Evening star., 1898-06-29

time Tor the spanish troops ITOTl MALI
zanillo to reach the city.
The unofficial reports have been con-
fiicting as to the movements of this Span
ish force from Manzanillo. Some of the
press reports have stated that the advance
was being made; others have fatty denied
it. But it is clearly the judgment of the
officers with Gen. Shafter, as shown by
their official reports, that they accept the
view that the reinforcements are on the
way and have covered half the distance.
The First Engagement.
General Skaters various dispatches also
contained much Information on other fea-
lures of the military situation. He ex-
presses the warmest thanks for the con-
gratulaticns sent to him by the President,
and those of the commanding general, Cen
eral Miles. He refers to the recent AFFAIR
IN which the rough riders and cavalrymen
participated as ''unimportant.'' He says
only 964 Of our men were engaged, but it
was very decisive in our favor, the enemy
retreating precipitately. General Shafter
says that the lack of cavalry was all that
prevented the capture of the Spanish
forces. He expresses the deepest regret at
the loss of SO many of our brave men. In
vein of ridicule, he refers to reports
lean troops were beaten, and that the
Spaniards retired only because the Ameri-
cans persisted in fighting" General Shaf-
ter emphasizes the need of horses. In par
ticular he wants horses for the Sd Batta-
lion of the 1st Cavalry, and for Colonel
Woods rough riders. He says the horses
he carried on the expedition stood the voy-
age well.
One of the most satisfactory points re-
ported by General Shafter is that the last
of the artillery has been landed. This
means a great deal, it was feared the
loss of the lighter would seriously delay
the landing of the heavy artillery. He does
not specify that the heavy guns, as well as
the light artillery, were landed, but his
statement that the last of the artillery was
landed yesterday is taken to cover all of
the ordnance. With these siege guns on
shore General Shafter is now In a position
to support the infantry and cavalry with
the big guns of the heavy artillery as well
as the lighter field guns.
1t appears also from the reports that the
last of the troops were not landed until
yesterday, this occurring simultaneously
with the landing of the artillery and the
transfer of the Cubans. 1t was practically
the last move in the preparations for actual
land operations. General Skaters dis
patches speak of the high spirit of the
troops, and of their excellent health They
bring out also that the commanding officer
is no less in high spirits than his men, for
he concludes one of his dispatches with the
laconic sentence: Hope to send favorable
reports soon.
Two Dispatches From Shafter.
The Secretary of War this morning re-
ceived cablegram from Major General
Shafter, dated off Siboney, Cuba, June o.
by way of Playa del Este, June %, as fol-
lows:
THE graves of the dead are marked so
that there will be no mistake IA identifl-
cation. The health of the command is re-
ported to me by the surgeon as remarka-
bic outside of the wounded. There are to-
day less than $50 men sick. So far no
wounded have died and but two men of
disease since leaving Tampa
On the 18th instant the Secretary of
War sent a telegram to General Shafter,
commanding the military forces in Cuba,
as follows:
THE President directs me to send his
thanks to you and your army for the gall
liant action Of yesterday (battle of La
Quasina), which gladly do
The following day the Secretary of War
received the following telegraphic response
from General shafter at Baiquiri, Cuba:
Sincere thanks to the President for his
congratulations"
No Report About the Water Works.
No official reports have yet been received
here to confirm the statement that Gen.
eral Skaters troops are IN possession Of
the water works SUPP ying Santiago. 1t is
not doubted that the Il cops, of course, have
cro ssed the line of aqueducts and could
easily have cut eff the supply to Santa go
ii 1t was desirable to do SO. But the opin-
ion here is that If the pipes have been tap
ped by the American troops 1t has been
done with the main purpose of supplying
themselves and stock with good drinking
water. 1t IS not thol ght that there was
deliberate purpose to cut off Santiagos
water supply, for in the minds Of persons
best posted on the situation such a method,
while causing the POI ulation of the town
a good deal of discomfort, would be en-
tirely Intellectual in Fastening the surren-
der of Santiago. The country in the rear
OF Santiago to the northward and westward
Is said to be well provided with small
streams Of fresh water. emptying into the
bay, and as our troops so far have not
managed to occupy that territory this
source of water supply is still within reach
of the S2aniards. Also. 1t is said that in a
city as large az Santiago there is an
abundance Of steam boilers, which could
be very quickly turred into distlllers,
by which the salt water of the bay could
be turned into large quantities of fresh wa
ter There is an abundance of coal for
such purposes, SO that altogether 1t IS
thought here that the chances of reducing
Santiago by starvation are much better
than the chances of bringing its surrender
through thirst.
Permitted by Military Usage.
Inasmuch as a disposition has appeared
in some quarters to question the right of
the American army, under the modern
rules OF war. to resort to this medieval
means OF shortening a siege, 1t can be
stated that the military authorities here,
after n careful examination of the matter.
have reached the conclusion that there is
full warrant for cutting off the water sup
ply. 1t would not be permissible to do iris
If the Spanish general had led his forces
out Of the town several miles at least to
repel the invaders. but as he has seen fit,
according to the reDOrts coming hare 60