Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-07-05
WAR NEWS.

WAX NEWS
General Merritt left San Francisco
Wednesday for. the Philippines on the
steamer Newport, which also carried his
staff, the Astor battery and other organi-
cations. The Newport is a fast steamer
and is expected to place General Merritt
at Manila about July %.
Last Friday, just two months after the
battle of Manila, the battle of Santiago
the first great land engagement of the
present war-began.
From three directions the American
forces advanced toward the doomed city.
While General Lawton and General
Wheeler We're attacking Caney, northeast
of Santiago, General Kent was advanc-
ing toward Aguadores. General Garcia
with his Cuban troops, at the same time
approached Caney from the southeast,
and the other divisions of the American
Army pressed toward Santiago from the
east our forces thus presenting a solid
front from the coast to General Linares'
northern defenses.
Both the American and Spanish fleets
early joined in the battle. While Ad-
miral SIMPSONS men were reducing the
recently emplaced batteries at Aguadores
and Smelling the Spanish troops there,
Admiral Cervera's fleet was hurting shells
in the direction of the American and
Cuban lines.
Two batteries of light artillery, acting
under orders from General Shafter, who
went to the front at the head of his troops,
began the battle of Santiago by attacking
Caney. From this village direct road
leads into Santiago, and the advance OF
the Americans. it was believed, would be
irresistible when they gained possession
of this road. Gen. Joe" Wheeler, with
detachment of his cavalry command
and General Garcia, with his Cuban
troops, quickly joined General Lawton':
men in the advance upon Caney.
The Spaniards for time fought des
perately to prevent Caney from falling
into the hands of the Americans. 1t wa:
a vain effort. Before the fighting hat
been long under way the American ant
Cuban forces gained advanced ground
Foot by foot the enemy was driven back
The losses of the American side, as es
timated by General Shafter, humble
1000.
One of the foreign consu1s stationed a
Santiago cabled to the representative o
his governmental Washington that havo,
had been caused in the city. A thousand
Spaniards were killed or wounded, among
the latter being General Linares, tn,
Spanish Commander.
The Spanish lost 1000 men in killed
wounded or prisoners by the capture o
Caney.
In Fridays engagement the observa
ton balloon used by the army rendered
good service, disclosing the enemy's pc
sition and gaining much valuable infor
nation. The balloon, at which the enc
my fred repeatedly, was finally split by
shrapnel.
A bombardment of MORO Castle tool
place Saturday morning, beginning a
SAC o'clock The battiements of the ole
castle are said to have been knocked t.
pieces. One of the Oregon's thirteen
inch guns cut down the Spanish flag OF
the castle.
The cruiser Charleston arrived at Ma
Mia Sunday with the first expedition o
troops for the relief of Dewey, compris
ing 2, 500 men. On the way La Guagan
capital of the Ladrone Islands, wa
seized.
A cablegram received in Washington
Sunday night from Lieutenant Colone
Allen, chief signal officer at Santiago
stated that all of Admiral Cervera's war
ships, except one, were destroyed OF
burning on the beach. They attempted
a dash out of the harbor, but were me
and crushingly defeated by Admira
SIMPSONS fleet
Cervera himself was captured, with
fully 1900 others. The Spanish lost sew
eral hundred killed or wounded. Yeo
man Geo. H. Ellis, of the Brooklyn, wa.
the only American killed
General Shafter has allowed until moor
to-day for the removal of the women ant
children from Santiago, after which he
will shell the city.
Mr.. P. H. Ramer has resigned his po
sition as clerk at the Hotel, Berkeley
| Martinsburp and the vacancy bas boo-