The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-01

soon, as it is held only by a small guard
of Spanish troops American scouting
parties have been within a thousand
yards of Caney without being attacked
and the roads in that vicinity have been
repaired and improved by our troops,
indicating that artillery will be moved
in that direction. 1t is believed that
the investment of Santiago de Cuba
will follow the capture of Caney.
There are about five thousand Cubans
operating with the American army at
the front and the Spanish force defend
ing Santiago de Cuba is estimated at
from II, 600 to 10000. In addition as al
ready cabled, General Pando. the Span
ish military commander in the field, is
marching from Manzanillo, some 172
miles west, with 5000 men and unless
checked by the small force of Cubans
holding the mountain passes, he ought
to reach Santiago in his efforts to sup
port General Linares, in a few days.
The American camps have been soak
ed by the recent rains and the roads
are in bad condition, but our officers
and men are confident they will be able
to make a general attack soon and that
Santiago will fall before them.
The cable was placed in operation
this morning at Juragua, Altares and
Siboney, and communication is now
open between the invading army and
Washington.
Administration Feels Easy.
New York. July IA special to the
Times from Washington says:
With telegraphtc communication es-
tablished near Santiago and a wire
from Gen. Shafter's headquarters to the
cable office in Cuba, the president and
Gen. Miles feel as if Washington was
practically as near to the field of oper-
atoms as Tampa and the government is
assured of hearing of operations as
soon as they have taken place. With
an officer in command who was at all
apprehenSiVe of the result of attempt
ing to carry out his plans there might
be some anxiety AS it is the admins
tration rests quite at ease about the
Santiago situation Gen. Shafter is en-
titled to be more anxious than the pres
idcnt, for he is the man upon whom
success must confer fame, as he is
bound to become the most unhappy of
men if he should permit himself with
unlimited reinforcements at his COM
mand to be defeated in the attempt to
capture Santiago.
From several sources the war depart
ment learns that Gen. Shafter has ta-
ken the measure of the foe, in numbers
and fighting ability He undoubtedly
considers the ability of the Spanish
army to fight, in The sense that the
United States soldiers regard fighting,
has been dreadfully Overestimated by
the Spaniards. The brush at La Qua
sina served to increase this idea on
Gen. Skaters part and the later flight
from FL Caney close to the border of
the city itself is believed to have i'm
pressed him with the idea that they
have not much fight left in them.
Still it is considered not improbable
that the Spanish commander may have
some plan of destruction for the United
States forces not yet suspected. The
talk of mined roads does not quite ac-
count for the refusal to fight or to dis
less the roads We're undermined with
thousands of tons of dynamite, which
the Spaniards evidently did not pos
sess the destruction would be only limi-
ted and there would still be a large
body of men, remembering a former
mine explosion which could not be at