The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-26
INTENSE INTEREST.
War Department Bcsicged for Word
of Fridays Battle.
SKATERS NEWS IS DISAPPOINTING
General Expression of Grief for the
American Loss.
THE ADVANCE TO BE DELAYED
General Shafter Desires to Have
His Artillery in Order.
LIEUTENANT JOYCE'S INF0RMA TI0N
WAS Formerly II Lieutenant Under
Gnrcia--Snys that Enemy Have
$1,000 Troops Near santiago.
LIEUTENANT J0YCE'S INFORMATION

Washington, June 25.--Intefcst shifted
sharply today from the navy department to
the war department. The newspaper re-
ports, brief and graphic. telling Of the
short, bloody engagement between the
Spaniards defending Santiago and the
Rough Riders, the romantic figures Of the
American army, has aroused popular in
terest to high pitch.
Consequently the war department was
scarcely opened for business before
crowd OF newspaper men and other inter-
ested persons filled the hall and vicinity
OF the bulletin boards seeking for some
official information that would supply data
missing from the press dispatches.
1t was not until nearly noon that the
first cablegran came from Shafter. and
then to the disappointment Of the depart
ment it was even more iAcagre than the
press reports.
During the course. of the day other dis
patches were received. hut they all LETT
something to be desired. FOR being under |
yesterdays date, they Gid not relieve anx.
lety as to what happened Yesterday even
ing and today with two ARMIES separated |
by the short space of a mile aud half
An explanation OF this state of affairs |
was found in the fact that General Shafter
failed 20 take with him from Tampa the
splendid field telegraph service that had |
Teen prepared with much care by General |
Hreely for Just such campaign as is now
being waged.
1t is probable that he has already seen
his error, and will avail himself Of the in
strnmentS Just as soon as they can be sent
TO him.
There was a general expression of grief
at the less sustained by the soldiers in
yesterdays fight. STILL the officials in
hlgh places expressed themselves as thor
ouShly satisfied with the results, realz-
ing That war can not be successfully wagcd |
without sacrifice of life.
The impression gained from one of Cen
erai shatters dispatches is that he is now
about to delay his advance until he has
secured his artillery. Such course will
be dictated by common prudence, for it is
known that the Spanards have fortified
as lar as they could advanced positions
outs!ue or Santiago, and 1t would be the
helsht or folly to throw soldiers, unsup-
ported by artillery, against such works.
unfortunately there promises to be some
delay in landing all the artillery. owing
TO the less on the voyage to santiago of
me big lighter, which seems to be neces-
ssry TO transfer the heavy guns from the
ships to the landing pier.
Inc naval authorities have responled
promptly to the appeal of the war depart
ineht, and some means will be found
erato the AID or the warships to accel-
o'a 49,, zee landing of the supplies and guns.
Du,Ins tho day Secretary Alser and Cen
eiai Miles held several conferences NOT ca
ihueh 10 20 over the struggle of vsster |
ues as 10 give every military preparation
''aeioerat!on FOR the struggle yet to come. I,
rAs result heavy achievements will 90
NJ msla at once from both TAMPA and |
se~port News An expedition of 5000 men
NO sNpecteu to leave Tampa within the
OF Brisadier General Snyder Of he THU
uinisloh OF the first army corps,
ihe stores are already going aboard the
- ,spoits ana the start of the expedition
voy. Va TUG naval con.
part of the warships sent over with
$50, eNpedltion have been released |
from Admiral Sampson and are now on
.neir way back to Tampa to escort the |
sloops. Other will follow and this marine !
Cuba. ene suil 10
whether the battleship Indiana Will lead
ms expedition as 1t did the last is not def
,mse,y settled There will be several heavy
~ snips, however. as well as lighter craft |
10 give safe conduct to General Snyder's
division. '"''e'
niinuitaneously with this General Hem
- division will be moving along the At
:, -, puS coast. and thence to Santiago. In
ul tne endorsements from Tampa and
..ewport News will be in the neighborhood
OF y 900 or 1900 men.
Drafts on Chickamauga are likely IN fol-
low as soon as the. hurry orders recently
even rave led TO the full equipment OF /
the several commands
me war department Is acting on the
'neory that It Is not polite to take any pos