The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-26
SHAFTER'S FOB Strong
Spanish Have 40, 900 SOL
diarS at Santiago.
MUST HAVE MORE MEN.
Lighter and Tug Needed TO Land
Artillery.

March ON the City to BE Slow.
Heights on Which Americans Ex-
Dect TO Plant Their Cannon Now
Fortified and Occupied by the
spaniards--Desperate Work Ahead
In Order 20 DisIOdge Them.
streams which Army Has to Cross
WIN Have to lie Bridged-Army
Too Far Inland to he Under Pro-
tectIon of ships.
Washington June 25.-Gen. Shafter has
used the cable freely between Playa del
Este and Washington to-day In attempts
ing to keep the Secretary Of War advised
OF the progress. made by the army engaged
In the invasion of Santiago.
That he has made considerable progress
is shown by. his first dispatch, In which
he states that the spanlards were driven
from strong position on high bill and
our troops are now about mile and half
from Sevlla.
This is about nine miles from Santiago.
The official reports of the skirmlsh at
Juragua. in which Roosevelrs Rough Rid
ers appear TO have been the principal VIC
Tins. do not materially differ from the
press dispatches published this morning.
While the number of casualties is great
ly depored by the President, cabinet Off
GERS and every loyal citizen, they realize
that we must be prepared 10 hear dis
tressing news from the front while the
war lasts,
The developments Of the past forty
eight hours have convinced the admlnis-
tration that It is idle 10 speculate upon
the chances Of Spain suing for peace in
the near future.
A bloody war Is on, and the list OF cas-
ualties is apt 20 increase daily until the
Spanish hosts are driven from the island
Of Cuba
The administration appreciates the sit
uation better to-day than 1t did a weeIe
ago, Information has reached Washing
ton 20 the effect that Santiago Is protect
ed by fully 1000 well trained, seasoned
soldiers, in addition to the volunteers and
raw recruits who have been pressed into
the Spanish service since the war began.
This is not speculation, but 1t comes dh
rect from source of Information which
cannot be successfully questioned.
TO overcome the well intrenched Span
ish forces, Gen shafter must have REIN
forcements and they must be sent to him
at once. This fact was indicated In my
dispatches last night
The subject received serious considera-
tlon. and II was the occasion of several
hurried consultations between Secretary
Alger and Secretary Long. AS stated last
night, the transports intended for the
Porto Rican expedition are TO be used 90
send renforcements 10 Santiago, and as
many OF the transports row at Santiago
as can be spared will be speeded back to
Tampa to convey troops TO the relief OF
Gen. Shafter.
For the time being Porto Rico Is not
thought or indeed in to-day's delibera-
tlons at the war and navy departments
Porto Rico was treated as IL II were not
on the map.
One OF the most significant statements
in the last dispatch received to-day from
Cen Shafter was his reminder thai he Is
greatly in need Of a lighter and a tugboat.
for which he says he previously expressed
an eager desire.
IL is evident to those familiar with the
subject that Gen. Shafter has not been
able to hand his siege guns, and therefore
the attack on Santiago cannot proceed un-
I'll the guns are put ashore and in position
70 aid in stormng Santiago heights.
When the invasion OF Santiago was orig
inally planned 81 was estimated that the
Spaniards had about 10000 men in and
about the city. II was thought that with
1900 United States troops and such as
eigtance as the Cubans might render. the
invasion would be a comparatively easy
task.
The plan was to move the troops to San
tlago Heights, there erect breastworks and
plant the siege guns, preparatory TO pour
ing down a shower of Yankee shot ana
shell upon the city OF Santiago and Ad-
miral Cervera's troublesome fleet at an
chor IN the harbor.
Recent discoveries Indicate that the
march upon Santiago will be more trou-
blesome than was expected.
Santiago Heights, to the eastward are
occupied by Spanish troops. and they have
erected strong fortifications where the
Americans had anticipated planting their
siege guns.
TO carry out hiss original intention. Gen.
shafter win be obliged TO capture these
fortihcauons.
The most experienced officers IN the army
realize that the task before Gen. Shafter
4 NOT an easy one and some OF them pre-
d,ot that It may take several weeks to
p,ant the stars and Stripes on Santiago
According 10 the dispatches received at
The department to-day. Gen. Skaters men
have left the railroad which runs along
INC shore, from Baiquiri TO the entrance Of
the harbor Of Santiago.
After reaching Altera, which Is about
two miles from Baiquiri. the troops left
the coast line and advanced inland TO Ju-
ragua, where they struck the best road
that leads direct 70 Santiago by way Of
Savilla.
The road is four mics from the coast.
Continued on Seventh Page)