The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-30
But the Capture Would Entail Much
Loss Of Life.
PROBLEM or SPANISH FLEET
UoIy Customers Unless Sampson.
Can Take Care Of Them.
THE OPPOSING ARMIES NUMERICALLY
spanish Force 10000 Men strongly
Intrenchcd behind Wire ana
BlOckhouses.

Washington, June 29.-The opinion pre-
walls here that within day or TWO al
most General shafter will have begun his
attack on the City of Santiago proper
The important event OF the day was
the general announcement that he could
take the city in forty eight hours, but there
might be considerable loss of life.
Taken in connection with the announce
ment made in another dispatch that he is
going TO attack without awaiting re-en-
forcements, 1t will be seen that the ON
Gals have good ground for their expecta-
tons that the frat general engagement
OF the war will begin in short time
Numerically the opposing armies are not
very different, the estimate Of the Spanish
forces being placed at 1900 men. 1Snr-
oughly intrenched behind barbed wire
fences and block houses. as against about
1900 men under General Skaters com
mand. aided By 1000 Cubaus.
one OF the gravcst elements In the prob
lem however, is the Spanish warshlpF, for
unless Shafter is materially assisted by
Sampson, who might engage the full aiten-
tion OF the Spanish ships, their fire upon |
the American advance forces would be very |
hard to meet.
The military authorities here say that |
General Linares has shown great military
tactics In slowly retiring during the last
few days, as he has gradually drawn our
troops away from the protection Of the
American ships ana brought them close to
the fire Of the Spanish ships In Santiago
harbnr,
For this reason q, was with great relief
that the announcement was received hero
that Shatter had succeeded In landing all
OF his artillery, including his siege train.
fer unless Sampson can be relied on TO
force his way into the harbor and attack
the Spanish ships. three siege guns planted
on heights commanding the bay viii be the
main reliance Of getting rid of the Spanish
ironclads.
General shafter IS animated TO attack
soon as possible by his knowledge OF the
approach OF the re-enfurcements, for with
this additional force, Skaters position
would be disagreeable II not perlllous. at
least til he had received rhnforcmnents
The war department received the FIRST
definite news as to the approach of thesa
Spanish reinfotcements This was in an
official statement saying that 5000 men with
pack trains from Manzanlllo were only
hfty-four miles from Santiago.
II has baen known .from other reports
that the Spaniards have Il 600 men a.
Man2anlllo and 10000 at Hoguln, aud
every precautlon has been tcseu to guard
against their advance from either quarter
The official report today showed that SCOT
az these at Manzanllo had covered half Al,
distance from there to Santiago and 1t Il
the belief Of the military officials het,
that General Pando ~ making similar Ad
vances with his 10000 men from Holguin
The advances, now practically unoppossd
are regarded as one OF the most serlou
phases Of the sltna ion.
There Is the further element to whicl
the military authorities are giving seriou
attention, that one man intrenched benin
earihworks or in rifle pits Ia worth thre
men in the open.
II Is said that the battles OF Councillors
vile and Spo,taylyania afforded the mos
direct proof on this point.
IL was announced at the war dcpartmeu
that by the reports 1000 soldiers should b
lfaying Tampa today TO join Shafter. The
VIII be three or four days on the voyag,
and 1t Is probable that 1t is this force ths
General Shafer refers to as likely to al
rive too late for his action.
The navy department today gave out
message from Admiral Dewey, which WI
brought to Hong Kong by the McI,ulocl
so that 1t must have left Cavite on th
! esd -
The admiral made no reference to III
lanuing OF German marines and the Of
ficials here are satisfied that Germany
acting In sood faith and according 10 Y
rules OF neutrality.
The report tfat the Egyptian govern
ment had finally refused coal to camala
y fleet at Port Said has not yet b,en a
ficially confirmed. but its accuracy is n
questioned
There Is sim some doubt whether tn
refusal in Itself viii operate to prevent Il
further movement OF the Spanl h suuadrc
toward the Philippines, as Malrid adyic
ailese purpose on the part Of the SpanI,
government TO send additional golfers wi
( the expedition TO overcome the refusal
the various ports along the way to The Phi
ippines to supply coal
There Is strong impression here. hoy
h ever, that the Spanish government W
avail itself Of the pretext afforded nv IN
N, refusal to turn tbs fleet back to Spain.