The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-28

Washington. June 26.-Though there
were the usual number Of officials for
a Sunday at the wal and navy depart
ments, there did not seem to be any
expectation of important news from
the seat OF war. Secretary Alger ex-
planned this readily. In his view the
army has been removed to one OF these
stages incident 10 the progress Of a
campaign and is now affecting a new
formation. The reports show that
there is only one road, and that a
poor one, from the sea, where the
troops landed, leading to Santiago.
Along this the army necessarily has
been obliged to move in a single col
umn. Strong accommodating forces
were prunently thrown out ahead and
it was these that engaged in the action
of Friday morning. They developed
the presence of the enemy in force
directly ahead and drove in their adj
vance guard.
Before the undertaking of a set battle
our own army must be formed in reg-
ular battle array, not single column
front as it along the road,
but in broad open order across the
country, the only feasible manner of
conducting a battle successfully. AS
part of this plan, the advance must
halt and wait until the rear guard
comes up. In the secretary's opinion
this work was going on yesterday.
The forces left at Baiquiri were being
hurried to the front near Sevilla,
where the Spaniards are supposed to
be in force, the field artillery was be-
ing dragged up the rough mountains
roads and the qu~artermaster was hur-
rying along the stores as fast as they
could be landed from the transports.
All this is very necessary work but,
not such as would call for an Off
cial report from General Shafter.
PLEASED WITH SKATERS PROG
RESS.
To say that the president and secre-
tary Alger are gratified with the sue
cess that has so far attended the prog
reSs of General Skaters campaign
would be stating the case mildly. The
president in quick appreciation of Cen
eral Skaters energy has sent a cable
gram cOngratulating him and the men
composing his army on the excellent
work they have rome. The message
could not be obtained here, the Off
Gals taking the ground that it would
be proper for General Shafter alone
to make it public, but it is known to
be couched in terms of praise.
| Secretary Alger added his tribute
today in the course of a short ak
with an Associated Press reporter.
He said he felt sure that Shafter would
prove himself to be a wise, brave and
prudent general. He was particularly
impressed with one short statement in
Skaters dispatch received yesterday,
stating that he wanted nothing. which
the secretary regarded as an evidence
of the self reliant character of the
man. Nevertheless the secretary is
sending along reinforcements with all
possible promptness. 1t is a good deal
better to have 1000 too many soldiers
than one too few, in his opinion. He
believes hat General Dufield's troops.
to the number of 1900 which embark
ed four days ago from Newport News
will arrive at Baiquiri tomorrow and
within four days 5000 more troops,
which leave Fortress Monroe today
will be at the scene Of action. In ad-
dition there will be a further move
ment of troops to Santiago just as
soon as the men and transports are
ready. Possibly General Miles may go
with these. If the troops are not need
ed when they arrive, nothing will be
loSN, Iol Nit n NC WHY "flE III
ployed elsewher and will have the ad-
vantage of seasoning.
The secretary took occasion to state
again that General Shafter is being al
lowed the widest liberty of action un-
restricted by unnecessary order
from Washington. He thinks the wis
dom of this course is amply justified
by the results so far obtained. For
this ease it is not possible to accu-
rately foretell General Skaters plan
of operation against Santiago, the
matter being largely in his own hands.
SKATERS FIELD TELEGRAPH.
General Greeley. chief signal officer,
received a dispatch last night from
Lieutenant Colonel Allen, in charge Of
tie signal corps with Skaters army.
r = said nothing about the military op-
eTdtions but stated that he was about
to extend his line of telegraphic COM
munication westward from Playa del
Este to Aquedores which is only half
a dozen miles east of MORO castle and
very much nearer the advance Of the
American army. This will be done by
a shor cable. which already exists be-
tween the two points. A field tele-
graphic service has already been dis
patched from Tampa, 81 that in the
course of a few days at most General
Shafter will have a telegraphic instru-
ment in his own tent putting him Ia
direct communication with Washing
ton. The little band of signal corps
men has been doing some of the most
energetic and e~xhausting works of the
campaign. The cable operators are
also deserving the the greatest praise.
There are only two at the cable ter
YnlnflcS which m0nnC nt~r- ~ F-