The record-union., 1898-07-12
HAS Been
GIVEN A
FREE HAND.
Shafter Is Subject to but
One Condition.
The Spanish in Santiago Must
Be Captured.
He Has Not Communicated His
Plans to the Government.
eX-Secretary Herbert lmpresses on Secre-
tay Long the Importance Of
Fireproof Wood for
the Ships.
He Has Not Communicated His
Plans to the Government.

WASHINGTON, July 11.-General
Skaters report from Siboney, sent just
before midnight last night, caused the
officials of the War Department to wait
all day with the expectation of hearing
that the bombardment of Santiago had
begun. No word to that effect came,
however, up to the time the department
closed. and though there is little reason
to doubt that the General carried out
the program of which he had notified
the department, it was regarded as pos
sible that he had consented to a furth-
er extension under the flag of truce, in
view of certain signs Of weakening on
the part of the Spanish commander. 1t
is supposed here that General Miles,
with additional reinforcementS on the
Yale, Will arrive al Siboney tonight or
tomorrow morning and if a surrender
has not been secured by that time, it is
believed that the assault upon the town
proper will be prosecuted at once with
the greatest energy and determination.
Tests made recently of the naval ord
nance gave very unsatisfactory results
when il was attempted to project shells
over the high hills from the open sea
into Santiago City. Possibly better re
suits may be attained tomorrow if the
attack is resumed then, but there is
more likelihood that the main reliance
will be on such of the lighter draught
vessels of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet as
may succeed in getting closer to the
shore and in a better position than the
heavy battleships. The officials here
are satisfied that what appears to be de-
lay on the part of General Shafter was
really caused by his efforts to carry cut
strictly the Presidents injunction to
prevent the Spanish army from escap-
ing from Santiago. He might have
attacked the town several days ago,
with the result that if the Spanish We're
overcome, they would have retreated
without obstruction to the northwest,
beyond the reach of our soldiers TO fol-
low.
His dispatch written late last night
indicates clearly that he has been try
ing to complete his line Of investment
SO as TO prevent such an escape, and as
he appears to feel satisfied that he has
accomplished this, the final assault VIII
not be delayed much longer. General
Shafter is disposed TO save every lie
possible in the war, probably having IN
mind the particularly large proportion
of killed wounded and missing COM
pared to the total strength of his army
in the battle of Caney, which the offl-
cial figures, promulgated to-day. show
was exceptional in modern warfare. 1t
is TO save our troops that he desires TO
make a free use of artillery before the
assault proper begins. and also TO Sc
cure the cooperation of the navy in the
attack The little artillery duel of yes
terday appears to have been more seri-
Gus in its results than was at first sus-
pected by General Shafter himself for
during the afternoon. he was obliged TO
report as a result. the death of Captain
w. Rowel, Second Infantry. one of the
most gallant and popular officers of the
regular establishment. Captain Rowell
was born in New York and appointed to
the Military Academy in 1870 He be-
came a Second Lieutenant in 1874. a
First Lieutenant in 1881, and was
nlaced in command Of the company
which he led to his death in 1896. His
death caused deep grief among the Off
GERS of the department, who respected
him for his soldierly qualities as mani
tested in his hard service in the West.
The cable communication between
Washington and General Skaters
Headquarters has now gotten into ex-
cellent condition, that 1t has been
possible 70 receive at the department
message within two minutes after 1t
has been dispatched by General SHAFT
ter. Colonel Allen. who is in charge at
General Skaters end of the line. has
reported to the department that he is
now engaged in laying q cable from
Guantanamo to Playa del Este, which
will still further reduce the time re-
quired for the exchange of communica-
tions
The appearance at the Navy Depart
ment at an early hour of Ensign Pal-
mer. one of the officers of the st. Louis,
which arrived at Portsmouth yesterday,
led the officials to believe that he had
brought the reports of the American
naval commanders of the battle, which
resulted in the destruction of Cerveras
: squadron. 1t turned out, however. that
the ST. Louis had started from Siboney
! before the official report on that en-
gagement had been prepared.
Ex-Secretary Herbert had quite q