The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-04
THE DEPARTMENT WILL
RUSH REINFORCEMENTS

Transports are Now on Their Way From Shat
ter to Tampa, Where They VIII be Loaded
With Fifteen Thousand Troops Other Troops
ave at Key West or on Their Way to Shafter--
officials Hope to Have From Thirty-two to
Thirty five Thousand Troops, Outside of the
Cuban Forces, Under Shafter Within the
Next Ten Days.
Washington, d. c., July 3.-From the
heat and carnage of the battlefield of
Santiago. where for the last three days
the American forces have pressed for
ward against an intrenched army, Gen
eral Shafter today sent the following dis
patch summarizing the situation:
SIIAFTER'S. DISPATCH.
Camp. near sSevilla, Cuba. July 3.-We
have the town well invested on the north
and east, but with very thin line.
Upon approaching it we find it of such "A
character and the defenses so strong 1t
will be impossible to carry 1t by storm
with my present forces. Our losses up
to date will aggregate thousand, Dut
list has not yet been made. But llttle
sickness outside of exhaustion from m
tense heat and eXertion of the battle OIL
the day before yesterday and the al
most constant fire which is kept up on
the trenches. Wagon road to the rear Is
kept up with some difficulty on account
of rains but | will be able to use 1T for
the present Gen. Wheeler is seriously
i'll and will probably have to go to the
rear to-day. Gen. Young also very III
confined to his bed. Gen. hawkins
slightly wounded in foot. During sortle
made by enemy last night which was
handsomely repulsed, the behavior Oh
the troops was magnificent. Gen. Garcia
reported he holds the railroad from san
iago TO San Luis and has burned a
bridge and removed some rails also thal
Gen. pando has arrived ut Palma ana
that the French Consul with about 1oui
hundred French citizens came INTO ms
line yesterday from Santiago. Have di-
rected him to treat thent with every
courtesy possible. SIiAf hh'
Major General.
- ItIlI H.
Washington, July 3.
TO General Shafter:
The President directs me to say that
Won have the gratitude and thanks OF the
nation for the brilliant and effective
work of your noble army on FRIDAY, july
/. The steady yalor and herolsm OF
officers and men thrill the American
people with pride. The country mourns
the brave men who fell in battle. They
have added new names to our roll OF he
roes.
Il. A. ALGER,
Secretary Of War.
The dispatch speaks for itself, and, as
Adiufant General Corbin said. tells what
n desperate fight our gallant troops have
heen in. 1t was received at noon today,
after lull of nearly thirty-siX hours i'll
tho official information from the field
At first when il became known that tht
American commander had reported thf
defenses TO be so strong 1t Wouiu De I'M
possible to carry them by storm WIN ms
present force. there was momen'arhy
wave Of deep apprehension but lhiS
was not shared by the military authofi
ties here. All their energies, all theH
attention, was turned TO meeting the
situation as presented by'General ShaItel
There was neither time nor disposltloi
TO take account of what had gone be
fore. when the fact was plain that tht
American army had fought its way inct
by inch under a blazing sun, through q
dense tropical vegetation, Steadily ad
vancing and heating back the foe, tax
ing position after position, until, as Gen
eral Shafter reported. the town was wei
invested on the north and east by thu
long drawn-out line of American troops
That was sufficient tribute to the valol
of our brave men. and it senced al
cavil over the conditions now presented
by General Shafter. 1t was n time foI
action, for reinforcements. and toward
the execution Of this end every effort
of the administration was mt once turned
But there was other information
of different tenor. COMING
about the same time. The Ameri
can army was not alone feeling th,