The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-30
auss the Americans persisted in fisht-

cause the Americans persisted in fight
Ing
| General Shafter emphasizes the need Of
horses. In particular he wants horses for
the Third Battalion Of the First Cavalry and
for Colonel Woods rough riders. He says
the horses he carried on the expedition
stood the voyage WELL
One of the most satisfactory points re-
ported by General Shafter is that at last
the artillery has been landed. This means
great deal, as it was feared the loss Of the
lighter would seriously delay the landing
Of the heavy artillery. He does not specify
that the heavy guns as well as the light
artillery were landed. but his statement
that the last of the artillery was landed
/ yesterday is taken to cover all of the ord
nance.
With these siege guns on shore General
Shafter Is pow IN a position to support a
troop of cavalry with the big guns of the
heavy artillery as well as the light field
guns. 1t appears also from the reports that
the last of the troops were not landed until
yesterday, this occurring simultaneously
with the landing of the artillery and the
transfer of the Cubafs. 1t was practically
the last move in concluding the preparations
for actual land operations. General Shat
ters dispatches speak Of the spirits of the
troops and their excellent health. They
bring out also that the commander Is not
less in high spirits than his men, for he
concludes one of his dispatches with the
laconic sentence that. he hopes to send IA
vorable reports soon.
Gen. Skaters Plan
WASHINGTON June 2S-General SHAFT
ter has reported two most important devel-
opments in the military situation at Santi-
ago. First, that he expects to take the city
as soon as he gets ready to move, and that
he will not walt for reinforcements. Sec
ond, that Spanish reinforcements number
ing 5000, accompanied by pack trains and
large droves. of animals are advancing
from Manzanillo to the relief of Santiago,
and are now fiftyfour miles from that city.
A number of.dispatches have been received
from General Shafter covering all the de-
tails of the present situation. Some of them
are to the Secretary Of War, others to
Major General Miles. They cover SUBJ
stantially the same ground. 1t Is evidently
General Skaters purpose not to wait for
the reinfotcements now going forward to
him. but to make his attack before the 5000
Spanish troops approaching from the west
can reach the city.
The statement that they are now but "a
miles from Santiago is the most definite
Information thus far received. 1t is about
100 miles from Manzanillo to Santiago, so
that the Spanish forces had covered about
one-half the distance at the time they were
located by the American officers This
probably was day or two ago, for Gen.
Skaters dispatch was sent last night and
in the meantime the Spaniards undoubted-
ly have advanced considerably further.
The droves of cattle which the Spanish
army is bringing along shows q purpose
to lay In ample fresh meat in anticipa ton
of siege. This and the pack train ham,
per rapid advance, but even with a bad
road the Spaniards will probably make
from ten to twenty miles day. Much re-
lance has been placed on Gen. Garcia s
Cubans to prevent. this advance of REIN
forcements from the left But it appears
that Garcia's. entire force has been with
drawn from the left and is now with Gen.
Skaters main body.