The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-12

Skaters report from Siboney sent just
before mid -night last night caused of
ficals of the War Department to wait
all day With the expectation of hear
ing that the bombardment of Santiago
had begun. No word to that effect came,
however. up to the time the Department
closed, and though there is little reason
10 doubt that the General carried ont
the programme of which he had notified
the Department, il was regarded as pos
sible that he had consented to furth
er extension under the flag of truce in
view of certain signs Of weakening on
the part of the Spanish commander.
Tests made recently of the naval ord
nance gave very unsatisfactory results
when ii was attempted to project shells
over the high hills from the open sea into
Santiago city. Possibly better results
may be attained tomorrow if the attack
is resumed then. but there is much like
lihood that the main reliance will be
upon such of the light draught vessels OF
Admiral Simpsons fleet as may succeed
i'm getting close to the shore and i'll a
better position than the heavy battle
SHlIlS. liz bliitiiilN Itit tlt S'itioi'N'
that what appears to be delay on the
part of General Shafter was really caus-
ed by his efforts to carry out strictly the
Presidents injunction to prevent the
Spanish army from escaping from San
tiago.
He might have attacked the town sew
eral days ago with the result that if
the Spanish were overcome they would
have retreated without obstruction to
the northwest beyond the reach of our
soldiers to follow. His dispatch writ
ten late last night indicates clearly that
he has been trying to complete his line
Of investment so as to prevent such an
escape and as he appears to feel salts
fled that he has accomplished this the
final assault will not he delayed much
longer. General Shafter is disposed to
save every life possible in the war. II
is 20 save our troops that he desires 20
make Il free use of artillery before the
assault proper begins. and also to secure
the cooperation of the navy in the at
tack. The little artillery attack yester-
day appears to have been more serious in
its result than was ut first suspected hy
General Shafter himself. for during the
afternoon he was obliged to report as
one result the death of Captain Chas.
w. Rowell, Second infantry one of the
most gallant and popular officers of the
regular establishment.
The cable communication between
Washington and General Shafters
headquarters has now been gotten into
excellent condition so that it has been
possible to receive at the Department
a message within twenty minutes after
it had been dispatched by General Shat
tn,, II e
General Shafter's end of the line. has
reported to the Department that he is
now engaged in laying cable from
Guantanamo to Playa del Este. which
Will still further reduce that time re-
quired for the exchange of communica-
tions.
The appearance at the Navy Depart
ment this morning at an early hour of
Ensign Palmer, one of the officers Of
the St Louis. which arrived at Ports
mouth yesterday, led the officials 70 be-
lieve that he had brought with him the
reports of the American naval com
manders upon the battle which resulted
III the destruction of Cervera's SQUAD
ron. 1t turned out however. that the
st. Louis Ind started from Siboney be-
fore the official reports on that engage
ment had been prepared.
EX-Secretary Herbert had quite n con-
ference with Secretary Long this even
ing upon the subject of fire-proof wood
for naval construction. He brought with
him Il formidable array of facts gath
cred from the newspaper reports of the
battle to show that fire was the element
that worked the greatest destruction
among the Spanish squadron and that
wherever American vessels had been hit,
even in the case of the tiny torpedo
boat. they had escaped such fires because
of all their woodwork being fire-proof.
| SO impressed was Secretary Long with
| the statement that he has concluded to
| reconvene special board which was
| appointed some time ago to deal with
| this matter and which has reached that
the use of prepared wood be curtailed in
some measure in American warship
| building.
Naval officials say that a serious ir-
regularity occurred at the time the ships
| Of Admiral Cervcra's feet hauled down
| their cOlorS and surrendered. Inquiries
have brought ont the fact that the breech
| blocks of the guns were thrown over
| board, thus disabling the guns and max
| ing them practically worthless, and the
| valves by which the ships were flooded
| opened after the surrender, when under
| the rules of warfare. the enemy had
| ceased fighting and had asked for quar-
ter. 1t is said that further destruction
| TO the ships at such Il time was both
wanton and dishonorable, and that if the
persons responsible for it are located
| they are likely to be held responsible.
The Department has not yet received
the report of the court of inquiry show
| ing in detail the injuries received to these
| ships and the possibilities of salvage The
press report of the boards findings, say
| ing that only the Maria Teresa could be
saved. excited much surprise as it was
| confidently believed that the Colon also
no in, lnI rhn