Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-07-16
Four O'Clock Sunday Afternoon the
Second Attack Was Com
menced.
GEN. SKATER SENDS THE News
Enemy's Light Guns Commenced
the Battle but They Are
Soon Silenced.
AMERICANS ARE STRONGER NOV
Fighting Yesterday But Denotes
What Must Happen Today
When q General Attack
Is Made.

Washington, July 12.-"The bonn
bardment Of Santiago has begun
That was the verbal information OBJ
tanned last evening shortly before 0
O'Clock at the war department.
Almost Immediately three bulletins
were posted, the most important OF
which was from General Shafter. This
dispatch announced that General To-
raj, who succeeded General Linares in
command of the Spanish forces in,
Santiago when the latter was wound
ed, had declined 10 surrender uncondi-
tionally, and that the bombardment or
the town would be begun by the army
and navy about 4 o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon. The fact that the lombard
ment was scheduled by Shafter to be-
gin so late in the day created some
comment, but no explanation of it was
offered. Information received by the
war department during the few days
of truce indicates that Shafter has ma
terially strengthened his position.
During the past week he has received
reinforcements of both artillery and
lH1dllIN. ItdIluOllh y DuNNNi c' e"S'
ty-four guns, which left Key West last
Tuesday at midnight, is now in posi-
ton before Santiago and, as one. of the
war department officials expressed it,
"when those long Toms of Randolph's
begin to talk something will happen
In Santiago"
General Shafter has nearly fifty
siege guns and a large number OF Z
inch mortars, besides lighter artillery
at his disposal. These guns, taken in
connection with the work hat can be
done by the feet, it is believed, will
carry terror and destruction to San
tiago,
Master of N Situation.
Anxiety has been expressed by the
war department officials as TO whether
General Shafter had n sufficient force
to prevent the evacuation of Santiago
by the enemy. This anxiety was al
layed about half past II last night by
the receipt of the following dispatch
from General Shafter, which contained
confirmation, too, of the earlier re-
ports of the beginning of the lombard.
ment:
playa del Este, July 10.-Adjutant
General, Washington: Headquarters
Fifth corps, July 10.-Enemy opened
fire a few minutes past. 4 with light
guns, which were soon silenced by
ours. Very little musketry firing and
the enemy kept entirely in their EN-
trenchments. Three men slightly
wounded. Will have considerable
forces tomorrow, enough to complete
" block all the roads in northwest. l
am quite well.
General Garcia reports that the en-
envy evacuated q little town called
Descaninos, about three miles from
Santiago and near the bay. Shafter."
/, The belief Is held by the best i'm
formed officials that General Toral
will surrender when he finds it will
be impossible for him to evacuate the
city. Upon what grounds this belief
is based could not be ascertalned, but
information to that effect is in the
hands Of the war department officials
there is no doubt.
General Skaters dispatch last night
shows that he is engaged in strength
ening his position, and tomorrow will
follow up his operations with a final
assault upon the city.
Several Dispatches From Shaitei
The news of the bombardment came
at the close of a busy Sunday in the
war department.. Previous to the re.
ceipt of this dispatch the secretary OF
war had heard twice from General
Shafter. In the early morning came
a telegram saying that he had ridden
over the American lines and was graf.
flied at their condition.
A second dispatch reported that the
lines were impregnable, thus remov'
ing any fear of a successful sortie by
the Spanish troops should a maneuv.
err of this kind be attempted. Both
kilograms, which also emphasized the
fact that General Skaters physical
condition had greatly improved, were
promptly shown to the president and
occasioned him considerable gratifi,
cation.
When questioned as to whether he
believed that there had been a bonn
bardment of the city, General Corbir
replied:
''You know as much about it as
do. | have kept nothing back. ]
should say, however, that the firing
today was but preliminary to the more
serious BUSINESS of tomorrow"
This being the case, the attempt tc
take the city will probably be made
today.