The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-02

did he not reportg AdJutant General Cor
bins response was brief. but pointed: HE
Is lighting; not writing" and this was ac-
cepted as a likely and sound explanation.
THE ENEMY RETREATING.
just before O'Clock came a brief dispatch
from Playa del Este. the cable station near
Santiago But it was from an engineer Of
foer to General Miles. and made no refer
ence to the progress of the battle, merely
referring to certain necessary material and
live stock. On the whole, this very absence
of official news was regarded as rather a
favorable indication, the reasoning being
that this mornings engagement was but
heavy skirmish. and that our army was
feeling the enemy to discover and strike at
his weak spot. 1t was nearly o'clock when
the signal Office received the welcome news
that the enemy was retreating.
When Skaters dispatch, announcing the
opening of the action. was received this
morning, it sent thrill through official cir
cles from the highest to the lowest. Secre-
tary Alger was the first to read 1t. He
passed 1t 20 General Corbin, adjutant gen.
eral Of the army, and directed him to take
It at once to the White House. General
Corbin went to the President. carrying the
original dispatch. He was back shortly and
then a bulletin was posted giving the dis
batch verbatim Until then only the higher
officials had known that the decisive hour
was at hand The news spread through the
corridor and a wave of awe-like agitation
and expectancy took hold of every one A
great crowd of correspondents struggled
about the bulletin board, as messenger boys
dashed off with dispatches; the clerks, men
and women, turned from their desks and
gathered at the doorways.
Meantime Secretary Alger remained at his
desk. while the usual train of callers pushed
their way forward. The secretary preserved
his usual calm. but those near him said the
news from the front sent the same thrill
through the secretary as prevailed every
where. and even more, for there was the
personal consideration that the secretary's
Of General Duflield. was participating in the
engagement from now on. AS the secretary
started to the Cabinet meeting he spoke
with satisfaction of the fact that sufficient
time had elapsed to permit General Shafter
10 get his army well concentrated at the
front and thrown out into good battle for
nation. The secretary felt that our forces
were on the aggressive, and that the mere
fact that the action that was now going on
showed that Shafter had bided his time and
was ready to strike his blow. Word had
come prior to the Shafter dispatch showing
that the artillery which had been brought
to the front was well placed.
THE OBSERVATION BALLOON.
General Miles. commanding the army, re-
ceived a copy of the dispatch soon after it
arrived He had anticipated it, for only
few hours before the dispatch came to him
from General Breckenridge. inspector gen.
eral of the army, stating that the spirit
of the troops was high and that they were
eager and expectant of action. General
Breckinridge's dispatch indicated that re-
suits might be expected very soon. General
Miles also received another dispatch, sent
early this morning from Skaters headquar-
tiers, saying that the big balloon was now
high in the air, and was giving opportunity
for observation over a great sweep of coun-
try. This. in itself. was of incalculable
value to our troops. Brave reconnaissance
had been made. but these were of little
value compared to what might be seen from
a balloon mile more in the air, COM
manding a radius of observation of from
twenty to forty miles with powerful tel
escapes. General Miles had seen these war
balloons in successful use at Aldershott,
and during the French military maneuvers
when a six-horse wagon to which the great
air ship was anchored followed a squadron
OF cavalry on the dead run. He says Ger
man ships going at eighteen knots have
hauled these captive balloons along with
them. At st. Petersburg, Also he saw them
operated during maneuvers. This was the
first actual use by the American army in
the present war; and the commanding gen.
eral ser much value on the story they would
give as to the exact position of the Span
ish forces. their points of concentration,
their defenses. the location of Cervera's war
ships in the harbor and possible progress of
Spanish forces.
General Miles was of the opinion that the
action Of to-day was in the nature of a
heavy skirmish all along the American
front, particularly on the right, and that
its main purpose was to develop the
strength of the enemy and If possible, learn
the vulnerable point along the Spanish
front This, however was based only on
the lack of definite information, and Cen
eral Miles felt that any hour might bring
word of general engagement. Brig. Gen.
Stone was inclined to believe that. after
maintaining their stand to-day. the Span
iards would retire during the night, leaving
the city evacuated.
WILL TRY To CAPTURE SPANIARDS.
The military authorities here are fully
considering the chances of such a retreat