The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-03
SHAFTER'S HEAVY TASK

THIS Is NOT UNDERESTIMATE
BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT.;
THEY KNOW THAT A GALLANT
ENEMY, STRONGLY ENTRENCH-
ED. AND POSSIBLY SWOLLEN
IN NUMBERS BY LATE REIN
FORCEMENTs, rs FACING OUR
TROOPS. WITH THE HEAVY
GUNS OF CERVERA'S SQUAD
RON POURING SHOT AND
SHELL INTO OUR LINES, BUT
THE GREAT ISSUE REMAINS
FOR AND AFTER AND HIS
: FORCES TO WORK TO A CON
CLUSION.
Washington, July 2-This has been a
day of almost unparalleled suspense and
anxiety. From President Mckinley
down through all official Washington
everybody has been under a tremendous
strain. Tidings from Shafter have been
eagerly awaited and momentarily ex-
pected, but save brief word on the
extent Of the loss yesterday, nothing
came from his during the day concern
ipg the progress of the action at San
tiago.
Just at the close of the day the first
bit of information coming directly to offl-
Gals reached the President and Secreta-
ry Alger. 1t was Il private dispatch. not
primarily intended for them. although
it came through official channels. Briefly
and expressively it told the story of a
day of terrific fighting. 1t was direct
from the field of action and was as late
as 4 D. m. 1t stated that the engage
ment had been i'll progress throughout
to-day: that the dead and wounded
were being carried to the rear, ana that
the American losses were heavy. The
exact wording of the dispatch was not
made known, but one of the high Officials
who read it said that it conveyed to him
the ideaaof extreme tension and OF a bat
lie i'm which all the fiercest elements OF
warfare prevailed. Until this came the
officials were positively without WORD
as to whether the engagement begun
Yesterday was continued to-day. Ihey
could only speculate, some taking the
view that the assault of yesterday had
been followed to-day by a stormlng OF
the city itself, others maintaining that
Skaters troops spent win the
terrible strain of yesterday. had paused
long enough to clear the field OF me dead
and wounded. 1t was only by this brief
private message which under ordinary
circumstances would have received ut
tie attention, that the President ana ms
advisers were made aware that the bat
tie was still in progress and stiil With
out definite issue AS it was, the Few
words relieved the suspense, but not he
anxiety. 1t made known only that the
fight was going on. One of the officials
who read it said it conveyed rs much
hopeful information as could be expect
ed. for he said, he had not expected a vic
tory yet, but others were far less hope
ful i'm their views. That the battle was
still raging meant that our men were
passing through fearful ordeal. nav
ing been IN action HOW piataNoiiy ioi
thirty-six hours. The mere fact that the
dispatch did not chronicle decisive adj
vantage by the American forces was
construed by some officials as omlnous
Secretary Long. said at the close OF OF
fee hours that nothing had come TN
Admiral Sampson, and dismissed as
groundless the rumor that Wofd hi'
reached him that MORO Castle had beer
demolished by the American squadron
General Miles was similarly without AZ
vices. At O'Clock he joined Secretdr!
Alger in the latter's office and the two
conferred for long time on the mi',
tary situation. Neither the Secretary non
the commanding general underestimate
the great task before the Amer
lean army, with an enemy wei
entrenched in front of them
with Cervera's guns pouring sho
and shell into our lines and with thu
possibility that Spanish re-inforcements
have now swellcd the ranks of the
enemy until they are greater than the
combined forces under the American
military commander But all that the
government in Washington can do j,
being done. and done quickly. TIL,
great issue remains for General Shafte