The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-03

story or day OF terrific fighting. 1t
was directed from the field and was
as late as p. m. 1t stated the en-
gagement had been in progress
throughout the day, that the dead and
wounded were being carried to the
rear. and that the American losses
were heavy.
The exact wording of the dispatch
was not made known, but one Of the
high officials who read it said 1t con-
veyed to him an idea Of extreme ten
sion, and of a battle in which all the
fiercest elements Of warfare prevailed.
Until this came the officials were
positively without word as to wheth-
err the engagement begun yesterday
was continued today. They could only
speculate, some taking the view that
the assault of yesterday had been fol-
lowed today by StOrming of the city
itself, others maintaining that Shafter's
troops, spent with the terrible strain
of yesterday, had paused today long
enough to clear the field of it's dead
and wounded. 1t was only by this brief
private message which. under ordinary
circumstances would have received lit
tie attention, that the president and
his advisers were made aware that the
battle was still in progress and still
without definite issue. AS it was the
few words relieved the suspense, but
not the anxiety. 1t made known only
that the fight was going on. One of
the officials who read it said 1t con-
veyed as much hopeful Information as
had not expected victory yet But
others were far less hopeful in their
views. That the battle was still rag
ing meant that our men were passing
through fearful ordeal, had been in
action now practically for thirty six
hours. The mere fact that the dis
patch did not chronicle a decisive adj
vantage by the American forces was
construed by some officials as ominous.
OFFICIAL ANXIETY.
So far as official dispatches were
concerned the day was utterly devoid
Of any information bearing on the sit
uation at Santiago. Secretary Alger
said at the close of Office hours, he had
not received word from Gen. Shafter
since the brief dispatch at o'clock
this morning, referring to the losses
yesterday. Secretary Long said at the
same hour that nothing had come from
Admiral Sampson, and in particular
the secretary Of the navy dismissed as
groundless the rumor that word had
reached him that Moro castle had been
demolished by the American squadron
Gen. Miles was similarly without adj
vices. AT 3 o'clock he Joined Secre-
tary Alger in the latter's office, and
the two conferred for a long time on
the military situation. Neither the
secretary nor the commanding general
underestima lie the great task before the
American army, with an enemy we'll
entrenched in front of them with Ger
vera's guns pouring shot and shell into
our lires. and with the possibility that
Spanish reinforcements have now
swelled the ranks Of the army until
they are greater than the combined
forces under the American military
commander.
But all that the government in Wash
ington can do is being done and done
quickly. The great issue remains for
Gen. Shafter and his forces to work
out to conclusion. His call early in
the day for a large additional force of
medical officers was quickly responded
to. The hospital ship Relief, which left
New York today, was given orders be-
fore sailing to stop on her way south
at Fortress Monroe. where the extra
force of surgeons will board her. She
will reach Fortress Monroe tomorrow
and take on board the physicians i'm
mediately. and then proceed hurriedly
to the aid OF the wounded under Shat
ters command. Surgeon General
Sternberg, Of the army, was unable to
make arrangements today for all the
medical assistants which Gen. Shafter
asked for. After considerable labor he
got together a force Of probably a
dozen physicians. and these, with the
surgeons already aboard the vessels,
will approximate about twenty in ALL
These Gen. Sternberg hopes, will be
enough to supply the pressing wants
of the army. The Relief should reach
Santiago in four or five days. If ad-
ditional physicians are needed they
will be sent, Gen: Sternberg says, on
the cruiser Yale, which is scheduled to
leave Norfolk about the middle Of next
week with large detachment Of Gen.
Garrettson's brigade as reinforce
ments to Shafter. The personnel Of
the surgical corps Of the Relief, so far
as they could be ascertained here to-
day, Is as follows: Maj. George III.
Torney, surgeon in charge; Mark Brad
ley, surgeon U. 8. "; Lieut.. Col. Nicho-
las Sem, of Chicago; Capt. w. f.
Georges, and the following contract
surgeons: Francis Metcalf, Randolph
NJ. Myers, Fred M. Hartsock, Ernest
Schultz, George H. Torney Jr., John r.
Hicks. Henry L. Brown. James 7. Art
wine, James e. Ransberg, Rufus D.
Boss, A. A. Snyder, Charles c: Mar
bury, James McMackall, 8. Stanley
Warren.
Surgeon General Sternberg left here
this evening for Fortress Monroe,
where he will make q special inspec-