Rock Island Argus., 1898-06-30

washington, June co. The opinion
prevails here that within a day or two
at most General Shafter will have be-
gun his attack upon the city of Santi-
ago proper. The important event of
yesterday was the generals announce
ment that he could take the city in
iorty- eight hours. but at considerable
loss. taken In correction with the an
nouncement contained in another dis
Pa'ch that he is going to attack with
out awaiting reinforcements, it viii be
seen that the officials have ground Cor
theH expectation that the first general
engagement of the war will begin in a
very snort time. Numerically the on
posing armies are not very different.
the estimate of the Spanish force being
paced at 14,000 men, thoroughly en-
trehched and behind barbed wire fences
and lighthouses, as against about 49,
Uuv nleL under Skaters Command aid
ed by 1000 Cubans.
Cervera a Factor in the Problem.
One of the gravest elements in tho
Problem, however, is the Spanish war
snlps; Tor unless Shafter is materially
the full attention OF the Spanish ships
.heir hre upon the American advance
Iorces would be very hard to meet.
Inc military authorities here say that
Genera. Linares has shown great mill.
tsry tact in slowly retiring during the
last lew days. as ha has gradually
oraWn our troops away from the pro-
tection of the American ships and
hrouSht them close to the fire of the
Spanish ships In Santiago hathor. Fer
this refsen it was with relief that the
announcement was received hero that
smarter mad succeeded in landing all OF
ms artillery, including his siege train.
Why sha..er Is in n Hurry.
Undoubtedly Shafter is animated to
attack as soon as possible by his knowI-
edse OF the approach of the reinforce
inents fer Linares from Manzanillo. for
with this additional force Shafter's
position would be- disagreeabIe. If not
perilcrs; at least, until he haS yee.;vad
:einiorceMents. Phe war department.
received the first definite news ysster-
day as t. the approach of these snar-
ISL. iej.iorcements. This was in an Of
claisdisratch Stating that 5000 men
with pack trains and Groves of animals
We're advancing from Manzantllo and
were fifty four miles from Santiago II
has been known that the Spania -Js
nave LOCO men at Manzanillo and ~
eU0 at Holguin, ard every precautinn
has been taken to guard their advance
from either quarter. The official renort
yesterday showed that 5000 of those a,
ManZan.llc had covered half the lie
lance 20 Santiago, and it is the hl;af r.
military officials here t1at General
Tando is making similar advance with
ms lcoo" mon from Holguin.
Depends on the Kind of Man.
There is the further elemant 70 Which
The mil;tarS authorities are giving care
ful Gttcnt Cn-that one nlan jutrcncbs!,
'chind cIitEwUrks or in rice pits e
worth three en- in the open Il is said
that the battles of Chance,lo-svil,r and
Spottsylvania afforded the mos, dir.ct
proof of this point 1t was announced
at the war department that Ey their
repofts o.0oo soldiers should lea ya Ia;npa
yesterday to join Shafter. The navy
department. gave out a message from,
AcMirai Dewey which was brought 70
Iiong Kong by the McCul.1cn su that
it must have left Cavite on the esrl
The admiral made no reference % the
landing of German marines ami 10 Of
iicials he.e are satisfied that Germany
IS acting In good faith ana ACCORDING
to tie rules Of neutrality.