The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-06-28
A FORMIDABLE FORCE |

The Enemy's Forces in the Neighborhcod Of
Santiago are Now Known to be More Numer-
GUS than was at First Supposed AS They
Can be Swiftly Concentrated to Resist an
Attack Upon The Eown, the Government eels
it Necessary to Move Wi h Rapidly in Push-
ing Forward Reinforcemen's 10 Meet the Re-
qurements Of the Situation,
Washington y. c.. June 2o.-Intcrest
shifted sharply to-day from the Navy
Department to the War Department.
The newspaper reporters, brief and
graphic. telling of short, bloody little
engagement between the Spaniards de-
Tending Santiago and the Rough Riders,
the romantic figures in the American
army. had aroused interest to high
pitch. Consequently, the War Depart
ment scarcely opened for business be-
fore Il crowd of newspaper men and
other interested persons filled the hall
ing for some official informant ton that
would supply data missing from the
press accounts. 1t was not until nearly
noon that the first cablegram came from
Shafter and then to the disappointment
Of the department it was even more
meagre than the press reports. During
the course of the day several other
dispatches were received. but they all
left something to be desired. for being
under date of yesterday they did not re-
lieve anxiety as to what happened yes
terday evening and to-day. with the two
armies separated by the short space of
a mile and Il half. An explanation of
this state of affairs was found in the
fact that General Shafter failed to take
with him from Tampa the splendid field
telegraph service that had been pre-
pared with much care by General Greedy
for just such Il campaign as is now being
Waged. 1t is probable that he has al
ready seen his error and will avail him
self of the il struments just a> soon as
they can be sent to him. There was Il
general expression Of grief at the loss
sustained by the soldiers in yesterdays
fight. Still. the officials in high places
expressed themselves as thoroughly sat
ished with the result realizing that war
sacrifice of life The impression gained
from one Of General Shafters despatch
eS is that he is now about to delay his
advance until he has secured his artil-
lory. Such Il course Will be dictated by
common prudence. for it is known that
the SpaniardS have fortified as far as
they could advanced positions outside of
Santiago, and it would he the height Of
folly to throw soldiers unsupported j,
artillery against such works. JnfOrtun-
ately. there promises to he some delay
III landing all the artillery, owing to
the loss on the voyage to Santiago of
the big lighter, which seems to lee ne
cessary to transfer the heavy guns from
the ships to the landing pier. The naval
authorities have responded PROMPTLY to
the appeal of the War Department, and
some means will he found through the
aid of the warShipS to accelerate the
landing of the supplies and guns.
During the day Secretary Al-c" and
General Miles held several Conferences
not so much to go over tho S,rd@@le vt
Yesterday rs to give every military pro
la:nIion for the great struggle vet =
come. As a result heavy reinforce
ments will 90 forward at once, both from
Tampa and Newport News. An oXpe
dltlon of 5000 men is expected to leave
Tampa within the ten days. The stores
are already going aboard transports,
ana the start of The expedition only
awaits the arrival of the naval convoy.
Iaft OF the ships sent over With Shat
ter expedition have been released by
Admiral Sampson and are now on their
WAY BACK 10 Tampa to escort the addi-
tional troops. Others will follow. and
then another formidable marine process
SION Will start across the gulf to Cuba
Whether the battleShip Indiana will lead
this expedition. as it did the last. is not
definitely reported. There will be soy
eral heavy warshipS. however. as we'll
as lighter craft. TO give safe conduct to
General Snyder. Simultaneous with this
General Henry's divisions will be MOVING
along the Atlantic coast and thence tC
Santiago. In all. tho reinforcement>
from Tampa and Newport News will he
in the neighborhood of 10000 and IL
600 men. Drafts on Chcamauga are
likely to follow soon, as the hurry orders