Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-07-07
The Forts at the Entrance to
the HarbOr BOmbarded
by the Fleet.
The American Loss Heavy, Some
Placing 1t at 800 Killed and
Wounded.
Gen. shaster TeiegrAphs he Has Taken the
Ensmys Outworks and That There
Ia Less Than > Mile Of Open Be
tween His Lines and the City.

WASHINGTON, July 2.-The suspense
which followed the receipt OF Gen.
Skaters dispatch early yesterday
morning announcing that battle had
been begun near Santiago was relieved
at 1890 this morning when prelimi-
nary report Of the days operations
was received by Gen. Corbin from Gen.
Shafter. As has been expected by the
officials Of the war department. the
fight lasted until sundown. During
the day probably 1t was not possible
for Shaiter to stop in the midst Of his
onerous duties to send dispatches TO
the department He was seriously oc-
cupied and the work accomplished, as
indicated concisely in his dispatch,
clearly shows that little grass grew
under his feet during the day. The
president and the war officials are i'm
mensely pleased at the information
conveyed In Skaters message. While
they learned with sincerest regret that
SO many Of the American troops had
fallen In the fight, the ground gained
by the days conflict is regarded as
great victory.
The battle establishes pretty con-
clusively that the Spaniards are no
match for the enthusiastic and ag.
gressive United States troops. They
were driven from their strong In.
trenchments in front Of Santiago back
into the city, and the Americans are
now occupying the intrenchments and
awaiting only the dawn to resume the
greater battle, which will result, 1t is
confidently believed by the war Off
cials, in the fall Of Santiago before
Sunday night and, perhaps, before
nightfall to-day.
iAdjt. Gen. Corbin put the situation
strongly and picturesquely while
speaking briefly Of the aggresslveness
and tenacity OF Gen. Shafter "The
old bulldog" said he, referring thus
half atfectionately to the distinguished
commander Of the Fifth corps, ''is
lying right there with his teeth In
their neck, only waiting the coming Of
daylight to finish the work he has SO
magnifcently begun. The engage.
ment yesterday was very heavy for a
preliminary fight, but it scores de.
cided victory for us. regret to know
that Shafter has sustained so heavy a
loss, but we may hope that there are
not, as he says, many killed. 1t is,
however, pretty certain to be true that
the loss Of an army in an engagement
like that Of yesterday, where the bat
tie line extended over several miles,
will be much heavier than is indicated
by first reports 1t is maniiestly i'm
possible, in cases where the battle has
ragged all day and until dark. to ascer.
tain with denniteness the loss sus
tained,"
THE AMERICAN LOSS HEAVY.
PLAYA DEL ESTE, July "A genera
assault on the city Of Santiago de Cub
by the land and sea forces Of the United
States began at seven o'clock yesterda!
morning. Gen. Lawton advanced ant
took possession Of Cabona, a suburb o
Santiago. Moro castle and the othe
forts at the entrance OF the harbo
were bombarded by our feet Th
Vesuvius used her dynamite guns will
good effect The Spanish feet in tn
harbor fred on the American troops
who were very close TO the city. Hsr'
fighting all along the American lin
was In progress at II o'clock. Tn
fighting continued until dark. Gu
forces carried the enemy's outer work
and occupied them in the evening
The battle will probably be resume
, at daybreak. The American loss
heavy. Some estimates place II at 80
killed and wounded
. GEN. sHAFTER's TELEaRAN.
: WASHINGTON, June 2-The war d,
: partment received the following yei
terday from Gen. Shafter, dated irol
6iboney:
usa vsps hAAss =, ssrav>~.t n As. III.