The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-04

AiAttNN AAOAAl ~1StOIdlr Out the report reach
ing here left no room for doubt as to the
seriousness Of this feature.
With IT was the further fact that the
Spanish casualties even behind entrench.
ments. ran up to thousand and was
equal to that of the fearless men who
fought in the open.
With all the lights furnished on the sit
uation. official and unofficial, direct and
indirect. it was apparent that each side
bad suffered terribly, with now a period
o. hull for those in responsibility to meas
ure their conditions, bury their dead, care
1or their wounded and prepare for the
graver conflict yet to come.
The President and his war advisers re
NAMED calm throughout the trying exper-
ience of the day.
Ali their attention was directed to the
work of preparation.
The future movements of Gen. Shafter
are well established. They had been made
known in his dispatch, but it was deemed
advisable nos to make this portion public,
as it would serve 10 advise the enemy of
the American plans.
1t can only be said that Gen Skaters
forces viii be strongly and favorably loca-
ted with the guns OF the warships serving
as an additional protection to their front
Requirements viii be hurried to them
which will be ample for any emergency,
whether it be storm or siege.
With Santiago partially wrecked and
filed with a thousand dead and wounded
the condition there is desperate, even crit
ical.
There is little likelihood Of any Spanish
sorties in force under such circumstances,
but the possibility is still open that the
| Spanish garrison may seek relief by evac-
uating the city and retiring to the noun
tain paths to the north
But the American plan is for offensive
and vigorous action, and with the full re-
sources of men and arms at the command
of the country.
AS Gen. Miles said, $4,000 men, if need
be. will move on Santiago; if more are
needed, then it will be 75,0O0.
The lesson of Santiago has served only
to kindle a greater earnestness through
out every avenue of official life at the ma
tional capital, and there is a deep-set de-
termination 10 meet heroic conditions with
heroic treatment.
Owing to the receipt of Gen. Shelters
telegram there was a hurried war confer
| ence at the White House Secretary AL
ger, accompanied by Gen. Corbin, reached
there few minutes before O'clock and
they were Immediately closeted with the
| President
Secretary Alger brought the Shafter dis
patch with him, and also map and other
data necessary for the important meeting
about to take place
Gen. Corbin was with the President and
the Secretary for a few minutes, and then
hurried back to the war department where
he made public such portion of Gen. Shat
ter's dispatch as was compatible with the
public interest.
Assistant Secret ary Meikeljohn, who has
a thorough knowledge of the transport
service, was also hastily summoned, and
reached the White House about o'clock.
The conference lasted for some time.
Gen. Miles, who also was at the White
House, said that reinforcements would be
rushed to the assistance of Gen. Shafter,
and if necessary these would aggregate
$4,000 men, though the general had no idea
that such a number would by any means
be necessary.
The combined American and Cuban
forces now under the command of Gen.
Shafter amount, approximately, he said,
| to %, 600 men, while those available for the
! Spaniards was probably $1,000 soldiers.
| These included however, the men at Hol-
| gum, presumably 10000, and the force I'M
der another Spanish general amounting
to about 5000 men.
Gen. Miles did not say whether the two
bodies of men last referred to had actually
! joined Gen. Linares, but the understand
ing is here that they have not.
| Col. HUMPHREYS is in charge of the trans
port service with Gen. Skaters army and
he will send back to Tampa the vessels
| that can be spared as rapidly as possible.
In fact, word has been received that the
transports had started for the United
| States this morning.
If possible the war department will send
$1,000 men from Tampa on these trans
ports. Six vessels have recently loaded
/ with men, ammunition, arms, supplies,
etc. and are now either at Key West or
on their way to reinforce Gen. Skaters
| army. Included in this expedition are
some batteries of artillery. In all these
forces constitute about $500 or 1900 men.
Gen. Miles, in the course of brief talk,
| said to-day that Gen. Shafter might con-
template the withdrawal of his forces to
| the highlands in the direction of Siboney,
where they would be near the sea. This,
! however would be a temporary expedient
| enabling the soldiers to rest and prepare
| for the work ahead.
The officials hope to rush the reinforce
ments to Gen. Shafter so that there will
be from $4,000 to $4,000 men under his
command within the next ten days, and
sooner if this can be arranged. This is
exclusive of the insurgents, of whom Gen.
| Garcia has hean able 10 hiring to Gen.