Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-07-07
WORK FOR TROOPS.
Gen. Skaters Army Begins the At
tack on Santiago.
Fight Lasts All Day-Enemy's Out
works Carried-Our Forces With
I'm Three-Quarters of n Mile of
the City-CasuaItfes Over 400.

In Three-Quarters of a Mile of
the City-Casualties Over 400.
Washington, July 2.-The war de-
partment has received the following
from Gen. Shafter dated at Siboney:
Had very heavy engagement Fri
day which lasted from eight a. m. till
shutdown. We have carried their out
works and are now in possession of
them. There is now about three-quar-
tiers of mile of open between my
lines and the city. By morning troops
will be entrenched and considerable
augmentation of forces will be there.
Gen. Lawton's division and Gen. Bates
brigade which have been engaged all
day in carrying Ell Caney, which was
accomplished at four p. M. will be in
line in front of Santiago during the
night. l regret to say that our cas-
ualties will be above 400. Of these
not many killed.
(signeO "sHAFTER."
General Assault.
Playa del Este, Province of Santi-
ago de Cuba, July "A general assault
on the city of Santiago de Cuba by
the land and sea forces of the United
States began at seven o'clock Friday
morning.
Gen. Lawton advanced and took pos
session of Cabona, suburb of San
tiago.
MORO castle and the other forts at
the entrance of the harbor were bonn
= ID Ixy
used her dynamite guns with good
effect.
The Spanish fleet in the harbor fired
on the American troops, who were
very close to the city.
Spanish Retreating.
Washington, July 2.-The signal Of
fee has received the following from
one of it's officers at the front: "Amer-
lean troops driving Spanish troops
back. Wounded being brought in
right along"
Siboney, July 2.-Via Playa del Este,
Guantanamo Bay.-At one o'clock Fri
day afternoon. after five hours terrific
fighting, the Spanish began to leave
their entertainments and retreat into
wounded and are being brought in.
One man had both arms shot off and
was wounded in the hip, but was
laughing.
The Battle Begun.
Washington, July 2.-The battle has
begun. This was the startling news
conveyed in dispatch received from
hof NJ ~ T,,:l
morning:
Secretary of War, washington.-Camp
Near Sevilla, Cuba.-Action now going on.
The firing only light and desultory Be-
gun on the right near Caney, Lawtons
division. He will move on the north part
of the town of Santiago. VIII keep you
continually advised Of progress.
"SHAFTER,
Major General"
Brief as it was, it told the whole
story that the first shots of the long
expected crash of arms, probably the
first great land engagement of the
war, was under way. 1t sent thrill
through official circles, from the high
est to the lowest. Secretary Alger
was the first to read it. He passed it
to Gen. Corbin, adjutant general of
the army, and directed him to take it
at once to the white house. Gen. Cor
bin went to the president carrying the
original dispatch. He was back short
ly, and then a bulletin was posted
giving the dispatch verbatim. Until
then only the higher officials had
known that the decisive hour was at
hand.
Military Balloon Floating.
Gen. Miles, commanding the army,
received a copy of the dispatch soon
after it arrived. He had anticipated it,
for only few hours before dispatch
came to him from Gen. Breckenridge,
inspector general of the army, stating
that the spirit of the troops was high
and that they were eager and expect
ant of action. Gen. Breckinridge's
dispatch indicated that results might
be expected very soon. Gen. Miles also
received another dispatch, sent quite
early in the morning, from Skaters
headquarters, saying that the. big mil
itary balloon was now high in the air
and was giving opportunity for obser-
walton over great sweep of country.
This, in itself, was of incalculable
value to our troops. Brave reconnois-
sances had been made, but these were
of little value compared to what could
be seen from the balloon mile or so
in the air, commanding a radius of OBJ
servation of from 20 to 40 miles,
with powerful telescopes. Gen. Miles
had seen these war balloons in sue
cessful use at Aldershot; again during
the French military maneuvers, when
a six-horse wagon, to which the great
mir ship was anchored. followed a
squadron of cavalry on the dead run.
He says German ships going at IS
knots have hauled these captive bal
looms along with them. At st. Peters
burg also he saw them operated dur
ing maneuvers.
LawtOn Begins Attack.
According to Gen. Skaters report.
the attack on Santiago was begun by
the Second division of the Fifth army
corps. commanded by Brig. Gen. II.
w. Lawton. This division consists of
three brigadcs made up as follows: