The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-05

Washington, July 4-The authorities
here, military and naval, say that San
uago has already made it's best fight, and
that It's occupation is only a question OF
TINT, and very brief time. General
Skaters strong position was shown IN a
series of dispatches. Most convincing OF
all as to his feeling of confidence and
strength was that dispatch given out
late in the day. in which Geeral Shafter
gives the text of his demad for the sur
render Of the city on pain of lombard
ment.
General Skaters other dispatches
breathe the same air of confidence and
determination as shown in his demand
On the Spanish commander. The first
one made public during the day stated
that his lines completely surrounded the
town from the bay on the north to the
San Juan river on the south, leaving the
city thus enVelOped by stretch OF water
on one side and stretch of frowning
American guns on the other.
In another dispatch General Shafter
epitomized the strength Of his position by
saying:
i feel that 1 am master Of the situa-
ton and can hold the enemy for any
length Of time"
In another dispatch General Shafter
states that his demand for the surrender
OF Santiago is still being considered by
the Spanish authorities, which indicated
that the refusal of the Spanish command
er TO capitulate was not final In any
event, u O'Clock on Tuesday marks the
limit Of Skaters concession, and if San
tiago has not capiIulated at that hour
the great siege guns, now brought to the
front and in position, backed by the bat
teries Of lighter field pieces, will begin
their Wori- of destruction.
NO NEED TO REINFORCE.
The present need of reinforcing Shat
ter is no longer felt. now that the Spanish
feet is out of the way. A large number
of men, however, are already on the way
and others will follow.
The matter Of reinforcements for the
American position at Santiago was taken
up by the board, which concluded that
before reinforcements could reach Shat
ter the necessity at that point would be
passed. Troops, however, will be sent,
but they are not in the nature OF rein
foGcemeRts. The troops. it is stated, will
be dispatched. as early as possible, but
whether they wilI go direct to Cuba or
To Porto Rico, the next point of attack.
is yet a matter Of some doubt.
FOREIGN ATTACHES KICK.
The dispatch from the front stating that
there was likely to~be some criticism be-
cause of the treatment of foreign military
attaches excited much Indignation among
the military authorities here. 1t was
stated by one Of the highest officers in
the service that the foreign gentlemen
had received absolutely everything in the
way Of accommodations, supplies, rations,
etc, given TO our own officers and men.
What was most surprising was that this
protest should come at a moment when
our men were lighting in swamp and
thicket under a blazing sun, with o thou
sand dead or wounded, and under the
fire Of an entrenched enemy.
There is every disposition here to ex-
tend the most complete courtesy to these
cumstances. There is no purpose, how
ever to recognize them as a suptrior set
or to give them greater attention in
mounts, tents or attendance than our
own officers and men receive.
DEATH RATE OF OFFICERS.
A remarkable feature Of the fighting
in Cuba, and one more commented on in
killed and wounded of commissioned and
non-commissioned officers. In spite OF
the distress which the loss of so many
officers has occasloned, the army officials
point to the list es a splendid evidence
of the dash and personal bravery Of the
men who wear shoulder straps. Among
the killed and wounded since the first
fight AT Juragua have been officers OF
every grade from Colonel down, and in
numbers said to be almost in proportion
to the forcts engaged. The loss of Of
ficers in the two days fighting around
Santiago demonstrates 10 military mer
that the American officers lead their mer
wherever they are called upon to go and
ar setting an example which cannot bu;
elevate the spirit of corps Of the army .
I'LL TODAY AT NOON
Copyright, 1S9S, by the Associated Press.
OF Juragua, on board the Associated
preee sfenatch b1at Dandy Sunday Iuly