The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-06

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 5.-As a
result OF the cabinet meeting to-day in-
structIons were sent by the President to
Admiral Sampson and General shafter
to confer together concerning a joint
plan of attack upon the city. Upon the
outcome of this conference depends the
line OF action for the immediate future.
For the present the land bombardment
by General Skaters forces has been
deferred, as the situation has so COM
pletely changed by the humiliation of
the Spanish fleet that 1t is manifestly
the part OF wisdom for this land bonn
bardment to await the cooperation and
support of bombardment from Ad-
mIral Sampson's fleet.
General Skaters demand for the sur
render Of Santiago on the pain OF bonn
bardment was made at $3.50 o'clock Sun
day morning. An hour later Admiral
Cervera made his suicidal dash from
the harbor, resulting in complete
transformation OF the naval and mill
tafy conditions. Instead Of menacing
Spanish fleet within the haFbor. the way
has been cleared save for the shore
batteries, for the entrance Of the Amer
lean feet up to the very wharves OF the
city. With this material change
wrought, 1t was obvious to the author
tiles here that the blow, first intended
to be delivered BY General Shafter
alone, would be doubly effective and de-
cisiVe IL the two forces could be brought
together and strike simultaneously
from land and sea. It Is for this reason
that the conference Is held between the
American general and the American
admiral. Up to the close OF office hours
to-day no word had come either to the
war or navy departments SO far as was
disclosed. as 10 what determination had
been reached at the conference.
Sampson to Enter Chs HHrhOr.
At the same time 1t is the clear ex-
pectatIon of the authorities here that
the conference win result in determi-
nation by the admiral to take his fleet
through the narrow neck OF the harbor,
make his way past the shore batteries
and fortIhcations and take a position
before the city for a bombardment.
There Is reason to believe that the in
atructionB sent to Admiral Sampson at
least conveyed the desire, II not the in-
structIons, that he enter the harbor.
But il Is said that the admiral and the
general continue to be the supreme Of
ficials in authority and that being on
the scene, fully alive 10 all the condi-
tions, their Judgment will be taken as
final in the course to be adopted.
There Is said to be no obstacle, so far
as navigation is concerned, TO the en-
trance OF the harbor bg the American
fleet. The CrIstobai Colon, which clear
ed the Merrlmac and got out OF the
hnrbor Sunday, drew twenty-three feet
three inches, which is within seven
inches OF the draft OF the battleships
Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts and Ore
gon, and Is greater than the draft OF
the battleshIp Texas. Moreover the
navy department has known for tho
last ten days that the neck OF the chan
ael was open, despite the sinking OF
the MeETimac, and that there was q
clear sea way for seven fnthoms
through which any ship in our navy
could sail.
DON'T Fear HIIno'.
This removes all difficulty except
from submarine mines, or from the
shore batteries. AS to the mines, little
account Is taken of them since the
Spanish fleet passed over them. The
spanIards are IN the habit of using
contact mines, so that there is little
likelihood OF there being mines opera
ted bF electric connection with the
shore. The forts and batteries have
been badly weakened By the constant
DIRE OF the fleet for many weeks past
and while still a factor, they are great
ly disabled. Once up to the city, the
fleet and army could combine in ter
rife double FIRE. No less than 292 heavy
guns would be trained from the Amer
lean warshIps on the city and at the
same time the big siege guns which It
Is expected have been brought to the
front OF Skaters line would rain down
n torrent Of steel from that quarter.
The siege guns throw shells OF 1876
pounds. Aside from them there are
four Morton howitzers and a large
number OF smaller howitzerS. These
are In the heavy artillery, while the
light artillery embraces a great number
OF guns OF 80 calIbre. Combined, this
fire from land and sea would be ter
rifio in Its effect.
Action OF Foreign Representatives..
The action OF the foreign representa-
tives at Santiago has been an addition
al reason for deferrlna the lombard
ment. It was made known late to-day
that one OF General Skaters dispatch
es stated that these representatives had
Joined in a request TO him to put of the
shelling OF the city for another brief |
period until their respective colonies
could be removed. This accounts for
the departure OF the foreign warshIps
from Santiago hRrbor, as they are bear-
ing away the foreign residents In the
period before the bombardment begins.
The activity OF the consuls at Santiago
has led to no diplomatic complication.
which has reached the state department
thus for and the authorities here feel
that nothing OF that nature Will devel-
op.
The state department to-day took oc-
cnsIon TO dis9el some of the Spanish
over the escape OF Admiral
Cervcra's fleet,
DIspcIiInR IlIuaIon'.
II seems thnt Madrid Is not alone in
the belief that the loet made a hand !
some sortlc from Santiago and left the
American ships far In the rear. To-day
a cablcgrnm came from United States