Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25
MUCH ANXIETY FELT
A Fear That Skaters Force is In
sufficient.
RUSHING THE REINFORCEMENTS
He May Delay Attack on Santiago
Till They Arrive.
ADMINISTRATION FEELING

Despite the successful progress so far
made toward Santiago by General Shafter.
no attempt is made today to conceal a
certain amount of anxiety. The President
Is anxious, but exceedingly hopeful. So are
many Of the administration leaders.
Since the sailing of General Skaters ex-
petition trustworthy news has been re-
ceived by the administration showing that
the Spaniards are in greater strength
around Santiago than even dreamed or
from early information. 1t is said to be
probable that the SpaniardS have 2O.epO
good soldiers in and around Santiago in
addition to the 10000 trained men of Cen
eral Pando, who was about 100 miles away,
but Is believed to be marching to reinforce
General Lnares.
Reinforcements Being Rushed.
The receipt of late information creates
the fear that General Shafter was sent
away with too few men. This is why re-
Inducements are being rushed TO him by
fast steamers.
Besides the men from Camp Alger, 1t is
believed that troops have been sent from
tampa If they have not been sent they
are now under orders to go without DELAY.
1t is now thought that close to 10000
men Will be sent to Santiago to aid Cen
eral Shafter. When the true situation was
learned General Miles thought of going
with the reinforcements. but this was
abandoned General Miles has decided to
go to Cuba with the next expedition. lie
inlay aiso lead the Porto Rican expedition.
May Delay Attack on Santiago.
Ii is not believed that the President will
order General Shafter to mold back his
campaign to await new troops but many
prominent military men doubt whether
General Shafter will attack Santiago proper
until more troops arrive. He will capture
and hold positions of value and get every
thlnS In readiness for the siege of the city.
He Will get all the commanding positions
in his possession and then bring up his
heavy guns. BY the time all this has been
accomplished he will have reinforcements
at hand. The Cubans will also have a
chance to gather more men to assist in the
final dash for Santiago. II the Cuban
forces between Panda end Isinares are
driven toward Santiago by Pando they will
join General Skaters army for the last
great effort.
Old soldiers today do not calculate on the
speedy capture of Santiago unless the
Spaniards are dispirited and hungry and
give up without the resistance expected.
Everybody looks for bloody fighting up to
the last minute. This is the administra-
ton view.
Interest fn Yesterdays Fight.
President Mckinley did not arise until a
late hour this morning, and many early
callers did not find him in his office The
President did not breakfast until about 10
o'clock, an hour behind his usual hour. He
was in his office. until late hour last night
going over the war dispatches
The first dispatch of the Santiago fight
was received at the White House shortly
before II O'Clock last night, and for more
than two hours the President sat in the
war room" of the Executive Mansion
waiting for details of the fight These did
rot come until near o'clock this morn
ing. The dispatches were received by Cap
tain Montgomery and turned over to the
President at once.
The President was personally acquainted
with many of the men killed, and his re-
gret at the casualties was sincere and deep.
AS the dispatches told of the location of
the fight the President gave close study to
the fine map of Cuba in the war room
The progress of General Skaters army
has been followed in detail at the White
House. Each move. and the various posi-
uons Of the army, as well as of the Span
iards, is marked on the map. The Presi-
dent, with his military knowledge and ex-
perience, follows every step of the Ameri-
can commander
The President has studied the map of
Cuba SO minutely that he is almost as well
acquainted with the positions of the forces
If ne were there. He devotes much
time. after the Ieceipt of each item of news,
to further study. and shows the greatest
interest.
InquirinS About Capt. Luna.
Delegate Ferguson of New Mexico was
at the White House and War Department
this morning inquiring for news of Captain
Luna, who was killed I'm yesterdays fight.
Captain Luna enlisted with Colonel Woods
troopers. He was from Los Lunas, near
Albuquerque, n. NJ, and was captain Of
a local company. He was a member of one
of the most prominent Spanish-American
families in the southwest. For years he
had heard the charge that the Spanish
Americans would not prove loyal to this
country He knew this false and vol
unteered to disprove the assertion. Capt
Luna was about twenty-five years old ami
had been married only a few months when
he went to the front. His mother this
morning telegraphed to Mr.. Ferguson ask
ing for Official news