The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-25
NO NEWS FROM sHAFTER.
WAR Department without Advices-
Admiral SIMPSONS Dispatches.

War Department without Advtces-
Admiral SIMPSONS Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, June 24-No official
news came to the War Department during
Office hours to-day from our navy near
Santiago This was a cause for mild sur
prise at the department, as General Shafter
has a cable at his command and 1T was
expected he would report the measure Of
success he has attained in the debarkation
of his army on Cuban sol, and the begin
ming of operations against Santiago. How
ever, the general has the reputation here of
being a man of deeds rather than words and
OF not being given over to many official
reports Not hearing from him the officials
were obliged to rely for information entire
" upon press reports. They found these
highly satisfactory and Secretary Alger ex-
pressed particular qualification at the news
that the troops had reached point within
seven miles of MORO Castle without en-
countering serious resistance. The direc-
ton taken by the troops after their landing
at Notwithstanding generally westward
is taken in some quarters here to indicate
a purpose TO unite with SIMPSONS fleet in
an attack on MORO Castle and the other
forts at the entrance Of Santiago harbor
before turning their attention to the town
itself. Once the fort is captured Sampson,
with small boats, could remove the mines,
and IT, as reported. the Merrimac does not
completely obstruct the channel some OF
the battle ships may be sent in TO deal with
Cervera's squadron in it's last resort. Some
thing of this kind is believed to be neces-
sary in order to relieve our troops from the
fire of the Spanish fleet when they attack
Santiago directly. One or two of the battle
ships. supplemented by few torpedo boats.
could be relied upon to keep Ceryera's
squadron so fully occupied that he would
have no time to give to the troops attack
ing Santiago from the rear.
Admiral Sampson is now in constant and
practically immediate cable communication
with the Navy Department. Six dispatches
were received In rapid succession through
the early hours of this morning, the last
one bringing the situation up to IL o'clock
last night. They showed that only half
hour elapsed between the filing of the mes
sage by the admiral and the receipt of it
in Washington. so that the naval authori-
ties here are assured of being only a
half hour behind the actual developments
at the scene or action. Inc only message
bearing on the general situation was one
in which Admiral Sampson says that under
a flag of truce he learned that Hobson and
his men were well, and had been removed
from MORO Castle to the city of Santiago,
four miles distant. The other dispatches of
.Aomlfal sampson covered a multitude OF
details which have been deferred in the abb
eence of quick communication. They made
acquisitions for routine supplies of every de-
scriptior. and indicated needed repairs,
mostly minor in character, TO the vessels of
the fleet. Not a word was said as to any
enga cement by the troops under General
Shafter, and, as the admiral is In close COM
Tnunication with General Shafter, naval Of
flcials regard this failure of the admiral to
mention any action by the troops as con-
elusive IN showing no action took place yes
ferday, was reported by the Spanish.
During the forenoon a dispatch came to
General Greedy, chief signal officer, from
Lieutenant Colonel Allen, who is In charge
OF the Geographic communication with the
army. 1t was dated at Playa del Este. and
simply indicated that he was making ar
Fangements to extend communication along
the shore as far as Aguedores, which IL
probably about sixteen miles farther to the
westward than Playa De- Este. The dis
patch made no mention of any battle or
other change In the situation, military or