The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-03
ANXIETY and ALARM
Skaters Silence Leaves All
in Suspense.
DEFENSE IS DESPERATE.
Victory Not Yet Sure at 4P. NJ.
Yesterday.
SAMPSON IS ALSO SILENT.
No Word Received Of Fall Of
Moro Castle.

Washington July 2.-This has been day
of almost unparalleled suspense and anx-
iely.
From President Mckinley down through
all official Washington, everybody has
been under a tremendous strain.
Tidings from Gen shafter have been
eagerly awaited and momentarlly expect
ed, but save a brief word on the extent Of
the loss yesterday nothing came from him
during the day concerning the progress of
the action at Santiago.
Just at the close of the day the first
bit OF Information coming directly to Off
ciaIs reached the President and sed1e-
tary Alger 1t was a private dispatch
not primarily intended for them. although
Il came through official channels. Briefly
and oxpressively it told the story of a day
OF terrific fighting. 1t was direct from
the field Of action and wac as late as
4 p. m.
1t stated that the gagement Hal been
dead and wounded we're being carried 70
the rear and that the American losses
were heavy.
The exact wording of the dispatch was
not made known, but one of the high off,
clals who read 1t said that 1t conveyed
10 him the idea OF extreme tension and
of a battle in which all the fiercest ele-
ments of warfare prevailed.
Until this came the officials were posi-
lively without word as to whether the
engagement begun yesterday was contin-
ued to-day.
They could only speculate, some taking
the view that the assault of yesterday had
been followed to-day by a storming Of the
CITY Itself, others maintaining that Gen.
Skaters troops, spent with terrible
strain of yesterday had paused long
enough to clear the field Of the dead and
wounded.
It was only by this brief private message
which under ordinary circumstances would
have received little attention, that the
President and his advisers were made
aware that the battle was still in progress
and still without definite issue.
AS IL was, the few words relieved the
suspense, but not the anxiety. 1t made
known only that the fight was going on.
one of the officials, who read IL, said 1t
conveyed as much hopeful information as
could be expected for, he said, he had. not
expected victory yet. But others were
far less hopeful In their views.
-Nf art,4pr ~
that our men were passing through a
fearful ordeal, having been in action now
practically for thirty-slx hours.
The mere fact that the dispatch did not
chronicle a decisive advantage by the
American forces was construed by some
officials as ominous.
Secretary Long said, at the close of Of
flee hours that nothing had come from
Admiral Sampson, and In particular the
Secretary Of the Navy dismissed as
eroundiess the rumor that word had
reached him that Moro castle had been
demolished by Ike American squadron.
Secretary Long stalled tonight that no
change had been made In the naval pro-
gramme. Commodore Watson's fleet he
said. would sail for Spain in a few days,
even should Camara's squadron return to
that country.
Gen. Miles was similarly without ad-
vices. At O'Clock he Joined Secretary
Alger in the latter's office and the two
conferred for a long time on the military
situation. Neither the secretary nor the
commanding general underestimate the
great task before the American army,
with an army well entrenched in front OF
them, with Cervera's guns pouring shot
and she'll into our lines and with the pos
sibility that Spanish endorsements have
now swelled the ranks of the enemy until
they are greater than the combined forces
under the American military commander.
But all that the government In Washing
ton can do Is being done and done quickly.
The great issue remains for Gen. Shafter
and his forces to work out to a conclusion.
His call early in the day for a large ad-
ditlonal force of medical officers was
quickly responded to.
The hospital ship Relief, which left New
York to-day. was given orders before SAIL !
ing to stop on her way South at Fort Mon
roe. where the extra force Of surgeons win
hoard her She viii reach Fort Monroe |
tomorrow and take on board the physl- |
- icontinued on Sixth Page)