The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-06
Shafter's Forces Too Weak, and Foreigners
Wanted More Time to Leave the City.
Council of War Held by Army and Navy Commanders
-Reinforcements to Be Hurried to Santiago
Watson to Start Soon for SPAIN

naval and military conditions. Instead Of a
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 Gen.
Shafter alone, would be doubly effective
and decisive If the two forces could be
brought together and strike simultaneously
from land and sea. 1t is for this reason that
can general and the American admiral. Up
| to the close of office hours to-day no word
| had come either to the War or Navy De-
| partment so far as was disclosed. as to what
ference. At the same time it is the clear
| expectation of the authorities here that the
conference will result in a determination by
/ the admiral to take his fleet through the
narrow neck Of the harbor, making his way
past the shore batteries and Notifications,
| and take position before the city for bonn
! bardment.
ORDERED TO FORCE THE HARBOR.
There is reason to believe that the instruc-
| tions sent to Admiral Sampson at least
| conveyed the desire, If not the instructions.
that he enter the harbor. But it is said that
the admiral and the general continue to be
the supreme officials in authority, and that
being on the scene, fully alive to all the
conditions, their judgment will be taken as
| final in the course to be adopted. There is
said to be no obstacle, so far as navigation
| is concerned to the entrance to the harbor
by the American fleet. The Cristobal Colon,
| which cleared the Merrimac and got out of
the harbor Sunday drew % feet inches,
which is within seven inches of the draft of
the battle ships Iowa, Indiana, Massachu-
setts and Oregon, and is greater than the
draft of the battle ship Texas. Moreover,
the Navy Department has known for the
last ten days that the neck of the channel
was open, despite the sinking of the Merri-
| mac, and that there was clear sea of
seven fathoms. through which any ship in
our navy could SAIL This removes all diff
| ficulty, except from submarine mines or
| from the shore batteries.
| AS to the mines, little account is taken Of
them since the Spanish fleet passed over
them. The Spaniards are in the habit of
using contact mines. so there is little like
| lihood of there being mines operated by
| electricity connection with the shore The
forts and batteries have been badly weak
| ened by the constant fire of the fleet for
many weeks past, and, while still factor,
they are greatly disabled Once up to the
city, the fleet and army could combine in a
| terrific double fire. No less than 292 heavy
ships on the city, and at the same time the
big siege guns. which it is expected have
been brought to the front of Shafter's line.
| would rain down a torrent of steel from
| that quarter. The siege guns throw shells
of 1S5 pounds. Aside from them there are
four Morton howitzers and large number
| of smaller howitzers. These are in the
heavy artillery. while the light artillery en-
| braces great number of guns of 32 calibre.
| Combined, this fire from land and sea would
be terrific in it's effect.
REMOVAL OF FOREIGNERS.
The action of the foreign representatives
| at Santiago has been an additional reason
for deferring the bombardment. 1t was
made known late to-day that one of General
| Skaters dispatches stated that these repre-
sentatives had joined in a request to him TO
| put off the shelling for another brief period
until their respective colonies could be re-
moved. This accounts for the departure of
| the foreign war ships from Santiago har-
Dor. as they are bearing away the foreign
residents in the period before the lombard
ment begins. The activity of the consuls at
Santiago has led to no diplomatic complica-
tions which have reached the State Depart
ment thus far. and the authorities here feel
that nothing Of that nature will develop.
The State Department to-day took occa-
sion to dispel some of the Spanish illusions
over the escape of Admiral Cervera's fleet
1t seems that Madrid is not alone in the
belief that the feet made a handsome sortie
from Santiago and left the American ships
far In the rear. To-day cablegram came