the troops a complet-
ed their landing only this morning.
Eyes, but they have gone there to
fight and are ready to begin at once"
replied General Miles. Secretary AL
ger said no word had been received up
TO that hour indicating that fighting
was in progress. He had no reason to
doubt, however. that our troops had
encountered the Spanish forces, and
had given a good account of them
selves.
General Miles said that the Ameri-
can troops would now push forward
aggressively, driving in the Spanish
and forcing them to fight. There was
not a suggestion of apprehension or
doubt, either with Secretary Alger or
General Miles, as to what the outcome
would be. They had made their plans
well and they were confident that Gen
eral Shafter and his troops would be
hammering at the gates of Santiago
before long.
The impression here is that the Span
iards will make their strongest stand
close to Santiago and the inner har-
Dor within the range Of protection of
tho or1no nf t1n hir w.
lying there. There is no doubt that I'M
til these ships are removed from the
field of operations the campaign
against Santiago will be conducted
against odds. The guns of the ships
omman the hills over which our
soldiers must come to attack the town
and reach the bay, but we will soon
bring our own artillery into play. The
naval officials here believe that when
the time comes for an attack by land
upon the town Sampson will force his
way into the harbor and take part in
the engagement. They are satisfied
that the wreck of the Merrimac does
not completely block the channel and
say that if Sampson does not come in
the Spanish fleet is likely to make a
desperate effort to get out. The mines
are to be considered in such cases, but
it is believed that once MORO castle
is taken by the combined attack of
the soldiers and fleet, these Obstruc-
tions can be easily remove with the
experience gained in Guantanamo bay.
LANDING OF TROOPS CONFLICT
ED.
The only positive news coming to the
war department up to the close of
office hours was a dispatch to General
Miles from one of his staff officers with
General Shafter, and also a brief dis
patch to General Greedy from Lieuten-
--+ ~1~- A11oxo To1nro l. die
patch stated in substance that the
landing of troops had been completed
without any casualties, save to one
Cuban soldier who had his arm injuri-
ed by the bursting of a shell. The
troops of Garcia and Rabbi, about $500
in number, had met American forces
with enthusiastic greetings. Stress
was laid upon the point that the Gu
bans were we'll armed and we'll disci-
plined. General Garcia was confident
that his forces would be sWelled to
10, 1000 men as soon as Santiago fell.
About the only need among the Gu
bans was shoes and quinine. The dis
patch to General Greedy merely stat
ed that progress was being made in
connecting the military forces direct
ly with the war department.
"A DIVISION ORDERED TO SANTI-
AGO.
During the day orders were issued
to the entire division, comprising the
newly created command of Brigadier
General Guy V. Henry, for their
speedy departure to reinforce General
Shafter at Santiago. Already the
Thirty-third Michigan and n bat
talon of the Thirty-fourth Michigan
have started on this mission. Today's
orders cover the balance of General
Henry's command. In includes the re-
naming b%attalions of the Thirty
fo,,rth NE;ohioor anI tho Ninth NoSco-
chusetts regiments. These will COM
p1ete General Duffield's command. The
Third Virginia, which belongs to this
brigade, will not go, as its equipment
is incomplete. The orders also cover
the entire brigade of Brigadier General
Garrelson, which includes the Sixth
Illinois, Sixth Massachusetts, and
Eigth and Ninth Ohio regiments. The
plan is to move all of General Henry's
division on the Harvard and Yale.
these ships to make two rOund trips.
The first trip will carry most, if not
all, of General Duffield's brigade. The
war department allows three days for
the trip, two days to unload the troops
and three days to return to Newport
News, making eight days. BY that
time General Garrelson's brigade will
be at Newport News ready to go on
board the ships, and then will come
the second trip, taking three days,
with two days allowed for Garrelson's
troops to unload in Cuba.
MILES WANTS TO GO TO CUBA.
Reports were current at the war de-
partment again today that General
MILES, commanding the army, would
lie ave the city within the next two
da VS.. 1t was asserted also that. he had
asked to get into the actual fighting
by DING to Cuba and there assuming
comm and of the troops. This was con-
radio, DRY to the reports circulated a
few DAYS ago that General Miles would
taxi com .mand of the Porto Rico expe-
dition. when General Miles after
ton was drawn to the several conflict
ing reports tonight he good natursd-
ly declined to discuss them.
THE ACCIDENT ON THE YANKEE.
The details Of the accident on the