The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-26
sHAFTER's DISPATCHES.
The Landings, the Fight Near Jauragua
--Garcia's Promise


-Garcia's Promise.
Washington, ID. c., June 25.-Fhree
dispatches from Gen. Shafter regarding
the engagement between the Spaniards
and the American forces were made
public at the War Department to-day
The first reached the department at
noon and was rs follws:
Playa del Este, June 25.-Adjutant
General, II. A. s., Washington:
"Baiquiri, June 24.-Further news
from General Wheeler places our loss in
this mornings firing at about ten killed
and forty wounded Captain Capron,
First II. s. Volunteer cavalry. killed.
Wounded Major Brodie, Captain Me-
Clinton, and Lieut.. Thomas (reeeiyed
here Thos. and supposed to be an abbre-
viationl. First II. $. Volunteer cavalry;
Major Bell, Captain Knox and Lieut..
Byram First II. 5. cavalry. Captain
Knox, Captain Wainwright. formerly re-
ported wounded are uninjured The names
of the others killed and wounded are
not yet known. The Spaniards occupied
Il very strong and entrenched position on
n high hill The firing lasted about
an hour and the enemy was driven from
his position. which is now occupied by
our troops, about IA mile and half from
Sevilla. The enemy has retired towards
Santiago de Cuba.
(signed) "sIIAFTER. +"
The second dispatch received after.
though apparently written before fliat
given out earlier in the day, was rs fob
lows:
Playa del Este, June %
Adiutant General Washington:
'Baiquiri, June 24-In pushing out to
occupy a good position near Seyilla to
wait and entrench until supplies and
artillery could be landed. 14th and 10th
cavalry 04th apparently is n mistakel
and Woods regiment had ! a skirmish:
enemy was driven from his position and
General Wheeler reports he now occu-
pies their ground; wounded are: Major
Bell, Captain Knox, Captain Vain
wright, Lieutenant Byram, First cavalry,
and a number Of men. Above names
only given; lighters and steam tugs asked
for this morning. Should be sent mt
once.
0signcD "SHAFTER."
DIFFICULTIES or LANDING.
The third telegram made public Isl:
Playa del Este, via Hayti, June %
Acknowledgement Il. $. A., Washington:
"Baiquiri, June 23.-Had very fine
voyage; lost less than fifty animals, six
or eight to-day. Lost more putting
| them through the surf to land than ON
transports. Command as healthy as
when we left; eighty men sick; only
deaths two men drowned in landing:
| landings difficult coast quite similar to
| that in vicinity OF San Francisco and
covered with dense growth of bushes,
| landing at Baiquiri unopposed. All
points occupied by Spanish troops heavily
| bombarded by navy TO clear them out.
Sent troops toward Santiago and occu-
pied Jaragua City naturally strong
| place this morning, Spanish troops re-
/ treating MS soon as our advance was
| known. Had no mounted troops or could
have captured them, about six hundred
all told Railroad from there. With as
sistance Of navy disembarked six thous-
and men yesterday and as many more to-
| day. VIII get all troops off tomorrow,
/ including light infantry and greater p0r-
/ tion of pack train, probably all Of it, with
some of the wagons. Animals have to
/ be jumped to the water and towed
ashore Had consultation with Generals
| Garcia. Rabi and Castillo ut / y. m,
on Goth, twenty miles west of Santiago.
/ IneSp 0IHcefS were unanimously OF tIle
opinion that landing should be made east
of Santiago. ! had come to the same
conclusion. General Garcia promises to
join me at Jaragua City tomorrow with
between three and four thousand men
who will be brought from west of San
tiago by ships Of the navy to Jauragua
City and there disembarked This will
give me between and thousand Gu
bans and leave one thousand under Gen
eral Rab to threaten Santiago from the
west General Kent's division is being
disembarked this afternoon at Jauragua
City and will be continued during the
night. The assistance of the navy has
been OF the greatest benefit and enthu-
siastically given: without them ] could
not have landed in ten days and perhaps
not at all as | believe | should have lost
many boats in the surf. At present want
nothing; weather has been good, no rain
on land and prospects for fair weather
"SHAFTER.
Major General u. s. Commanding.