The record-union., 1898-06-30
SKATER HEARD FROM.
Will Attack Santiago as Soon as He
Gets Troops Ready to Move.

Gets Troops Ready to Move.
WASHINGTON, June 29.-General
Shafter has reported two most import
ant developments in the military situa-
tion at Santiago. First, that he ex-
poets to take the city as soon as he
gets ready to move, and that he will
not wait for reinforcements. Second.
that Spanish reinforcements numbering
5000 men, accompanied by pack trains
and large droves of animals, are ad-
yancing from Manzanillo to the relief
of Santiago, and are now fifty-four
miles from that city. A number os dis
patches have been received from Cen
eral Shafter covering all the details of
the present situation. Some of them
are to the Secretary of War, Others to
Major General Miles. They cover sub
stantially the same ground.
1t is evidently General Skaters pur-
pose not to wait for the reinforcements
now going forward to him, but to make
his attack before the 5000 Spanish
troops approaching from the west can
reach the city. The statement that
they are now but fifty-four miles from
Santiago is the most definite informa-
ton thus far received 1t is about 100
miles from Manzanillo to Santiago, so
that the Spanish forces have covered
about one half the distance at the time
they We're located by the American Off
GERS. This probably was a day or two
ago, for General Skaters dispatch was
sent last might, and in the meantime the
Spaniards undoubtedly have advanced
considerably further.
The droves of cattle which the Span
fsh army is bringing along shows pur-
pose to lay in ample fresh meat, in an
t1cipadon of a siege. This and the pack
train hamper a rapid advance, but even
with bad road the Spaniards prob
ably will make from ten to twenty miles
day Much reliance has been PLACED
on General Garcia's Cubans to prevent
this advance of reinforcements from
the left. But it appears that Garcia S
entire force has been withdrawn from
the left, and is now with General Shat
ter's main body.
General Shafter also reports the de-
tails of this transfer of Garcias forces
He says the transfer from Acaderros
covered fifty miles, and that 1900 of
Garcia's troops were landed on the right
OF the harbor, making in all over 1000
Cubans concentrated with the American
troops on the right of the city. He
does not mention specifically whether
amy Cubans are on the left, but the in
ference is plain from his detailed report
that most, If not all of them, accom-
panied Garcia in the transfers.
This move was doubtless made before
word had reached General Shafter that
the Spanish reinforcements were fifty
four miles to the left OF Santiago, else
it is felt that General Garcia,s forces
would have been kept on the left to
hamper the advance Of the Spaniards,
and, If possible, to hold them back
Whether this can be done now is prob
1ematical. From the fact that General
Shafter reports that he will take the
city as soon as he can get ready to
move, it Is evident he wishes to strike
the blow before there is time for the
Spanish troops from Manzanillo to
reach the city.
General Skaters various dispatches
also contain much information on other
features OF the military situation He
expresses the warmest thanks for the
congratulations sent to him by the
President through Secretary Alger, and
those of the commanding General, Cen
eral Miles, though he modestly refers to
the recent affair in which the Rough
Riders and cavalry men participated
as unimportant. He says only 946 of
our men We're engaged, but it was very
decisive in our favor, the enemy retreat
ing precipitatedly. General Shafter
says that the lack of cavalry was all
that prevented the capture Of the Span
ish forces. He expressed the deepest
ryvph cf hn 1nCS of Of
brave men. In vein of ridicule he
refers to reports reaching him from
Santiago that the American troops
were beaten and that the Spaniards re-
tired only because the Americans per-
sisted in fighting
General Shafter emphasizes the need
of horses. In particular he wants
horses for the third battalion of the
First Cavalry and for Colonel Woods
Rough Riders. He says the horses he
carried on the expedition stood the voy-
age well.
One of the most satisfactory points
reported by General Shafter is that
the last Of the artillery had landed.
This means a great deal, as it was
feared the loss of the lighter would
seriously delay the landing of the heavy
artillery. He does not specify that
the heavy guns as we'll as the light
artillery were landed, but his state
ment that the last Of the artillery was
landed is taken to cover all of the ord
nance
With these siege guns on shore, Cen
eral Shafter is now in a position to sup
port a troop of cavalry with the big
guns of the heavy artillery, as we'll as
the light field guns.
It appears also from the reports
that the last of the troops were not
landed until yesterday, this occurring
simultaneously with the landing of the
artillery and the transfer of the Gu
bans. 1t was practically the last move
in concluding the preparations for ac-
tual operations.
General Skaters dispatches speak Of
the spirits of the troops and their ex-
cellent health. They bring out also
that the commander is not less in high
spirits than his men. for he concludes
one of his dispatches with the laconic
sentence that he hopes to send favor
able reports soon.
GRAVES OF OUR DEAD.
WASHINGTON, June 29-The War
Department has posted the following
bulletin:
PLAYA DEL ESTE, June 29.-Hon.
Russell A. Alger, Secretary of War:
on Siboney. June %. The graves Of
the dead are marked. SO that there will
be no mistake in Identification The
health OF the command Is reported to
me by the surgeons as remarkable OUT
side of the wounded. There are to-day
less than $50 men sick So far no