The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-07-13
More Fighting at Santiago.
General Shafter Makes a Re.
port Final Bonn bardment
of the City Expected
to Begin To-day.

Washington. July 1o.-"The bom-
bardment of Santiago has begun -
That was the verbal information
obtained this evening shortly before
9 o'clock at the war department.
Almost Immediately three bulletins
were posted, the most important Of
which was from Gen Shafter This
dispatch announced that Gen Toral,
who succeeded Gen Linares in com
mand of the Spanish forces in Santi
ago when the latter was wounded,
had declined to surrender uncondi-
tionally and that the bombardment of
the town would be begun by the
army and navy aboat O'Clock this
afternoon
The fact that the bombasdment
was scheduled by Shafter to begin
late in the day created some com
mens, but no explanation of it was
offered
Information received by the war
department during the few days Of
truce indicates that Sbsfter has ma
terialIy strengthened his position
During the past week he has received
reinforcements of both artillery and
infantry Randolph's battery of "a
guns which left Key West Tues
day at midnight is pow in position
before Santiago, and, as one of the
war department officials expressed it
when those long Toms of Ran
dolph's begin to talk, something will
happen in Santiago y
Gen sbafter has nearly 30 siege
guns and large number of 7-inch
mortars, besides lighter artillery at
his disposal The guns, taken in
connection with the work that can be
done by the feet. will, it is believed,
carry terror and destruction to santi
ego.
Anxiety had been expressed by the
war department officials as to whether
Gen Slater had sufficient fcrce to
prevent the evacuation Of Santiago
by the enemy This anxiety was
allsyed about half past IL to night by
the receipt of the following dispatch
from Gen Shafter, which contained
confirmation. TOO, of the earlier re
ports of the beginning of the BON
bardment:
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps.
Via Playa del Esse, July 10.
To the djutaut General, Washing
Enemy opened fire few minutes
past 4 with light guns which were
soon silenced by ours; very little
musketry firing and the enemy kept
entirely in their in.renchments. three
men slightly wounded Will have
considerable forces to morrow
enough to completely block all the
roads on the northwest am quite
we'll
Gen Garcia reports that enemy
evacuated little town called Doscsni
nos about three miles from Santiago
and near the bay Shsfter
The belief is held by the best in
formed officials that Gen Toral. the
Spanish commander will surrender
when he finds it will be impossible
for him to evscuate the city Upon
what ground this belief is based could
not be ascertained, but that informa.
tion to that effect is in the hands of
the war officials there is no doubt.
Gen. Skaters dispatch 70 night
shows that be is engaged now in
strengthening his position, and TO
morrow will follow up his operations
with fnal assault upon the city
The news of the bombardment came
at the close of a busy Sunday in the
war department Previous to the re
ceipt Of this dispatch the secretary Of
war had heard twice from Gen. shat
ter. In the early morning came q
telegram saying that he had ridden
over the American lines AND was
grati6ed at their condition A
second dispatch reported that the
lines were impregnab'e, thus remov.
ing any fear of successful sor,ie by
the Spanish troops, should a ma
noeuvre of this kind be attempted.
Both kilograms. which also emphasiz.
ed the fact that Gen Shafter's ply si-
Cal condition had greatly improved.
were promptly shown TO the Presi.
dent and occasioned him considerable
qualification
When questioned as to whether he
believed that there had been bonn