Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-07-07
FIRST BIG BATTLE.
The Spaniards Driven from En-
trenchments Outside Santiago.
Forts to Entrance Of Harbor Bombarded
by snmpson's Fleet-Amerlcan Loss
Heavy, Some Placing IL ut 500
Killed and Wounded.

WASHINGTON, July 2.-The suspense
which followed the receipt OF Gen.
Skaters dispatch early yesterday
morning announcing that battle had
been begun near Santiago was relieved
at 1890 this morning when prelimi-
nary report of the days operations
was received by Gen. Corbin from Gen.
Snafter. As has been expected by the
officials of the war department the
fight lasted until shutdown During
the day probably it was not possible
for Shafter to stop in the midst OF his
onerous duties to send dispatches to
the department lie was seriously oc-
cupied and the work accomplished, as
indicated concsely in his dispatch,
clearly shows that little grass grew
under his feet during the day. The
president and the war officials are i'm
mensely pleased at the information
conveyed in Skaters message. While
they learned with sincerestre that
so many of the American troops had
fallen in the fight, the ground gained
by the days conflict is regarded as a
great victory.
The battle establishes pretty con-
clusively that the Spaniards are no
match for the enthusiastic and ag'
gressive United States troops They
were driven from their strong in
trenchments in front of Santiago back
into the city, and the Americans are
now occupying the intrenchments and
awaiting only the dawn TO resume the
greater battle, which will result, it is
confidently believed by the war Off
cials, in the fall of Santiago before
Sunday night and, perhaps before
nightfall to-day.
Adit. Gen. Corbin put the situation
strongly and picturesquely while
speaking briefly of the aggressiveness
and tenacity of Gen. Shafter: "rhe
old bulldog" said he, referring thus
half afFectionately to the distinguished
commander of the Fifth corps, lis
lying right there with his teeth in
their neck, only waiting the coming of
daylight to finish the work he has so
magnifcently begun. The engage
ment yesterday was very heavy for a
preliminary fight, but it scores de-
cided victory for US regret to know
that Shafter has sustained so heavy u
loss, but we may hope that there are
not, as he says, many killed. 1t is,
however, pretty certain to be true that
the loss of an army in an engagement
like that of yesterday, where the bat
tie line extended over several miles,
will be much heavier than is indicated
by first reports 1t is manifestly i'm
possible, in cases where the battle has
ragged all day and until dark, to ascer-
tain with definiteness the loss sus-
tanned"
THE AMERICAN LOSS HEAVY
PLAYA DEL ESTE, July "A general
assault on the city of San tiago de Cuba
by the land and sea forces of the United
States began atseven o'clock yesterday
morning. Gen. Lawton advanced and
took possession Of Cabona, a suburb of
Santiago. Moro castle and the other
forts at the entrance of the harbor
were bombarded by our fleet The
Vesuvius used her dynamite guns with
good effect. The Spanish fleet in the
harbor fred on the American troops,
who were very close to the city. Hard
fighting all along the American line
was in progress at II o'clock. The
fighting continued until dark. Our
forces carried the enemy's outer works
and occupied them in the evening.
The battle will probably be resumed
at daybreak. The American loss is
heavy. Some estimates place it at 500
killed and wounded.
GEN. sHAFTER's TELEGRAM.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The war de-
partment received the following yes
terday from Gen. Shafter, dated from
Siboney:
Had q very heavy engagement to-day, which
lasted from eight H. IN. till shutdown We have
carried their Outworks and are now in possess
sion Of them. There is now about three
quarters OF q mile Of open between my lines
and the city, BY morning troops will be in
trenched and considerable augmentation OF
forces will be there, Gen. Lawton's division
and Gen Bates brigade which have been en-
gagged all day in carrying Ell Caney, which was
accomplished at four p, M. will be in line and
in front OF Santiago during the night regret
to say that our casualties will be above4OO OF
these not many killed SHAFrER
sPANIARDs LEAVE INTRENCHNIENTs.
SIBoNEY, July AIT one o'clock yes
terday afternoon, after five hours ter
rife fighting, the Spanish began to
leave their intrenchments and retreat
into the city. Many Americans were
wounded and are being brought in.
One man had both arms shot off and
was wounded in the hip, but was
laughing.