Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-07-13
SHAFTER GIVEN A FREE HAND
BUT HE MUST CAPTURE ENEMY
Waiting AnxiOusiy for Nrws-The
Hattie May lie Raging-New
Troops Landed-Shnfter's Mes
sage. Are Frequent.

|
| Washington, July There are many
inquiries at the Office of the adjutant gen
eral for the latest dispatches. 70 all this
answer is returned:
General Shafter has been given a free
hand to deal with the situation, subject
to but one condition, namely: That the
Spanish in Santiago must be captured.
The officials here do not conceal their
apprehension that the enemy may es'aPe
| from Santiago under cover of darkness
and are consequently relieved today when
dispatches show they still occupy the
town.
The president himself is so much con
cerned over the possible escape Of the
Spanish force that he directed sending
explicit orders to General Shaiter to pre-
vent it at all hazards.
Several dispatches received from Ad.
miral Sampson are said to relate to dis.
patching Watson's fleet and the move
mentS OF the transports.
M News of battle.
Washington, July Secretary Long.
Admiral Sicard, Captain Nlahan and Cap
tain Crownnshield of the naval war
board were in conference with the presi-
dent. On leaving the conference at
o'clock Secretary Long said nothing had
been received indicating that lombard
ment is on at Santiago on the part of
either the army or the fleet. lie said he
expected to get news of the fall of san
tiago at any hour, but added, however,
that the expectation is based largely on
hopes. The indications are that all truces
are oil and that the final struggle mas
now be on.
Landing ReInfOrcements.
Juragua, July 10, via Associated Press
Dispatch Boat and Kingston, July H.
The shores of this little cove were the
busiest place in Cuba this afternoon. Five
thousand men were disembarking from
steamers or preparing to take up the
march to General Skaters headquarters
near Santiago. There was as much con
fusion as if 10 circuses were preparing TO
make camp.
| The First Illinois, 1850 men, arrived
yesterday, began disembarking, and will
probably be the first of General Skaters
renforcemcnts to reach him. About oM
recruits for the regular army in the field
were under way to the front, The Dis
trct of Columbia infantry, 9l5 men, ar
rived this morning and began landing at
once. The auxiliary cruiser st. Paul also
arrived with the Eighth Ohio infantry,
I-l3J0 men.
shafter's Three Messages.
Washington, July 1.-THE war depart
ment has made public three dispatches
from General Shaftcr. The following was
received at 1890 a. m: "rhe navy prom
ised, after the bombardmcnt begins, To
get in close to the harbor with some ~
their light draft boats. II the lombard
mcnt begins tomorrow today and is not
quickly conclusive, they will make the
attempt. As soon as llcnry's reinforce.
ments arrive, we will surround the town
and can knock it to pieces with our light
guns"
Twenty three minutes later the follow.
ing was received My plans for tomor-
row are to keep up bonbardment on the
trenches and city, and the complete in
vestment on the northwest by troops
which have Just arrived at Sib0ney, on"
regiment of which has now reached me
Soon after noon the following was u.
ceiyed: 81 regret to report that Captain
Rowcl, signal officer, was killed late yes.
tcrday afternoon
Warships Failed to Hit the Mark.
On Board the Dispatch Boat Dandy, oil
Aguadores, Cuba, july 10, via Kingston,
July 1.-THE Brooklyn, Indiana and
Texas, under Commodore Schley, began
the bombardment OF the city of Santiago
at $40 o'clock this afternoon, in obedi-
ence to a request from General Shafter,
conveyed by signal from shore. Tse war
ships lined up from the east to west,
quarter Of a mile from shore, and fired
over the limestone cliffs that come down
to the sea and hide the city, five miles
distant. The bombardment continued an
hour. After 35 shots had been fired FROM
the S-inch guns, Commodore Schley be-
came convinced the Brooklyn's fire was
ia ling short and ordered cessation, per
mitting the battleships TO continue with
their larger guns, having longer ranges.
Signals from the shore announced that
the shells fell a thousand feet short and a