The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-01
Port Said.

late in the day when the HrSl LSpdLch
within two lays came to the war de- |
partmcnt from General Shafter, but
the news was regarded as 50 good
that there was no disposition to COM
plain. It disclosed a very satisfactory
rate Of progress on the part Of General
Shafter towards the town Of Santiago
itself, and, apparently, he has gained
all this ground, and has come within
three miles Of Santiago without suffer
ing any losses since the bloody Skin
mish of Friday last. Altogether the
performance is regarded as very graf
flying by the department officials here.
AS near as can be ascertained from
the brief dispatch the American army
is now at the fork in the road, one
brance of which cad to Santiago and
the other to Moro castle at the en-
trance to the harbor. General Shafter
is thus free to move in either direction
according to the demands Of the cam
paign.
with the 1900 men who reinforced
hin Yesterday on the Yale and the
additional brigade that will reach him
by tomorrow, it may be possible to
make even more rapid progress in the
advance upon Santiago, as these men
can be relied upon to relieve the main
body of troops from the necessity of
keeping pen the line of COmmuniCa-
ton between Shafter and his base at
BAiquiri. Meanwhile further reinforce
mentS are being prepared and dis
patched as rapidly as the best ener-
gics Of the department can direct, and
it is believed that several thousand
men sailed from Tampa today directly
for Santiago.
DIFFICULTIES OF THE CAMPAIGN
The department has had in mind the
difficulties of the campaign that are
just developing to the public eye, such
as the use for the first time in civil
lizcd warfare of barbed wire fencing
as a means of defense, and acting up
on the advice of some of our army Of
fiCers who were in Cuba while the
fighting was confined to the Spaniards
and the insurgents, a certain number
in each regiment have been provided
with cutters and charged with the
duty of cutting down these fences so
as to permit the advance of the
troops.
1t probably will be necessary to shell
out the force defending these wire
chevaux de frise before they can be
cut. unless the men in charge of that
duty are to be unduly exposed to dan
ger. This will involve a larger use
of field artillery that would be re-
uuired in ordinary warfare. The Off
Gals here have been ~forehanded as to
these details, and, in fact, have pro-
vided for the use of barbed wire by
our own forces, having sent about $50
tons of this wire with General Mer-
ritt'S expedition.
TIGHTENING THE LINES.
The lines are being frightened
around Cuba and it will soon be i'm
rncrfh1n TDr nVo, cnooII ~, ntit;nc %
food or war supplies to reach the
Spaniards there.
THE BLOCKADE EXTENDED.
NJ proclamation issued today ex-
tending the blockade to the south
coast and to San Juan. it is believed
will accomplish this result. On the
south coast the Isle of Pines will be
cut off as a transfer depot for cattle
and food supplies coming from Jamai-
ca and Central America. BY closing
San Juan harbOr the Spaniards will
lose the last chance of smuggling war
supplies to Cuba. and the future OPP
eratiOns of the army and navy looking
to the occupation of the island of Por-
to Rico will be materially advanced
by the establishment of a successful
blockade
THE CADIZ FLEET STILL AT
PORT SAID.
IL "c I' u lilC "oiu IAiS
Cadiz fleet today, though it is known
to be still lying at Port Said under the
pretext of repairing one of the tor
pedO boat d~estrOyers. The delay on
the part of the Spanish fleet has not
stopped the preparations for the send.
ing of the eastern squadron under
Commodore Watson to the Spanish
shores. The commodore is Fastening
with all speed southwark on the New.
ark to join and confer with Sampsor
off Santiago.
1t has been known to our government
for some time past that the Spanish
government was trying to obtain pos
session of the splendid modern cruiser
O'Higgins. Our agents., however, hav,
watched these negotiations carefully
and our government has been finally
satisfied that they have failed. 1t i:
needless to say hat the result wa!
agreeably received here as the ray
complications might have resulted
from the sale of a warship by a neu
trail power to Spain.
/ SIGSBEE HAS A CHANCE AT THU
SPANISH.
The navy department today poste,
the following bulletin:
Admiral Sampson reports that tn
Yale arrived yesterday and discharge
her troops.
Captain Sigsbee reports that o.
Wednesday afternoon, while off Sal
Juan, Porto Rico, he was attacked b.
a Spanish unprotected cruiser and tn
Spanish torpedo boat destroyer Terror
The Terror made a dash which wa
awaited by the st. Paul. The st. Pau
hit the Terror three times, killing on
officer and two men and wounding sew
eral others. The Terror dropped bac
under cover of the Notifications wit
difficulty, and was towed into the har
Dor in a sinking condition, where sh
is now being repaired. Later, a cruise
and a gunboat started out, but re
manned under protection Of the forts
MORE TROOPS FOR SKATERS
ARMY.
Orders have issued for the departur
of another large army expedition fl or