The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-29

WASHINGTON D. c.. June ,2S.-It
was very late In the day when the first
dispatch within two days came to the
war department from General shufter.
hut the rews was regarded as so good
that there was no disposition to COM
plain. II disclosed a very satisfactory
rate OF progress on the part OF Gen.
eral Shafter towards the town OF San
tiago Itself, and apparently he has
gained all this ground. and has come
within three miles OF Santiago without
suffering any losses since the bloody
sllrmish OF Friday last. Altogether
the performance Is regarded as very
gratifying by the department officials
here.
As near as can be gathered from the
brief dispatches, the American army is
now at the fork In the road. one branch
OF which leads to Santiago and the
other to Moro Castle at the entrance
10 the harbor. General Shafter Is thus
tree 10 move In either direction, accord.
ing to the demands OF the campaign.
With the 1900 men who reinforced him
yesterday on the Yale, and the addi-
tIonal brigade that will reach him by
tomorrow, 1t may be poaaible to make
even more rapid progress In the ad-
vance upon Santiago. as these men can
be, relied upon to relieve the main body
OF troops from the necessity OF keep
ing open the line OF communication
between Shafter and his base at Bal
quri. Meanwhile further reinforce
ments are being prepared and Dispatch
ed as rapidly as the best energies OF
the department can direct, and It Is
believed that several thousand men
sailed from Tampa to-day directly for
Santiago.
Earbed Wire Obstruction.
The department. has had in mind the
difficulties OF the campaign that are
just developing to the public eye. such
as the use for the first time in civilized
warfare OF barbed wire fencing as a
means OF defense, and acting upon the
advice OF some Of our army officers who
were in Cuba while the fighting was
confined to the Spanish and the lnsur-
gents, q certain number OF men in each
regiment have been provided with wire
cutters and charged with the duty of
cutting down these fences. SO as to
permit the advance OF the troops. It
Will be necessary to shell out the force
defending these wire chevau1 de frieze
before they. can be cut, unless the men
In charge OF that duty are to be unduly
exposed to danger. This Will Involve
q larger use Of field artillery than
would be required in ordinary warfare.
The officials here have been forehand-
ed as to these details, and In fact have
provided for the use OF barbed wire
by our own forces, having sent about
$50 tons OF this wire with General Mer-
ritt's expedition.
Extending Blockade.
The lines are being tighteIed around
Cuba, and 1t will soon be impossible
for even small quantities of food or
war, supplies to reach the Spaniards
there. The proclamation Issued to-day
extending the blockade to the south
coast and to San Juan. It is believed,
will accomplish this result. On the
south coast the Isle Of Pines will be
cut off as transfer depot for cattle
and food supplies coming from Jamai-
ca and Central America. By closing
San Juan harbor the Spaniards will
lose the last chance OF smuggling war
supplies to. Cuba, and the future opera
tons Of the army ard navy looldng to
the occupation OF the island OF Porto
Rico will be materially advanced by
the establishment OF successful block
ade.
Cadiz Fleet at Port Said.
There was no further word from the
Cadiz fleet to-day, though 1t Is still
known to be lying at Port Said under
pretext of repairing one OF the. torpedo
boat destroyers. The delay on the part
OF the Spanish, fleet has not stopped
the preparations for the sending OF the
Eastern squadron, under Commo dore
Watson, to the Spanish shores. The
commodore Is fastening with all speed
southWard on the Newark to Join and
confer with Sampson or Santiago.
II has been known to our government
Az soHic tihle phsts tHats tHe SpaHlsu
government was trying to obtain pos
session OF the splendid modern armor-
ed cruiser o'IIigsins. Our agents,
however. have watched these negotia-
t!ons carefully, and our government has
been finally satisfied that they have
failed. 1t Is needless to say. that the
result was agreeably received here, as
the gravest complications might have
resulted from the sale Of warship by
u neutral power to Spain.