Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-30
A LINE TO SEVILLA
Gen. Skater 10 Communication With
the Department.
MUCH SATISFACTION TO OFFICIALS
Little News Received from Army
Headquarters.
REINFoRCEMENTs DELAYED

The War Department received the vel
come information today that a military
telegraph station had been established a,
Sevilla, In the center of the present mill
tary operations. and that this linz ran t.
point near Aguadores. where 1t connected
with the French cable line, thus bringing
Gen. Shafter into direct communication
with the War Department. Gen. Greedy
received a dispatch to this effect at 10 80
O'Clock from Lieut.. Col. Allen who has
charge of telegra 2hic and cable operations
The information was conveyed to the Sec
rotary of War and Gen. Miles and gave
much satisfaction, as 1t accomplishes an
end long sought and difficult to accomplish
The work has been done under Col Allen,
assisted by Maj. Green Of Gen. Skaters
staff. The shore point at which the mill
tary line connects with the French cable
company's will be advanced to Aguadores
as soon as that town Is taken. It is now
held by the Spanish forces. but the pur-
pose is to have the warships shell 1t, after
which 1t will be occupied as a shore base.
Beyond this dispatch the War Depart
ment has received little from Gen. Shat
ter's headquarters in addition to the i'm
portant reports received from his yester-
day. In fact, nothing but the actual as
sauit remains after the significant state
ment made by Gen. Shafter to Gen. Miles
that he expected to take Santiago as soon
as he was ready to move, without waiting
for reinforcements. The substance Of this
dispatch was given out yesterday. but the
actual text can now be given. It was in
reply to Gen. Miles dispatch of the 25th.
saying:
congratulations on success attained thus
far. Regret most deeply to hear OF loss OF
your heroic men. Gable what you desire
for your command"
Gen. Skaters Dispatch.
Gen. Skaters reply was primarily to ac-
knowledge the congratulations, but he took
occasion in doing this, briefly. but to the
point. to state his plans, in the following
words:
Expect to take the place as soon as ge,
ready to move. Reinforcements will not
reach me-
The dispatch in full is as follows:
PLAYA DEL ESTE. June 2S ABA pm.
Maj. Gen. Miles, commanding army, Wash
ington.
''BAIQUIRI. Cuba. June 2s-Thanks for
congratulations. Affair was animportant
(skirmish In which rough riders participant
ed). Nine sixty-four only engaged on our
side. but 1t was very decisive in our favor
enemy retrsating precipitately Lack of
cavalry only prevented their capture.
Reports from Spanish sources from San
tlago say We were beaten, but persisted in
fighting, and they were obliged to fall back.
Deeply regret loss of so many brave men.
Expect to take the place as soon as I
Dat. g.
not reach ma. Horses stood voyage well.
Would like horses and (probably for) Sd
battalion Of 1st Cavalry and Woods Vol
unteers.
Health and spirits of command excel
lent. Began debarkation of command Wed
resday. Last of troops and artillery land
ed today. besides transferring from Ascer-
deros. 50 miles off. 5000 troops of Garcia.
All landed. Have something over 1000
Cubans.
Hope to send you favorable reports soon.
(Signed "SHAFTER.
Maj. Gen.. o. 8. ", Commanding"
Gen. Skaters reference to the condition
Of men and horses was brought OUT by an
inquiry from Gen. Miles, saying:
Telegraph condition of command, num-
Der of men sick, condition Of men and
Besides the foregoing dispatches to Gen.
Miles. other official dispatches from head
quarters came to the War Department.. It
was in the above. however, that Gen.
Shafter stated his expectation to take the
city bsfore reinforcements reached him.
The other official dispatches save the adj
vance Of Spanish troops from Manzanillo.
5000 strong. and also expressed Gen.
ShaftpY'q hat ha tolxa
In fcrty-eight hours. but with considerable
loss. The taxi Of these dispatches was
withheld until today.
Mail for the Fleet and Army.
Tons Of mail mattsr for the soldiers
and sailors operating in Santiago province
and with Simpsons fleet are stored at
Tampa awaiting transportation to their
destinations. Arrangements have been
made through the efforts OF Assistant Seq
rotary Meiklejohn by which the trans
ports leaving Tampa are to ship this mail
matter as fast as practicable. On reach
frg the headquarters OF the army in San
tiago province the mail will be distributed
in accordance to arrangements which may
be made under the direction of the COM
mandirg general. Four clerks have been
detailed from the Post Office Department
ing from the amount Of letters and papers
row at Tampa, their work promises to be
rather a formidable one. For sending the
mail from Santiago to the United States
the military commanders will avail them
selves Of the use of the transports or
other vessels which may be leaving that
section of Cuba for the United States
Delaying Reinforcements.
Contrary to the expectation Of the War
Department officials there seems to have
been some delay in Tampa in dispatching
the transports from that place with REIN
forcements for General Shafter. The off,
Gals yesterday felt sure that at least some
Of the vessels would drop down to Key
West yesterday. but the reports received
today do not bear out this hope. The ad-
vices which have come to the department
are not absolutely clear as to just when
the entire fleet will depart although some