The state herald., 1898-07-08
ATTACKING SANTIAGO
!. THE FIERCE STRUGGLE BEGUN.
Anericsns Closing In ON the City-severo
Fighting Results In Loss OF Life oa
Both Sides.

partment has received the following |
from General Shafter, dated SibOney: |
Had very heavy engagement to-
day, which lasted from 8 Il. IN. until
sundewn. We have carried their out
works and are now in pOssion Of them.
There are now about three-quarters Of
n mile Of open space between my lines
and the city. By morning troops will
be entrenched and considerable aug
mentaton of forces will be there. Gen
eral Lawton's division and General
Bates brigade, which have been en-
gagged all day in carrying El Caney,
which was accomplished at 4 p. M,
will be in line and in front of Santa
90 during the night.
regret to say that our casualties will
be above four hundred. OF these, not
many killed.
(SigneD SHAFTER.
Denver, July IA New York dis
patch to the Republican gives the fol-
lowing from the Herald correspondent
at Siboney, Cuba:
general attack on the city of San
tiago was commenced this morning
and ragged all day. The enemy was
driven into the city. Our loss was
heavy. -Four hundred Americans We're
killed and wounded. One entire COM
pany was annihllatcd by Spanish
shells. Our advance has been checked,
but we are holding the position gained.
Reinforcements are being hurried to
the front.
General Skaters troops gained n
complete victory all along the line.
They drove the enemy from Caney, de-
stroyed the Spanish fort at that place
and occupied the village. driving the
Spaniards back into the city.
Another division of the American
army attacked the heights of San Jlan.
disabling the Spanish battery thereand
taking possession of the enehy's
works.
The advance OF General Shafer's
forces was checked only at the inner
line of the clty's dcfenses. 1t was dirk
when the lighting ceased for the dny.
At sunset our troops We're In possession
Of the ground they had gained.
The BATH will be resumed at dy
break.
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet silen.ed
nearly all Of the shore batteries.
General thafter began this mfn
ing with great vigor the attack ulon
the outer defenses of Santiago. F1m
three directions the American forces
advanced pward the doomed city.
While Gkneral Lawton and Genci,l
Wheeler were attacking Caney, nort-
e:.st of Santiago, General Kent WIS
advancing toward Aguadores. Genepl
Garcia, with his Cuban troops, at tc
same timg approached Caney frdn
the southeast. and the other divisl9s
~ the American army pressed towiild
h.ny lao
presenting n solid front from tie
coast TO General Linares' northern d.
fcnses.
Four members of the Twenty iir,i
regiment " regulars were killed h
the fighting between Seville anil
Aguadores. while sixteen other Amc-
leans. all members of the Twentl
first. We're wounded.
Both thd American and Spanisa
fleets earl, Joined In the battle
While Admiral Sampson's men wce
reducing the recently emplaccd bat
teries mt lguadores, Admiral Ccrve
rc's fleet wls hurllng shells In tho III
rection Of the American and Cubal
lines.
General Toe Wheeler. with n de.
iachment ,f his cavalry command,
and General Garcia. with his Cuban
troops, quickly Joined General Law,
toms men In the advance upon Cancy
The Spanlnrds for "A time fought
desperately TO prevent Caney from
falling inw the hands OF our forces
II was vain effort
Before he fighting had been long
under way the American and Cuban
forces gained advanced ground. Foo,
by foot the enemy was driven back
into the village. II was evident after
the first hours fighting that General
Shafier accurately gauged the strength
OF the enemy, and that he would be
able 10 drive the Spanlnrds into San.
tiago ut his pleasure.
II was with difficulty that the com.
mandlng officers restrained the ardor
Of our troops until the hour for begin.
ming the attack came. The en,husl.
nsm OF the American forces was In
tense and their spirit quickly spresd
10 the Cubsn troops. All have not
shared the belief OF General Shafter
that Santiago could he taken by one
sharp, persistent attack. and they have
been impatient 90 advance.
Brigadlcr General Kent, who com.
mnnds the center OF the general line
OF attack. started the Twcnty.ilrs,
regiment of regulars towards Agun.
dores nj the same hour General Law.
toms men advanced toward Cnncy,
Upon these troops fell the brunt Of the
battle 10 the southeast OF Santiago
during the early hours OF the day.
As I write this dispatch this division
Of kents forces has sustained the
heaviest loss OF the engagement thu.
far
There wns desperate fighting nbou,
Aguadorrs. Acting under orders from
General Llnnres. the spnnIaris n, thnt
point returned the American fire with
n fury that aroused IN our men Tho
ncrcest determination. They boldly
fnced the rnemy's fire. holding their
ground ,cnnciously and pressing for.
ward whenever mn opportunity 10 gain
mn advanced footing presented itself.
In their operations about Agundorcs
the Americans were greatly oncour.
aged by the work OF the fleet, which
poured u heavy fire Into the lines of
the spnnlnr,ls
After considerable effort. Generni
Shnfior's mcn have succeeded In shut.
ting on III" wnter supply OF the clty.
They hnvc been working ON the proh.
lem for sevcinl dnys, bu, II was n dit
ncult one, The main water supply
wnH ohinlnrd from another side of the
city ihnn TINT occupied by our iroops
Afi~r Grn"rnl Shnfiar'a Rueccsa In
practically surrounding the city, how.
ever. II was possible 10 locate The wn
ter supply n,d TO shu, II on. This
achievement by the Amcr'cnrs hns