The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-13
BEFORE SANTIAGO.

Approximations ia Washington that the
spanish Carlton Muy EtCape-NavSl
Part OF the Opsrauons About Over.
Preparing 20 Dispatch WRtssn's squad
ron.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July l9-The
expectation was general to-day that
Santiago would be ours very soon. The
main source Of apprehension to-day was
that the Spanlards may have succeeded
to a considerable degree in evacuating
tae town before the American lines of
Investment we're completed so that
when the American troops entered 1t
would be found mere empty husk with
perhaps nothing more than a desperate
rear guard of spanlards left to protect
and conceal the retreat OF the main
body OF the troops. There were several
indications OF some such move which Is
supposed to have been In progress for
the past three or four days. General
Shafter himself reported under date Of
Sunday that the SpanlardB had evacn- |
ated small town on the west side OF
fheSbay, one OF the suburbs OF Santa
20. while the Associated Press dis
patches OF yesterday referTed to the
departure Of u body Of Spanish troops
from Santiago towards Holguin. or
course these facts are not conclusive
that the town has been evacuated by
the Spanish army, but the fact cannot
be concealed that there is some appTe-
hension entertained that the main re-
anti OF the investment of Santiago, aside
from the Important achievement OF
driving the Spanish squadron TO It's de-
struction, Will be the inheritance by
Shafter OF several thousand wounded
Spanish soldiers and many more thou'
sand hungry mouths In Santiago.
General Miles. who arrived at SlboneH
on the Yale yesterday, made the follow
ing report to Secretary Alge. to-day;
ARRIVED at noon. Had consultation
with Admiral Sampson and with GeRer-
nj shaEter by telephone Troops
brought from Tampa, Charleston and
New York arrived and leaving for the
front. Line OF Investment being ex-
tended. ,
(signed.) MILES
General Miles has not taken and Will
not take charge OF the operations now
being conducted against Santiago.
Whatever credit Is to be derived from
fhe capture OF that town II II results
AZ operation by General Shafter Will re-
dound to that officers credit for Cen
erni Miles has declared expressly that
no does not assume the conduct OF these
0peratIons. He IS there simply In his
cEpacity as commanding general OF the
arnng to look over the field and asceF-
TAIN whether the operations are going
along as they should. But with his APP
nearlnce comes very substantial assist
1nce for General Shafter. With him on
ire Yale were more than 1000 men and
considerable artillery, while the Column
ala. which formed part Of his expedition
IS expected to report her arrival at any
moment with the remainder OF the
troops, AS General Shnfter has refer
red TO the thinness Of his lines It u ex-
Dected these achievements VIII DC
very gratefully received.
The naval officers regard their part IL
4be operatlons at Santiago as at an end
1rSctically, and are looking around for
now worlds to conquer. Theic eyes are
4urned to the east and they are rushing
SreparatIons for the dispatch Of COM
voodore Watson's eastern squadron.
sThis is decidedly n more attractive
cFIiise from naval point OF view than
the demonstration proposed against
san Juan de Porto Rico, which Is TN
derstood to he the next number on the
programme, but which the naval au-
thoTItles believe will not amount to
much because of the easg reduction OF
tbe defenses. Every ship In Watson's
SGuRdron has been supplied with the
very latest charts,not only Of the coasts
~ Spaln and OF the Mediterranean, but
N truck courses that will take them
eieay 10 the Philippines. In addition 70
thls the few officers assigned to tho
vessels of this squadron but not yet
abonrd have received orders from the
department To- 20 TO their ships at once
Notice of the departure OF some Of the
.yessels, therefore, may be looked for at
any moment
Secretary Long hns been In receipt Of
{eiegrnms OF personal nature from
Commodore schley and II ls believed
from Admiral Sampson az well. II Is
aupposed they hive been called forth
by tho newspaper controversy over the
credit for the. victory over the Spanish
I0uadron, controversy which IL most
Earnestly deprecated by the officials Of |
inc navy department. Secretary Long |
declines to make public these cable |
grams, though It 10 believed that they