Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-07-14
BOMBARDING BEGUN.
Our Land and Sea Forces Opened
Fire on Santiago Sunday.
Gen. TOral Wanted TO Withdraw His Army
with COlors Flying, but Gen. shafteE
Refused--An Unconditional
Surrender Wanted.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE lombard
ment 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 un-
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 colors flying, Gen. Shatter
promptly replied that only uncondi-
tional surrender would he considered.
At the same time he agreed to cable
Toral's proposition to Washington and
to extend the armistice until noon
yesterday to await a reply. Before
the armistice expired Gen. Skaters
declination of Toral's 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
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
l0.-Adjutant General Washington. l have
Just received letter from Gen. Toral declining
unconditional surrender Bombardment by
army and navy will begin at or as near four D
m. as possible. SHAFTER Major General
SIBoNEY, July l0-Adjutant General, Wash
ington: The St Paul has just arrived with
Gen. Henry and his command and quarter
masters stores HUMPHREYS
SIBoNEY, July l0-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 10-Adjutant Gem
eral, Washington; Enemy opened fire a few
minutes past four with light guns, which were
soon silenced by ours, Very little musketry
firing and the enemy kept entirely in the in
trenchments. 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 SKATER
The fact that the bombardment was
scheduled by Shafter 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: II have not
the slightest information as to the rea-
sons Gen. Shafter had for beginning
the bombardment at the hour he
names, but it was probable that he
was ready just at that time, You can
speculate about that as we'll as l can. "
Gen. Shafter has nearly so siege
guns and large number of seventeen
mortars, besides light artillery, at his
disposal. These guns, taken in con-
nection with the work by the feet,
will, it is believed, carry terror and
destruction to Santiago. Anxiety has
been expressed by the war department
officials as to whether Gen. Shafter
had a sufficient force to prevent the
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 ascertaned, 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
final assault upon the city.