The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-07-15
BONBARDING BEGUN.
Santiago de Cuba Being Shelled by
Our Land and Sea Forces.
EMMY OFFERED TO SURRENDER.
Gen. Toral Wanted to Withdraw Hts Army
with Coiors Flying, but Gen. shafter
Refused-An Unconditional
surrender Wanted.


WAsHiNGToN. July II. The lombard
meut of Santiago by land and sea has
begun. AT four o'clock yes erday af-
ternoon Admiral Sampson, with his
battleships, and Gen. Shafter, with
the siege guns, which at immense cost
of labor have been placed in position,
began to drop shells into the city.
This bombardment will continue I'M
til the time is regarded as ripe for a
land assault on the city, which will
probably be to-day. Then, unless the
well-laid plans of the American COM
manders fall far short of accomplish
ment, Santiago must capitulate.
When Gen. Toral offered to sur
render the city on condition that he
be permitted to withdraw his army,
with co,ors flying. Gen. Shafter
promptly replied that only uncondi-
tional surrender would be considered.
At the same time he agreed to cable
Torafs proposition to Washington and
to extend the armistice until noon
yesterday to await reply. Before
the arinistice expired Gen. Skaters
declination of Torals offer had been
ratified in Washington and Toral had
replied in the negative to Skaters
demand for unconditional surrender.
As soon as possible after that bonn
bardment began, as is evidenced by
dispatches received last night. only n
part of which have been given out.
Early last evening the war depart
ment posted the following bulletins
of dispatches:
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS July
iO.-AdjuHnt General Washington: / have
Just received letter from Gen. Toral declining
unconditional surrender. Bombardment by
army and navy will begin at or rs near four p.
n as possible. SKATER Major General
SIBoNEY, July iO-Adjutant General, WASH
ingtou; The St Paul mas just arrived with
Cen Henry and his command and quarter
masters stores. HUMPHREYS
SIBoNEY, July i0-Adjutant General, Wash
ington: The Catania has just arrived with the
First District Columbia volunteers.
HUMPHREYS.
A little latter the war department
announced that it had been informed
that the bombardment had begun. but
the dispatch was not made public.
Shortly after midnight the war de-
partment gave out the following dis
patch from Gen. Shafter:
PLAYA DEL ESTE July l0-Adjutant Gem
eral. Washington: Enemy opened fire q few
minutes past four with II ght guns, which were
soon silenced by ours Very little musketry
firing and the enemy kept entirely in the in
trnnchments. Three men slightly wounded.
viii have considerable forces to-day-enough
TO completely block all the roads on the north
west am quite we'll SHAFrER
The fact that the bombardment was
scheduled by Skater To begin so late
in the day ere ated some comment, but
no explanation of it was offered. In
answer to questions bearing on that
point Gen. Corbin said: IL have not
the slightest information as to the rea-
sons Gen. Shafter had for beginning
the bombardment at the hour he
names, but IL was probable that he
was ready just at that time. You can
speculate about that as we'll as | can"
Gen. Shafter has nearly so siege
guns and large number of seven-inch
mortars, besides light artillery, at his
disposal. These guns, taken in con-
nection with the work by the fleet,
WILL it is believed, carry terror and
destruction to Santiago Anxiety has
been expressed by the war department
officials as to whether Gen. Shafter
Hdu II Sulutlenl lOIcS W prevent bHS
evacuation of Santiago by the enemy.
This anxiety was allayed about 1880
last night by the receipt of dispatches
from Gen. Shafter.
The belief is held by the best in
formed officials that Gen. Toral, the
| Spanish commander, will surrender
when he finds 1T will be impossible for
him to evacuate the city. Upon what
grounds this belief is based could not
be ascertained, but that information
to that effect is in the hands of the
war officials there is no doubt
Gen. Skaters dispatch last night
shows that he is engaged now in
strengthening his position and to-day
will follow up his operations with a
final assault upon the city.