Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-24

No~-N>-
ence in the Secretary's office at o'clock
this afternoon when the first Madrid
bulletin announcing that fighting had
begun was shown to them. The Secre-
tary read it aloud with evident salts
faction and both Of them expressed
themselves gratified with this favorable
report. coming as it did from the
enemy.
There was no surprise that fighting
had begun so soon. 1t was suggested
by the reporter that the troops mad
completed their landing only this morn
ing.
Eyes. but they have gone there to
fight and are ready to begin 1t at once,
replied General Miles. Secretary Aiger
said no word had been received up 10
the hour indicating that lighting was
in progress. He had no reason 70
doubt, however, that our troops had en-
countered the Spanish forces and nao
given good account Of themselves
He commented upon Admiral Ger
yera's cable that the situation was
critical" and that the Spaniards mad
been obliged to retire as in strange
contrast with Madrid's claim OF a
Spanish victory" Gen. Miles SAID
that the American troops would no"
push forward aggressiveiy driving III
the Spanish and forcing them TO nght'
There was not suggestion OF appre-
hension or doubt, either with Secretary
Alger or General Miles as to what the
outcome would be. They had made
their plans well, and they were con-
fident that General Shafter and his
troops would be hammerlng at the
gates of Santiago before long.
The impression here is that the
Spaniards will make their strongest
stand close to Santiago and the inner
harbor within the range of protection
of the guns Of the big Spanish cruisers
lying there. There is no doubt that
until
THESE SHIPS ARE REMOVED
from the field of operations the cam
paign against Santiago will be con-
Quoted against odds. The guns of the
ships command the hills over which
our soldiers must come to attack the
town, and reach the bay but we will
soon bring our own artillery into
play.
The naval officials here believe that
when the time comes for an attack by
land upon the town Sampson will force
his way into the harbor and take part
in the enga cement. They are satisfied
that the wreck of the Merrimac does
not completely block the channel, and
say that if Sampson does not come in
the Spanish fleet is likely to make a
desperate effort to get out. The mines
are to be considered in such case, but
it is believed that once MORO Castle
is taken by the combined attack of the
soldiers and fleet, these distractions
can be easily removed with the exper-
fence gained in Guantanamo bay.
The only positive news coming to the
war department up to the close of Of
flee hours was dispatch to Gen. Miles
: from one of his staff officers with Gen.
Shafter, and also a brief dispatch to
Gen. Greedy from Lieut.. Col. Allen
General Miless dispatch stated in
substance that the landing of troops
had been completed without any casual
ties save to one Cuban soldier, who had
his arm injured by the bursting of a
she'll The troops of Garcia and Rabi,
about $500 in number, has met the
American forces with enthusiastic
greetings Stress was laid upon the
point that the Cubans were we'll armed
and we'll disciplined General Garcia
was confident that his forces would be
swelled to 10000 men
AS SOON AS SANTIAGO FELL.
About the only need among the Cubans
was shoes and quinine The dispatch
10 General Greedy merely stated that
progress was being made in connecting
the military forces directly with the
War Department
During the day orders were issued to
entire division. comprising the newly
created command of Brig. Gen. Guy V.
Henry. for their speedy departure to
reinforce Gen. Shafter at Santiago.
Already the Thirty-third Michigan reg
1ment and one battalion of the Thirty
fourth Michigan have started on this
mission. To-dav's orders cover the
balance of Gen. Henry's command. 1t
includes the remaining battalions OF the
Thirty-fourth Michigan and the Ninth
Massachusetts regiments. These VIII
complete Gen. Duffield's command. The
Third Virginia, which belongs to this
brigade will not go as its equipment
is INCOMPLETE. The orders also cover
the entire brigade of Brig. Gen. Gar
retson, which includes the Sixth Hill
nois. Sixth Massachusetts and Eighth
and Ninth Ohio regiments. The plan is
to move all of Gen. Henry's division on
the Harvard and Yale, these ships to
make two round trips. The first trip
will carry most. if not all. of
GEN. DUFFIELD'S BRIGADE.
The War Department allows three
DAYS for the trip, two days to unload
the troops and three days to return to
Newport News, making eight days. BY
that time General Garretsons brigade
will be at Newport News ready to go
on board the ships, and then will come
the second trip taking three days, with
two days allowed for Garretson' S
troops to unload in Cuba.
Reports were current at the War
department. again to-day that Gen.
Miles, commanding the army, would
leave the city within the next two days
1t was asserted also that he had asked
tc get in to actual fighting by going
to Cuba, and there assuming command
of the troops.
This was contradictory to the reports
circulated a few days ago that General
Miles would take command of the Porto
Rico expedition. When General Miles
attention was drawn to the several con-
lieting reports tonight he good ma
turedly declined to discuss them He