Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-24
Admiral Sampson Reports That BE
is at Santiago.
RELIEVED OF WEIGHT OF ANXIETY
Gen. Miles Will Direct Opera
tons in Cuba.
NO REPORT OF BATTLE

] Admiral sampson is now IN CoHStdil dHo
| practically immediate cable communication
with the Navy Department. Six dispatches
were received in rapid succession through
! the early hours Of this morning. the last
one bringing the situation up to II o'clock
| last night This showed that only hall
hour elapsed between the filing of the
| message by the admiral and the receipt oi
! 1t in Washington, so that the authorities
| here are now assured of being only half an
| hour behind the actual developments at the
scene of action. This is felt TO be of vital
| concern in establishing that close touch
between the President and the officials here
| and the commanding officers at Santiago.
Safety of Hobson Assured.
The only message bearing on the general
situation was that in which Admiral Samp-
| son stated that under a flag OF truce he
learned that Hobson and his men were well
and had been removed from MORO Castle
| 10 the city Of Santiago, four miles distant
This lifted a weight Of anxiety as to the
condition of this brave band of heroes, for
since the recent bombardment in which
MORO suffered somewhat there has beer
no certainty as TO whether Hobson and his
| men were dead or alive, although it has
rever been seriously believed that the Span
iards would expose these men to such
dangers as to lead to their death. The dis
patch was further reassurins in that II
| made clear that Admiral SIMPSONS assault
upon the harbor entrance, to which Morro
is the main defense, would not be crippled
by having the fire kept away from that
fertilization in order to protect Hobson.
Repairs to Vessels.
The other dispatches of Admiral Sampson
covered a multitude of details which have
been deferred in the absence of quick COM
MI nicaticn. They made acquisitions for
supplies of every description, and indicated
needed repairs of various kinds, mostly
minor in character, to the vessels Of the
fleet. Not a word was said as to any en-
gagenent by the troops under Gen. Shat
ter, and as the admiral is in close commu-
nication with Gen. Shafter the naval Off
cials regard this failure Of the admiral to
mention any action by the troops as con-
elusive In showing that 10 action took
place yesterday, as was reported by the
Spanish.
With the exception of Admiral Simpsons
report Of the removal of Hobson and his
brave associates to a place of comparative
safety nothing was received from the scene
OF action in Cuba at either the War or
Navy Department up to o'clock this after
noon.
Secretary's Letter to Lieut.. HObsOn.
Secretary Long has written a personal
letter of commerdation to Assistant Naval
Constructor R. P. Hobson in recognition of
his heroic action in closing the harbor of
Santiago with the wreck of the Merrimac.
1T was exceedingly gratifying to the de-
partment,' says the Secretary, Ito receive
from the commander-in-chiefo of the North
Atlantic station such a letter, calling atten-
ton to your extraordinary bravery on the
occasion referred to. Readiness for emer-
gency, fertility OF resource and such ex-
traordinary heroism as you displayed in
taking the Merrimac into the entrance of
the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, under the
most calling fire from the shore batteries
of the enemy, at the risk Of almost certain
death to yourself and your brave associates
on this duty, are qualifications most
viable for any naval officer to possess, your
action even calling from the Spanish ad-
miral, in a most signal manner, an express
sion highly commendatory Of your brave
act.
1.-THE department takes this occasion to
most heartily congratulate you upon your
mcst distinguished conduct, and avaiiS
itself of this opportunity to inform you tnat
sicnal reward, as recommended bysthe COM
nender-in-chief. which the department
hopes will be gratifying to you. and at the
same time assures you that your gallant
act not only reflects additional luster upon
the traditional glories Of the navy. bu;
that you are hello in grateful remembrance
by your fellow countrymen and appreciat-
ed by the whole world"
The Army Telegraph Line.
During the forenoon a dispatch came to
Gen. Greely, chief signal officer, from Lieut..
Col. Allen, who is in charge Of the tele-
graphic communication with the army. 1t
was dated at Playa del Este, and simply
indicated that he was making arrange
ments to extend telegraphic communication
along the shore as far as Aguadores, which
is probably about sixteen miles farther to
the westward than Playa del Este. The dis
patch made no mention of any battle or
other change in the situation. military or
naval. From the fact that Col. Allen Is
working his line westward to Aguadores 1t
is evident to the military authorities that
the field of land action will be stretched
considerable distance along the shore, COW
ering probably from five to fifteen miles.
This will constitute the base Of supplies,
where the stores will be kept, and with
which the advancing army will at all times
keep up it's line of communication. for, save
in Grants memorable advance on Vicks-
burg, the first essential of an advancing
army is considered to be that Of keeping
up its line of communication with the base
of supplies
Gen. Miles Going to Cuba.
Gen. Miles. in command OF the army,
Will go to Cuba, accompanied by his staff,
and personally direct the military opera
items in the field. All doubt as to the gem
Ell ais plans was cleared up today with thu
official statement that he will go to Cuba.
He will not leave here this week, however.
as has been suggested, r or Is it settled Just
VIXEN he viii CO.. There Is thought TO be
no emergency to require an immediate
start. as Gen. Miles las the fullest conn.
dence In Gen. -Shafter, who - conducting
the advance on Santiago. and this conf
derce is shared BY, the President, ana the
Secretary Of War. For that reason Gen.
Miles, move win not be- for the purpose OF
assuming the direction OF the asBauit on
Santiago. as that movement is likely to be
well advanced. II not entirely executed. by
the tima he gets there. There are other