The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-07-08
postpones Bombardrnent.

WASHINGTON, July 6.-As result Of
the cabinet meeting yesterday insKuc-
tions We're sent by the president to Ad-
miral Sampson and General Shafter to
confer together concerning joint plan
Of attack upon the city. Upon the out
come Of this conference depends the
line Of action for the immediate future
For the present the land bombardment
by General Shafter's forces has been de-
ferred, as the situation has completely
| changed by the annihilation of the
Spanish fleet that it is manifestly the
part of wisdom for this land lombard
ment to await the co operation and sup
port OF a bOlnbardment from Admiral
Simpsons fleet. General Shafter's de-
mand for the surrender of Santiago on
the pain OF bombardment, was made at
$3.50 Sunday morning. An hour later
Admiral Cervera made his suicidal dash
from the harbor, resulting in a complete
transformation Of the naval and mill
tary conditions.
Instead OF menacing Spanish fleet
within the harbor, the way has been
cleared, save for the shore batteries, for
the entrance Of the American fleet up
to the very wharves Of the city. With
this material change wrought, it was
obvious to the authorities here that the
blow, first intended to be delivered by
General Shafter alone, would be doublv
effective and decisive if the two forces
could be brought together and strike
simultaneously from land and sea. It
is for this reason that the conference
should be held between the American
general and the admiral.
The action Of the foreign representa-
tives at Santiago has been an additional
reason for deferring the bombardment.
1t was made known late yesterday that
one of General Shafter's dispatches
stated that these representatives had
joined in a request to him to put off the
shelling of the city for another brief
period until Their respective colonies
could be removed. This accounts for
the departure Of The foreign warships
from Santiago harbor, as they are bear
ing away the foreign residents in the
period before the bombardment begins.
The activity Of the consuls at Santiago
has led to 10 diplomatic complication
which has reached the state depart
ment thus far, and the authorities here
feel that nothing of that nature will de-
velop.
The definite Of cial re, ,or5 reaching
here today that the Spanish teet had
entered the SueZ canal made no change
in the plans of the navy department
as to sending Commodore Watson Is
squadron to the ctast Of Spain. Secre
tary Long said it would start at the
earliest possible moment but he did not
care to give the day of departure
The annihilation of the Spanish feet
continues to be an absorbing topic
among naval officials, and they are Civ.
ing most generous praise to Commodore
SchIey for the noble manner in which
he destroyed the feet, when the imme
diate command fell to his lot. The
commodore's friends have long predicted
that it he secured an opportunity he
would render good account Of the fight
ing ability Of the American navy and
they are glad the opportunity was
finally reached. It is perhaps the
greatest achievement. in long line,
with which Commodore Schley's name
has been associated with others, includ-
ing the relief Of the Greeley Arctic ex-
pedition and the command of the Balti.
more at Valparaiso as result of mob
attack on the American blue jackets.
The question Of what disposition is to