The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-30

washington. June so.zThe opinion Is 1
that within a day or two General Shaf-
ter will have begun his attack upon the
city Of Santiago. The important event
of yesterday was the generals announce
ment that he could take the city In AZ
hours. but at considerable loss. Taken
in connection with the announcement
contained In another dispatch that he
was going to attack without awaiting
reindorcements. II will be seen that the
officials have ground for the expectation
as to general engagement.
Numerically the opposing armies are
not very different. the estimate OF the
Spanish force being placed at $4,000 men.
thoroughly entrenched and behind
barbed wire fences and blockhouses. as
against about IL, 900 men under Skaters
command. aided by 1000 Cubans. One OF
the gravest elements in the problem.
however, is the Spanish warships. for
unless Shafter IL materially assisted by
Sampson, who might engage the full at
tention of the Spanish ships, their fire
upon the American advance forces
would be very hard to meet. The mill
tary authorities say that General Linares
has shown great tact in slowly retiring
during the last few days as he has
gradually drawn our troops away from
the protection OF the ships. For this
reason Ii was with relief that the an
nouncement was received that Shafter
had succeeded in landing all Of his ar
tillery, including his siege train. for un-
less Sampson can be relied upon to force
his way into the harbor and attack the
Spanish ships the siege guns planted on
the heights commanding the bay will be
the main reliance OF Shafter In offsetting
the presence OF the Spanish ironclads.
Undoubtedly Shafter is animated to at
tack as soon as possible by his knowledge
of the approach Of the reinforcements
for Linares from Manzanillo, for with
this additional force, Skaters position
would be disagreeable. II not perilous.
at least until he had received reinforce
ments.
The war department received the first
definite news yesterday as to the ap-
proach OF these Spanish reinforcements.
This was In an official dispatch stating
that 5000 men with pack trains and
droves of animals were advancing from
Manzanillo. and were "a miles from San
tiago. 1t has been known through re-
ports from Lieutenant Joyce, made to
General Miles. that the Spaniards have
10000 men at Manxanillo and 10000 at
Holguin, and every precaution has been
taken to guard against their advance
from either quarter. The official report
showed that 5000 or those at Manzanillc
had covered half the distance to San
tiago, and II is the belief Of military Of
ficials that General Pando Is making a
similar advance with his 5000 men from
Holguin. These advances, now prac-
tically unopposed. are regarded as one
of the most serious phases of the situa-
tion.
There Is the further element to which
the military authorities are giving care
ful attention. that one man entrenchec
behind earthworks or In rifle pits Il
worth three men In the open. 1t is sait
that the battles of Charlottesville an,
Spottsylvania afforded the most direc
proof on this point.
1t was announced at the war depart
ment that by its reports 5000 soldier
should be leaving Tampa to Join Shat
ter. They will be three or four days oI
the voyage. and 1t is probable that it 1
this force that General Shafter refers {,
as likely to arrive too late for his action