The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-26
A FORMIDABLE F0RCEI

The Enemy's Forces in the Neighborhood Of
Santiago are Now Known to be More Numer-
GUS than was at First Supposed.-As They
Can be Swiftly Concentrated TO Resist an
Attack Upon the Town, The Government Feels
it Necessary to Move with Rapidly in Push
ing Forward Reinforcemenis to Meet the Re.
qurements Of the Situation.
Washington, ID. c., June 25.-Interest
shifted sharply to-day from the Navy
Department to the War Department.
The newspaper reporters, brief and
graphic. telling of short, bloody little
engagement between the Spaniards de-
Tending Santiago and the Rough Riders,
the romantic figures in the American
army, had aroused interest to a high
pitch. Consequently. the War Depart
ment scarcely opened for business be-
fore crowd of newspaper men and
other interested persons filed the hall
and vicinity Of the bulletin boards, seek
ing for some official information that
would supply data missing from the
press accounts. 1T was not until nearly
noon that the first cablegram came from
Shafter and then to the disappointment
OF the department it was even more
meagre than the press reports. during
the course of the day several other
dispatches were received, but they all
left something to be desired, for being
under date of yesterday they did not re-
lieye anxiety as to what happened yes
terday evening and to-day, with the two
armies separated by the short space of
a mile and half. An explanation Of
this state of affairs was found in the
fact that General Shafter failed to take
with him from Tampa the splendid field
telegraph service that had been pre-
pared with much care by General Greely
for Just such Il campaign as Is now being
waged 1t is probable that he has al
ready seen his error and will avail him.
self of the instruments just as soon as
they can be sent to him. There was
general expression of grief at the loss
sustained by the soldiers in yesterdays
fight. Still. the officials in high places
expressed themselves as Thoroughly sat
isfied with the result realizing that war
cannot be successfully waged without
sacrifice Of life. The impression gained
from one Of General Shafter's despatch
90 is that he is now about to delay his
advance until he has secured his artil-
lery. Such a course will be dictated by
common prudence. for it is known that
the Spaniards haveF fortified as far as
they could advanced positions outside of
Santiago. and ii would be the height of
folly to throw soldiers unsupported by
artillery against such works. Unfortun-
atelv. there promises to be some delay
in landing all the artillery. owing to
the loss on the voyage to Santiago OF
tho big lighter. which seems to he ne
cessarv to transfer the heavy guns from
the shins to the landing pier. The naval
authorities have responded PROMPTLY TO
the 0ppeal of the War Department, and
some means will be found through the
aid Of the warships to accelerate the
landing Of the supplies and guns.
During the day Secretary Algcr and
General Miles held several conferences.
hot 80 much to go OYER the stfdg@ie 81
yesterday as to give every military pre-
la-aiioa for the great struggle yet -
come. As Il result, heavy reinforce
mcnts viii go forward at once, both from
Tampa and Newport News An eXpe
dition of 5000 men is expected to leave
Tampa within the ten days The stores
are already going aboard transports,
and the start of the expedition only
awaits the arrival Of the naval convoy.
Part Of the ships sent over with Shat
ter's expedition have been released by
Admiral Sampson and are now on their
way back to Tampa to escort the addi.
tional troops Others will follow. and
then another formidable marine process
sion will start across the gulf to Cuba.
Whether the battleship Indiana will lead
this expedition, as it did the last, is not
definitely reported. There will be sew.
eral heavy warships. however, as well
MS lighter craft, to give safe conduct to
General Snyder. Simultaneous with thi'
General Henry's divisions will be moving
along the Atlantic coast and thence II
Santiago In ali. the reinforcement
from Tampa and Newport News viii b,
in the neighborhood Of $4,000 and IA,
600 men. Drafts on Chicamauga arr
likely to follow soon, as the hurry orders