The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-12
Early Dispa tches from Gen. Shnfter
Reporting Arrival of Reinforce
ments and His Plans.
WORK FOR BATTLE SHIP IOWA
"FIGHTING BOB" EVANS VOLUN-
TIERS TO ENTER THE HARBOR.
Rumor that He VIII To-Day Attempt
to Force the Channel When Shaf-
ter Attacks the City.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON. July n.-Upon the au-
thority of a United States senator who has
exceptionally friendly relations with the
Navy Department the following statement
is given quiet and limited circulation to-
night: Admiral Sampson, after consultation
with General Miles this afternoon decided
to send ship through the channel at day.
break tomorrow CTuesday) morning to fight
the shore batteries, clear the waterway of
torpedoes and mines so as to admit the safe
passage of the remainder of the fleet. Capt.
Robley d Evans begged for the privilege of
taking his battle ship for the perilous ex-
peditlon. and his whole crew to man
backed him up by volunteering to go with
him. Captain Evans was accordingly given
the assignment and will make the hazard
Gus experiment If it succeeds in it's mis-
sion the entire feet under Admiral Samp-
sons direction will enter the harbor at once
and assist General Miles in the lombard
ment of the city. The combination will
make short work of it.
An Associated Press dispatch says: Gen.
Nelson A Miles, commanding the United
States army arrived off Santiago bay
shortly after noon to-day Upon the arri-
val of the auxiliary cruiser Yale. on which
General Miles was a passenger, communi-
cation was opened with Admiral Sampson
and the two commanders were soon in con-
fha ao~I,x oFt
eral Miles landed at Playa del Este and
communicated with General Shafter, COM
manding the American forces before San
tiago, by telephone. What the nature and
result of the two consultations were is not
disclosed at the War Department, but Gen.
eral Miles doubtless was placed in possess
sion of all salient points of the situation
from the view point of both the navy and
the army.
1t is understood to have been General
Miless purpose to pr oceed Immediately to
General Skaters headquarters at Siboney
and after discussing with Shafter the lat
ter's plan of campaign, TO mako personal
examination of the American position. 1t is
not to be understood that General Miles is
to supercede General Shafter in command
of the United States forces before Santiago
General Shafter is operating there under
written instructions from the secretary of
war, approved by the President, and as
long as he IS able physically to direct the
troops he will retain his command. A prom
inent official of the War Department said
late tonight that neither the administration
TOR General Miles had any desire to detract
an iota from the credit due General Shafter
for the plans by which lie hopes to achieve
a victory at Santiago.
The notably fast run made by the cruiser
Yale from Charleston to Santiago is par
ticularly pleasing to the naval officials. She
left Charleston Saturday morning at
o'clock, making the run in a trile less than
two days and a half. She had on board
the Sixth Massachusetts, one of the regi-
ments of General Garretson's brigade. The
Columbia, which left Charleston practically
simultaneously with the Yale, carried one
battalion of the Sixth Illinois, also a part
of Garretson's brigade. So far as can be
learned at this writing the Columbia has
rot arrived off Santiago