The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-08

But no one was IuJuI<us OhS uA8o o"S'A
fell close to the collier Justin. Through
cut the entire engagement no American
ship was hurt and no American was IN
5ured. The Spandards stuck to their guns,
and all assertions to the contrary their
loss must have been heavy.
o@cial Opinion Suffers Some Change
WASHINGTON, June 7.-Starting out
With strong belief that there had been
nothing In the nature of serious engage
nent between SIMPSONS forces and the
Spanish defenses at Santiago, the navy
department officials as the day wore on,
and the full and detailed reports of the
Associated Press from it's correspondents
with the feet began to flow in, were COM
PEELED to modify their view. and when the
day closed they were about ready to admit
that although without official information
on the subject 1t was evident that Samp-
son had made q strong attack upon the
Spanish force. The one point upon which
they maintained their confidence was that
no troops had been landed. They were
prepared to learn that Sampson might be
clearing the way with his big guns for the
landing of the troops, or that possibly some
marines had been landed temporarily, but
that forces had been put ashore they would
not admit, for the reason that no informa-
ton had reached the war department OF
the actual departure of the soldiers from;
the gulf ports for Cuba. 1t is not denied,
however, that every effort is making to
put the troops into Cuba at the earliest
possible moment. and this afternoon, 1t is
believed, although no official advices to
that effect were at hand that troops have
actually been embarking at Tampa today
and may get away tonight. The reason
for this belief is found in the admission by
officials that the troops have been under
orders to embark for some time past. The
difficulty that presented itself was the alb
sence Of absolutely necessary supplies,
which in most cases were stored away in
some Of the thousands of freight cars
which blocked the railroad tracks many
miles out from Tampa. The orders that
went forward yesterday were of a char
acter to cause a speedy breaking of the
deadlock, and If the troops now have their
supplies, which is believed to be the case,
there is no reason why they should not
sail at once for Santiago.
SIMPSONS Work Well Done
By the newspaper reports of the breach
Sampson has made in the coast defenses
there, there is every reason to believe that
little difficulty will be found in the actual
dekarkation of the troops, particularly if
marines are already ashore to guard the
landing.
A suspicion Is entertained in some
quarters that Sampson was FASTENED in his
at Santiago l." the news of the
Intended departure Of the troops from
Tampa, and made this attack in order
that the navy might have the honor Of
effecting the occupation of Cuban soil.
1t is likely that the first troops Of the
regular army to take UP a position ashore
will be the engineer battalion, although
they are so badly hampered by the heavy
siege trains they carry that they must be
greatly delayed in making landing. These
guns, by the way, have given infinite trou-
BILE, for the transports that were hastily
chartered were so lightly constructed as to
require great deal of Strengthening before
the great masses of steel could be safely
placed on them.
The extent Of SIMPSONS attack on the
Santiago defenses has brought out one fact
very clearly, namely, that he has practical
~ unlimited power as to the time and char
acter of an attack, and that he is I'M
ton. The exact nature of his orders have
never been made public, but naval official
In q position to know what they are, said
that Admiral Sampson had greater power
conferred upon him than had ever been
given to a commander. 1t was for him to
decide Oh the time for an attack and the
place and manner of its execution. He may
attack before troops arrive or. in his dis
,retion, may act without the cooperation
IF troops; or. If circumstances warrant, he
may refrain from operations. In short, it Is
,aid that Admiral Sampson is complete
master of the tactical and strategic opera
ions by the naval forces off Santiago. This
Is in line with the policy approved by the
highest naval authorities. Captain Mahan, |
! member Of the war board, brings out in
his standard work on "Sea Power that it is
Tor the naval commander-in-chief to or
yanize and direct his offensive or defensive
operations. In referring to the brilliant
lessons afforded by Nelson. Rodney Farra-
gut and other great commanders, he gives
he credit for working out and executing
the splendid campaigns under their direc-
hon without orders or restraint from out |
side authority. The only reservation made
In this general principle is that the center
Of the government shapes general policies
and She naval campaign is directed toward
government
In the present case the authorities here
have laid down the general ends to be at
tanned in Cuba and Porto Rico, and the
var board has supplemented this with
every bit of information that could assist
the commander-in-c chief. But beyond this
Admiral SIMPSONS authority is practical
~ without limit. Under these circum-
stances the naval authorities here have no
means of knowing when a battle is to be
executed or what the line of action is to be.
Junction With Insurgents
CAPE HAYTIEN, Hayti, June 7. 10 p. M
copyright 1893, by the Associated Press)
According to the latest direct advices from
Santiago de Cuba, dated Monday at mid
night, the bombardment which began at
7:45 a. m. yesterday and continued until
1880 a. M, was resumed again for a short
time about midnight. 1t was then believed
that the Americans had effected junction
with the insurgents near Daiquiri, some dis
tance east of Aguadores, and near the rail-
way line to Santiago.
Officials Well Satisfied
WASHINGTON. June 7.-shortly after
Z o'clock this evening information confirma-
tory of the Associated Press dispatches con-
corning the bombardment of the fortifica-
tions Of Santiago reached the navy depart
ment. 1t came In the form of a cablegram
from Admiral Sampson, which was made
public in the following bulletin:
Secretary of the Navy: Bombarded forts
at Santiago 1880 to 10 a. M, today, June 9Th