The record-union., 1898-07-11
SHAFTER'S
CANNON
THUNDER.
Bombardnent Of Santiago
Begun
The Enemy Opened Fire With
Light Guns,
But They Were Soon SiIenced by
Fire From Ours.
There viii be Enough Forces by To-Day
to Complete the Block
ade of All the
Roads.


bardment of Santiago has begun.
That was the verbal information OBJ
tanned this evening shortly before y
o'clock at the War Department.
Almost Immediately three bulletins
We're posted, the most important Of
which was from General Shafter. This
announced that General Toral, who
succeeded Linares when the latter was
wounded, had declined to surrender.
and that the bombardment of the town
would be begun by the army and navy
about o'clock this afternoon.
The fact that the bombardment was
scheduled by Shafter to begin so late
in the day created some comment, but
no explanation of it was offered. In
answer to questions bearing upon that
movement, General Corbin said: Il
have not the slightest information as
to the reason General Shafter had Tor
beginning the bombardment at the hour
he names, but it was probably because
he was ready just at that time. You
can speculate about that as well as
/ can"
Information received by the War
Department during the few days or
truce indicates that he has materially
strengthened his position During the
past week he has received reinforce
ments of both artillery and infantry.
Randolph's Battery of twenty-four
gums. which left Key West last Tues
day at midnight, is now in operation
before Santiago, and, as one or the
War Department officials expressed ist,
when these long toms of Randolph
begin to talk, something will happen
in Santiago"
General Shafter has nearly fifty
siege guns and a large number or
6-inch mortars, besides light artillery
at his disposition. These guns, taken
in connection with the wreck that can
be done by the fleet, will, it is believed,
carry terror and destruction to Santl-
ago.
Anxiety has been expressed by the
War Department officials as to whetn-
er General Shafter had a sufficient force
to prevent the evacuation OF Santiago
nv the enemy. This anxiety was al
layed about half-past II tonight by
the receipt of the following dispatch
from General Shafter, which contained
confirmation, too, Of the earlier reports
of the beginning of the bombardrneht;
RTERS FIFTH CORPS,
PLAYA DEL ESTE, July lo-AoJu-
fant General. Washington: Enemy
opened fire few minutes past with
LIGHT guns. which were soon silenced py
ours. Very little musketry firing ana
the enemy kept entirely in the IN
treuchments Three men slightly
wounded. VIII have considerable
forces to- morrow, enough TO completely
block the roads. SHAFIEf-
General Garcia reports that the
enemy evacuated the little town calico
Deecanios about three miles from San
tiago and near the bay.
The belief is held by the best in
formed officers that General Toral, the
St,arish commander, will surrender
when he finds it will be impossible for
him to evacuate the city. Upon what
grounds this belief is based could not
ba ascertained, but that information to
that effect is in the hands of the war
officials. there is no doubt. Genera
cbaeter's dispatch tonight shows that
he is engaged now in strengthening his
ncs;tion and Tomorrow Will follow up
~ onerations with final assault up
on the city
TIE news of the bombardment came
at the close OF q busy Sunday IN the
War Department. Previous to the re-
ceirt Of this dispatch the Secretary OF
war had heard twice from General
Shafter. In the early morning came g
telegram saying that he had ridden
over the American lines and was grat.-
fed at their condition. A second dis-
match read that the lines were i'm
preerable. thus removing any fear oI a
successful sortie by the Spanish troops
should the maneuver Of this kind be At
tenIpted. Both kilograms, whch als.
erurhasized the fact that Genera
Skaters condition had greatly an
proyed. were shown to the Presiden'
and occasioned him considerable giau-
fication.
When questioned as to whether he
believed that there had been DOM
bardment of the city, General Coroiii
lreplied: You know as much about II
as / do: / have kept nothing back,
should say, however. that the nrins
to-day was but the preliminary TO tne
,,ora sar;o,,s business of tomorrow.