The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 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.
In Thrce-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 a 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-uuar-
tiers of mile of open between nv
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.
(signe0 "sHAFTER."
General Assault.
l.
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 DOS
session of Cabona, suburb of San
tiago.
MORO castle and the other forts at
the entrance of the harbor were bonn
barded by our feet. The Vesuvius
used her dynamite guns with good
effect.
The Spanish fleet in the harbor fred
on the American troops, who were
very close to the city.
Spanish Retrenttns,
Washington, July 2.-The signal Of
flee 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
the city. Many Americans were
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
Gen. Shafter at ten o'clock FRIDAY
morning:
| Secretary of War, Neutrality-suspicious.
Near sevilla, Cuba.-Action now going on
The firing only light and desultory, Be-
gun on the right near Caney, Lawton's
division. He will move on the north part
Of the town of Santiago Will keep vor
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. It sent thrill
through official circles, from the high.
est to the lowest. Secretary Alge1
was the first to read it. He passed il
to Gen. Corbin, adjutant general Of
the army, and directed him to take Il
at once to the white house. Gen. Cor
bin went to the president carrying the
original dispatch. He was back short
1y, and then bulletin was posted
giving the dispatch verbatim. Unit
then only the higher officials ha6
known that the decisive Hour was al
hand.
Military Balloon Floating.
Gen. Miles, commanding the army
received copy of the dispatch soor
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 higl
and that they were eager and expect
ant OF action. Gen. Breckenridge.
dispatch Indicated that results migh-
be expected very soon. Gen. Miles also
received another dispatch, sent quite
early in the morning, from Skafter'.
headquarters, saying that the big mil
itary balloon was now high in the all
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 coul6
be seen from the balloon a mile or sc
In the air, commanding 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, wher
q six-horse wagon, to which the great
air ship was anchored. followed 6
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 brigades made up as follows:
First brigade, commanded by COL J. J.
| Van Horn-Eighth United States infantry
Twenty-second United States infantry and
the Second Massachusetts infantry.
Second brigade, commanding officer I'M.
First United States infantry: Fourth Unit
ed States infantry and Twenty-f1fth United
States infantry.
Third brigade. commanded by Brig. Gen
| A. r. Chaffee-Seventh United States in.
fantry, Twelfth United States Infantry and
| ~ h INIT al 49,, lrH~