Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-06

the Harbor and the Idea Is to Have the
Fleet Fcrse a Passace-Success Would
Make Santiago Untcnable for Linares-
Troops. Some of Them from the West,
Ordered to the Front.
Washington, July G. 1T is learned
authoritativeIy that tremendous pres
sure is being brought to bear upon the
Spanish commander of Santiago by the
foreign consuls to induce him to sur
render. The consuls have commune
Gated with their home governments,
and it is believed here that representa-
tons will be made by them to Spain to
/ Induce her to permit the city to sur
, render, thereby preventing further loss
Of life and property
Washington, July Gas a result of the
! cabiEet meeting yesterday instructions
were sent by the president to Admiral
; Sampson and General Shafter to confer
! together concerning q joint plan of at
| tack upon the city. Upon the outcome
! Of this confidence depends the line of
/ action Ger the immediate future. For the
! present theEand bombardment by Cen
/ er2l Shutters forces has been deferred,
| as the situation has so completely
| changed by the humiliation of the
Spanish feet that it is manifestly the
! part of wisdom fer this land lombard
| ment to await the cooperation and sup
1 Of 10
Sampson's feet. General Skaters de-
mand for the surrender Of Santiago on
the pain of bombardment was made at
$50 o'clock Sunday morning. An hour
| later Admiral Cervera made his sui
cidal dash from the harbor, resulting in
a complete transformation of the naval
and military conditions.
Waiting to Strike Harder Blow.
Instead OF a menacing Spanish fleet
within the harbcr the way has been
cleared, save for the shore batteries, for
the entrance of the American fleet up to
| the very wharves of the city. With this
material change wrought it was obvi-
eusho the autherities here that the blow
| intended to be delivered by General
| Shafter alone would be doubly effective
and decisive if.the two forces could be
brought together and strike simultan-
| eously from land ard sea 1t is for this
reason that the conference is held be-
tween the American general and the
American admiral. Up to the close OF
office Hours yesteraay.ne v,srd had eoMe
either te tho war or navy Department
50 far as was disclosed, as to what de-
l
| conference.
Practically ordered into the Harbor.
At the same time 1t is the clear ex-
pectaHon n the authorities here tina,
the conference will result ina determin
alton by the admiral to take his feet
through the narrow neck of the harbor
! make. his way past the shore batteries
ard Notifications, and take position be-
fore the city for a bombardment There
is reason to'believe that theinseructions
sent TO Admiral Sampson at least con.
Veyed the Geire-if not the instruction.
that he enter the hareor. But il is
said that the admiral and the genera
continue TO be the supreme officials il
authority. and that being on the scene
fully alive to all the conditions, theil
Judgment sill be taken as final in the
course To be adopted
Nerrimac Is Not in the Channel
. There is said to be no obstacle, 8,
far as navigation is concerned, to tn,
entrance of the 'harbOr By the AmericaI
: feet. The navy department has knowr
for the past ten days that the neck O
the channel was open, despite the sink
ing of the Merr!maC. and that Their,
was a clear seaway Of seven fathems
through Nhieh any ship in our nav,
could sail. This removes all difficult,
except from submarine mines or from
shore batteries. Once up to the cit,
the feet and array could combine in
terrific double fire. No less than 20
heavy guns would be trained from tn
American ships on the city, and at tn
same time the siege guns which it i
expeeteG have been brought to the from
of Skaters lire would rain down tor
rents Of steel from that quarter.
starvation Present at Santiago.
A message received from Genera
Shafter' indicates that the situation o
the people of Santiago is terrible The,
are not only panic-strcken over tn
fear Of bombartnent, but they are suf
fering from he lack of the actual neces
saries Of lis. In one of his ,cablegram
General Shafter says: The town [San
tiago1 is in a terrible condition as I
food. The people are starving. Rice i
practically the only staple article O
food they have" General Shafter, re
ferTiEg To he condition of those injured
says: "All the wounded are doing s.r
gularly well, only one death having oe
Cured since the battle" General Shat
{ ter's statement of the situation in San
J tiago is borne oY by the condition G
: the men captured by the American flee
from the vessels efNCerVera's squadron
: They had been on half rations so lon
! that many Of them Were nearly fam
: ished.