Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-06-25
WAR NEWS nE rae WEEK.



SIMPSONS Fleet Utterly Destroys the
Defen@es About Santiago.
Washington. June 2s.--On Thursday
Of last week came reports Of further
destruction OF Spanish forts at San
tlago by SIMPSONS fleet. There is but
one fort az Santiago now that is capa-
bic Of INJECTING any damage on our
feet. and that Is the MORO. In which
Lieutenant Hobson and seven heroes OF
the MerrimAc were said to be confined.
our ships were ordered not to fire on the
Moro. The other fortincations have
been reduced &c dust ard splintered by
the big guns Of SIMPSONS feet. There
ls little doubt that Admiral Cervera has
made up his mind that his fleet is lost.
for in the forts that tried TO reply to
our bombardment there were undoubt-
eddy some OF the big guns of his ships.
They were struck time and time again
by shells from the Texas and New Or
leans and fairly lifted from their po-
sitions and hurled yards away by the
explosions. SIMPSONS last lombard
ment was the heaviest and most de-
structive OF all. 1t is estimated that
over $500. 900 worth Of ammunition and
shells were used, and that the loss of
life by the Spaniards must have been
comparatively enormous. Not man
was hurt in all our fleet.
Fridays dispatches told of renewed
successes for Aguinaldo's insurgent
forces in the Philippines. He has cap
tured the wife and daughters of Cap
tain General Augusti, and will hold
them until the formal surrender OF
Manila Admiral Dewey, in a report TO
the navy department, confirms the re
ports of insurgent successes. In an In
terview at Washington General Miles
told of his communications with Gar
cha, the Cuban insurgent commander.
General Garcia informed Miles that he
would regard his (Mies) wishes as
orders, and would see them obeyed.
on Saturday there was nothing OF
Importance to add to the war news.
but on Sunday came advices from Adj
miral Simpsons fleet which told of
the desperate and deplorable condition
of the people of Caimanera. Starving
and famine stricken. the people have
saturated every house in the town with
oil and other infiammable material,
and will set fire to the place in order to
prevent it's falling into the hands of the
Americans The gunboat at Caimanera
is also prepared for destruction. The
people are eating horses and mules
and securing the hills for fruits and
berries, while the Spanish troops are
terror stricken and hungry. At jack
sonville, Fla, James II. Gatewood,
stenographer to General Lee. was kill
ed by lightning bolt. Three large car
goes of supplies have run the Havana
blockade, and supplies are reaching the
city from Cienfuegos and other points.
Mondays dispatches told of the ar
rival of General Skaters invading ex
petition off Santiago de Cuba. General
Garcia, the Cuban commander, had o
conference with Admiral Sampson on
board the flagship New York regarding
cooperation with the United States
troops. From Manila comes the news
that the insurgents under Aguinaldo
have forced Captain General Augusta
to take refuge within the walls of the
city. An attempt was recently made
to kill Aguinaldo by placing poison in
his food. Aguinaldo declares that If
any other nation than the United States
attempts to obtain control of the Phil
| ippines they must fight for 1t. Captain
General Blanco, of Cuba, refused to ex-
| change Hobson and the other heroes Of
the Merrimac.
The government has decided upon
Lieutenant Hobson's promotion. He is
to be transferred to the line, and will
be made lieutenant commander. This
will place him in line for elevation to
rear admiral Colonel William J. Bryan
and the Third Nebraska regiment will
be assigned to the army corps COM
manded by General Fitzhugh Lee. A
bill has been introduced in the house
for a pension of 500 a month for tho
widow of Captain Charles v. Gridley,
of Admiral Dewey's squadron.
On Tuesday came further news of
General Skaters arrival off Santiago
with his invading army. General SHAFT
ter and Admiral Sampson went ashore
and visited the camp of Calixto Garcia.
the insurgent general, being most
heartily welcomed. Plans for a COM
bination of forces were discussed, and
General Garcia assured the Americans
that the soldiers need have no fear of
contracting disease General Shafter
was greatly impressed with the hardy
and soldiery appearance of Garcia's
men, and had them supplied with pro-
visions and clothing. In a speech at
the Ohio Republican convention Cen
eral Grosvenor, the administration
leader in congress. declared that "nevec
by order Of McKinley's administration
will our flag be pulled down from any
flagstaff where conquest Of arms has
placed it, The government has de-
cided to send 10000 more troops to the
aid of General Shafter at Santiago, in
order to assure a sweeping victory.
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