The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-11

WASHINGTON. July fo.--The lombard
ment of Santiago has begun. That was
the verbal information obtained this eve
ming shortly before o'ciock at the war
department.
Almost Immediately three bulletins were
posted. the most important OF which WAS
from Gen. Shafter. This dispatch an
neunced that Gen. Toral. who succeeded
Gen. Ianares I'm command of the Spanish
forces In Santiago when the latter WAS
wounded, had declined To surrender, and
that the hosnbardment Of the town would
be begun by the army and navy about 1
O'Clock this afternoon.
The fact that the bombariment was
scheduled by Shafter TO begin SO late in
the day created some comment. bat no
explanation Of 1t was offered. In answer
TO questions bearing upon that movement.
Gen. Corbln said:
II have not the slightest information as
20 the arrangements made by Shafter for
beginning the bomhardinrnt. but 1T was
probably because hc was Just ready At
that time. You can speculate about that
as well as / can
Information resolved by Tie war DEPART
ment during the past few days indicates
that he has materially strengthened his
position. During the past week he sias
received reinforcemen,s OF both artillery
and infantry. Randoph's battery OF twen-
ty-foar guns, which left Key West las,
Tuesday at midnight. is now Ia operation
before Santiago. and. as one of the war
department officials expressed II, when
these Long Toms OF Randolphs begin to
talk. something win happen In Santiago
Gen. Shafier has nearly fifty siege guns
and large number OF six-ineh mcrtars,
besides field artillery, AT ais disposition.
These guns. taken In connection with tho
work that win bo done by the feet. will.
II is expected. carry destruction To Santl-
ago.
Anxiety has been expressed by the war
department officials as to whether Gen.
Shaftar had "A sufficient force TO preverl
the evacuation of Santiago by the enceny.
This anxiety was ailayed about l2 tonight
by the receipt of The following dispsteh
from Gen. Shafter which contained con-
firmation, too. Of the earlier reports of the
Headquarters Firth Corps.
Playa del Este. July TO-
To Adjutant General. Washington. n.
C.: Enemy opened fire few sriintIses y,ast
Z with light guns. which were soon slissnn-
cd by ours. Very little musketry firinz
and the enemy Kept entirely In the in.
trenchnents. Three slightly wounded.
VIII have considerable force tomorrow.
enough TO completely block all no roads
fyfs he ypr hxF 4 ANA So
Gen. Garcia reports that the Spanish
have evacuated little town sali uesca.
mos. about nifty miles from Santiago. and
near the bay. ''SifAFTER''
The belief is held by the best inscrrnsd
officers that Gen Torai. tire Spanish COM
uauder. viii surrender when he fnds 4
viii DO impossible for him 20 evacuats the
city. Upon what grounds this belief 10
based could not be- ascertained. but that
Information TO that effect Is In tho hands
OF the war Officials there Is no doubt. Gen
Skaters dispatch. hey say. shows he 10
now engaged Ia strengthening bis post
tton and tomoFrgw will follow up his op-
eratsons with n final assault on the city.
The nssys of the re-openipg Of hostili-
ties came at the close OF busy Sunday
I'm The war department. Previous 10 t1s
recespt of this dispatch the secretary of
war had heard twice from Gen. shafter.
In the early morning came a telegram
saying that he had ridden over the Amer
team lines ard vas gratified at their ooa-
dstiou. A second dispatch read that tho
lines were Guzpregna1le. thus removing any
fear Of successful sortie by tie SPAN
sards should any nsnsuver Of this kinA
be attempted. Both kilograms, w5seh also
emphasized the fact shst Gen shafier's
condition had greatly improved, were
sso~n TO the president and occazioned HIN
considerable qualification
when questioned as 70 whether he -
neved that there had teen "a bo-stsarGrnent
or the city. Gen. cosbin replied: 'You
know as ussseh aboge II az %; hare
kept nothing tsaet. | should say. how
ever. that tie firing vas su, the presizlr