La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-07-09
ATTACKING SANTIAGO
THE FIERCE sTRuoolE BEGUN.
Americans Closing in ON the Clty--ssvere
Fighting RESULTS In L 81 of Life on
Both Sides.

Washington. July 1.-The War De-
partnent has received the following
from General Shafter. dated Siboney:
Had very heavy engagement to-
day, which lasted from 3 II. IN. until
sundown. We have carried their OUT
works and are now in posson of them.
There are now about three-uuarters OF
n mile of open space between my lines
and the city. BY morning troops will
be entrenched and considerable aug
mcntation of forces will be there. Gen
eral Lawton's division and General
Bates brigade, which have been en-
gagged all day in carrying FL Caney,
which was accomplished at 4 y. M.
will be In line and in front OF Santa
20 during the night.
l regret to say that our casualties will
be above four hundred. OF these, not
many killed.
tSigned) SHAFTER.
Denver, July IA New York dis
patch to the Republican gives the fol-
lowing from the Herald correspondent
at Siboney, Cuba:
\ general attack on the city of SAN
tiago was commenced this morning
and ragcd all day. The enemy was
driven into the city. Our loss was
killed and wounded One entire com
pany WAS annihilatcd by Spanish
shells. Our advance has been checked
but we are holding the position gained
Relnforcemcnis are being hurried to
the front.
General Skaters troops gained
complete victory all along the line
They drove the enemy from Caney. de-
stroyed the Spanish fort ut that place
and occupied the village. driving the
Spaninr,ls back into the city.
Another division of the American
army attacked the heights of San Juan.
disabling the Spanish battery there and
taking possession of the enemy's
works.
The advance of General Skaters
forces was checked only ut the inner
line of the clty's defenses. 1t was dark
when the fighting ceased for the day.
AT sunset our troops We're in possession
Of the ground they had gained
The battle will be resumed Mt day
break.
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet silenced
nearly all of the shore batteries.
General Shnfter began this morn
ing with great vigor the attack upon
the outer defenscs of Santiago. From
three directions the American forces
advanced toward the doomed city.
While General I.awton and General
Wheeler We're attacking Cuney, north
esst of Santiago, General Kent was
advancing toward Aguadores. General
Garcia, with hts Cuban troops, nt the
same time approached Cancy from
the southeast. and the other divisions
cc the American army pressed toward
Santiago from the east. our forces
a.
coast to General Linarcs northern de
fenses.
Four members of the Twenty-hrst
regiment of regulars were killed in
the lighting between Seville and
Agundores, while sixteen other Amer
leans, all members of the Twenty
first, were wounded.
Both the American and Spanish
fleets early Joined in the battle.
While Admiral Sampson's men were
reducing the recently emplaccd bat
tc;'ies Mt Aguadores. Admiral Cerve-
ra's fleet was hurllng shells In tho di-
rection of the American and Cuban
lines.
tachment of his cavalry command,
nnd General Garcia, with his Cuban
troops. quickly Joined General Law
toms men in the advance upon Caney.
The Spaniards for time fought
desperately to prevent Caney from
falling into the hands of our forces
1t was vain effort.
Before the fighting had been long
under way the American and Cuban
forces gained advanced ground. Foot
by foot the enemy was driven back
into the village. 1t was evident after
the first hours lighting that General
Shafter accurately gauged the strength
of the enemy, and that he would be
able TO drive the Spaninrds into San
tiago at his pleasure.
1t was with difficulty that the COM
manding officers restrained the ardor
of our troops until the hour for begin
ming the attack came. The enthusi-
asm of the American forces was in
tense and their spirit quickly spread
to the Cuban troops. All have not
shared the belief of General Shaftcr
that Santiago could be taken by one
sharp, persistent attack, and they have
been impatient to advance.
Brigadier General Kent, who COM
mands the center of the general line
of attack, started the Twenty-first
regiment of regulars towards Agua-
dOres at the same hour General Law
toms men advanced toward Caney.
Upon these troops fell the brunt of the
battle to the southeast of Santiago
during the early hours of the day.
AS write this dispatch this division
of Kent's forces has sustained the
heaviest loss OF the engagement thus
far.
There was desperate fighting about
Aguadores. Acting under orders from
General Linares. the Spaninrds at that
point returned the American fire with
n fury that aroused in our men the
fiercest determination. They boldly
faced the enemy's fire. holding their
ground tenaciously and pressing for
ward whenever an opportunity to gain
nm advanced footing presented itself.
In their onerntfons ahout AcuaInres