Evening journal., 1898-07-13
THE FINAL ASSAULT.
Aggressive Operations to Be Begun
at Once.
AMERICAN GUNS COVER THE CITY
Army aud Navy Ready TO Shell the span
ish stronghold-sm ;'robabil-
ity of Torais Esc- :e-
treat Cut Cc.

BEFORE SANTIAGO, Va. Playa del
Este Guantanamo Bay July l@-fes
terday morning General Toral sent out
a reply TO General Skaters second de.
mand for the unconditional surrender
OF Santiago, made by the latter yester.
day afternoon.
In his reply General Toral referred &C
his refusal to accede 20 the American
demand made on Sunday and again re.
iterated his determination to resist.
Notwithstanding this the American
batteries did not open fire yesterday
morning, and the renewal Of the bonn
bardment was postponed until today
when II Is hoped that all Of General
Randolph's batteries will be in position
The Siege guns landed Monday VIII alsc
be brought up as soon as possible.
Torrents Of rain fell Monday night
drowning out the boys in the trenches
and making the roads almost impassa-
Bile. This may delay the batteries and
siege guns.
The volunteers. who are being hur-
ried on to the front, are being located
along the right center in the positions
which have been occupied by General
Lawton's division while the latter has
moved forward, extending our right un-
iii II almost touches the road to Cal
menes, over which General Toral would
have to retreat II he should be fool
hardy enough 10 make the attempt.
The Cubans under General CaliXtc
Garcia took Caimenes without opposi-
tion Sunday night and have intrench-
ments on either side OF the road. The
Americans are now In position to strike
the enemy on the left flank and roll II
up, making the Spanish intrenchments
north of the city untenable.
General Toral. realizing the weakness
OF this flank. has been busy during the
existence OF the truce In doubling back
and firing his guns in the direction from
which he is threatened. Most of Gener-
al Randoiphs guns will be located upon
the heights In the center OF General
Lawtons new position. where they COM
mand the town. Sunday afternoon the
Capron and Hanes batteries on the right
succeeded in tearing up the emplace.
ments for a palm" battery, as II Is call
ed. and in pumping shells into several
blockhouses on sallents. but the shots
directed at the Spanards In the trench
es did not appear to have much effect
shrapnel was rapidly broken directly
over the trenches. yet IN five minutes
the trenches at every point Of explosion
would be alive with the enemy They
would watch for the flash OF our guns
and drop before the shells exploded
Our mortar fire was directed at the
Spanish bull ring and tore up almost
everything in the vicinity. II Is under
stood that the bull ring Is being used as
a barracks.
Three large steamers lie in the harbol
alongside the Philadelphia Iron compa'
ny's wharf. and a small Spanish gun
boat is anchored at the head OF the bay
The land forces watched with inter
est the bombardment from the fleet
About 8 o'clock the thunder Of guns wat
heard TO the seaward, and a dense clouC
OF smoke. rising over the ridge 10 th'
south, showed that the navy was a
work.
Many shells from the ships burs, II
the northeast part Of the city, which 1
Is difficult TO see from the American
line. II is impossible TO say what ef
feet they had. Several burst in the cen
ter Of the town with very great effect
One shell OF whose action good view
was had from San Juan hill burst in
small street.
When the atmosphere cleared {
seemed as II the entire street had beei
blown out OF existence. A large hol
was torn I'm the ground. and man,
buildings were demolished. If 100 9th
er shells could be landed with simila
effect. they would destroy SANTIAGO
The warships fired for only a shor
time