The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-06
70 COMBINE FORCES.
Chatter and Sampson May Unite to
Capture Santiago, ri
AND POSTPONE B0MBARDMENT.

Destruction OF Cervera's Fleet Re.
suits in a Complete Transformation
in Military and Naval Conditions.
Commanders Are Advised to Confer.
Washington, July 6.-As a result Of
the cabinet meeting yesterday instruc-
tions were sent by the president to
Admiral Sampson and General Shafter
to confer together concerning Joint
plan of attack upon the city. Upon the
outcome of this conference depends the
line of action of the immediate future.
For the present the land bombardment
by General Skaters forces has been
deferred, as the situation has so COM
pletely changed by the annihilation of
the Spanish fleet that 1t is manifestly
the part of wisdom for this land bonn
bardment to await the cooperation
and support of bombardment from
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet. General
Skaters demand for the surrender of
Santiago on the pain of bombardment
was made at 1880 o'clock Sunday morn
ing. An hour later Admiral Cervera
made his suicidal dash from the har-
ItSullluk III q SouhpiClC tioho-
formation of ths naval and military
conditions.
Instead of a menacing Spanish fleet
within the harbor the way has been
cleared, save for the shore batteries.
for the entrance Of the American fleet
up to the very wharves of the city.
With this material change wrought 1t
was obvious to the authorities here
that the blow first intended to be de-
livered by General Shafter at once
would be douby effective and decisive
II the two forces could be brought to-
gether and strike simultaneously from
land and sea. 1t is for this reason that
the conference Is held between the
American general and the American
admiral. Up to the close of Office hours
yesterday no word had come either to
the war or navy departments, so far
as was disclosed. as to what determine
ton had been reached at the confer
ence.
At the same time It is the clear ex-
pectation of the authorities here that
the conference will result in de-
termination by the admiral to take his
feet through the narrow neck Of tho
harbor, make his way past the shore
batteries and fortifcations, and take
position before the city for bonn
bardment. There is reason to believe
that the Instructions sent to Admiral
Sampson at least conveyed the desire.
II not the Instructions, that he enter
the harbor. But 1t Is said that the
admiral and the general continue to be
the supreme officials in authority. and
that their judgment will be taken as
final In the course to be adopted.
There is said to be no obstacle, 50
far as navigation is concerned, to tho
entrance of the harbor by the Ameri-
can fleet. The Cristobal Colon, which
cleared the Merrimac and got out of
the harbor Sunday drew % feet
inches which Is within seven inches Of
the draft of the battleships Iowa. 1ndi-
ana Massachusetts and Oregon. and is
greater than the draft Of the battleship
Texas. Moreover. the navy depart
ment has known for the last ten days
that the neck of the channel esR open.
despite the sinking of the Merrimac
and that there was clear sea way Of
seven fathoms through which any ship
in our navy Gould sail. This removes
all difficulty. except for submarine
HiHcS, VI lIoLu lilc oholC odttSiiS.
As to the mines. little account IL
taken of them since the Spanish fleet
Sassed over them. The Spaniards are
in the habit of using contact mines, SO
that there is little likelihood of there
being mines operated by electrical con-
nection with the shore. The forts and
batteries have been badly weakened by
the constant fire of the fleet for many
Ill A1A~
they are greatly disabled. Once up to
the city the feet and army could COM
bne in a terrific double fire. No less
than 292 heavy guns would be trained
from the American warshiDs on the
city, and at the same time the big siege
guns which it is expected have been
brought to the front Of Skaters line.
would rain down torrent of steel from
that quarter. The Siege guns throw
shells of 1875 pounds. Aside from them
there are four Morton howitzers and a
large number of smaller howitzers.
These are In the heavy artillery, whi,o
the light artillery embraces great
number Of guns Of 3.2 caliber Com
bined. this fire from land and sea would
be terrific in its effect.
The action of the foreign represent.
atives at Santiago has been an addi.
tonal reason for deferring the bom-
bardment 1t was made known late
yesterday that one of General Skaters
dispatches stated that these represents
tves had joined in a request tn him to
put off the shelling Of the city for an.
other brief period, until theiE respective
colonies could be removed. This
accounts for the departure of the for
eign warshps for Santiago harbor, as
they are bearing away the foreign res-
idents In the period before the bonn.
bardment begins.
The definite official report reaching
here that the Spanish fleet had entered
the Suez canal made no change in tho
plans of the navy department as to
sending Commodore Watson's squad
ron to Spain. Secretary Long said IL
would start at the earliest possible
moment. but he did not care to give
the day of departure.
Tranking Privilege For Our Fighters
Washington. July 6-Representative
Gibson. of Tennessee, has introduced
bills extending the franking privilege
to the officers and enlisted men Of tho
army and navy while in actual war
service, and authorizing the raising
OF 900 colored troops from the nation
at large for two years service.
Yesterdays Baseball Games.
At Pittsburg-Pittsburs s; St. Louis, l.
At Baltimore-Ba altmore. Z; Philadelphia,
I. At New York-Eoston, 5; New York,
g. At Washing gton-Was 4: Brook.
lyn. 2. At Chicago-Chicago, 5; Cleve-
land, 4.
At Observation-Disclosures Q. Wilkes.
barre, 8. At Provldence-Providence, II:
Springfield 8. At Buffalo-Toronto, l0;
Buffalo. 4. At Observation-Disclosures, 3;
Syracuse /.