The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-02

OF the war department. E6RarQlQg the
movement of his division to Santiago
and has reported that it is entirely
ready to start on its journey at an
hours notice. Complete arrangements
had been made for the departure of the
troops from Camp Alger today and
there was considerable disappointment
among them when it became known
that there would be several days delay
in starting for Newport News.
The Navy's Part.
Copyright. 1898, by Associated Press.)
Off Santiago de Cuba, July 1, via
Kingston, Jamaica, July Before 5
O'Clock this morning the crew of the
flag ship were astir, eating a hurried
breakfast and at $50 general quart
ers' were sounded and the flagship
headed in toward AguadOres, about
three miles east of Morro castle. The
other ships retained their blOckading
stations. Along the surf beaten shore,
the smoke of an approaching train from
Altares was seen. It was composed of
open cars full of Gen. Duff1eld's troops.
At the cut a mile east Of Aguardores,
the train stopped and the Cuban scouts
proceeded along the railroad track. The
troops got out of the cars and soon
formed in a long, thin line standing out
Vividly against the yellow rocks that
rear perpendicular above shutting them
off from the main body of the army,
which is on the sst side of the hill,
several miles north.
From the quarters of the flagship
there was a signal by vigorously wig
from a lump Of green at the waters
edge came an answer from the army.
This was the first cooperation for Of
fenSiVe purposes between the army and
navy. The landing of the army at Bal
quiri and Altares was purely a naval
affair. With the flag in his hand the
soldier ashore looked like a butterfly.
Are you waiting for us to begin?''
was the signal made by Rear Admiral
Sampson to the army
Gen. Duffield is ahead with the
scouts" same the answer from the
shore to the flagship.
BY this time it was o'clock and the
admiral ran the fiagship's bow within
three quarters of a mile of the beach
She remained almost Is near during the
forenoon and the daring way she was
handled by Captain Chadwick within
sound of the breakers made the Cuban
pilot on board stare with aStOniShmept.
The Suwanee was in company with
the flagship, still closer in shore, and
Gloucester was to the westward, near
MOrrO castle. From the southwark the
Newark came up and took a position
to the westward. Her decks were black
with 160O or more troops. She went
alongside the flagship and was told to
disembark the troops at Altares.
Then Admiral Sampson signalled to
General Duffield: When do you want
US to commence firing?"
In little while a flag on shore sent
| back the answer: when the rest of
the command arrives, then I will sig
nal YOU
It was long and tedious wait for
/ the ships before the second fifty car
loads of troops came putting along from
/ Altares.
BY $3.50 the last of the soldiers had
/ left the open railroad tracks, disappear
ing in the thick brush that covered the
| eastern side of AguadOres inlet.
| The water in the sponge tubes under
/ the breecheS of the big guns was grow
/ ing hot in the burning sun
Ashore there was sign of the enemy.
] ThaV were believed to be the west
ern bluff
Between the bluffs runs rocky gully
| leading into Santiago city. On the ex-
| tremity Of the western arm was an
! old Castella fort, from which the flags
| were flying and on a parapet of the
| eastern hill commanding the gully, two
| stretches of red earth could easily be
seen against the brush. These were the
| rife pits.
At 1850 the signal flag ashore wig
| wagged to Admiral Sampson to com
| nence firing and a minute later the
! New Yorks guns blazed away at the
rifle pits and at the old fort.
The Suwanee and Gloucester Joined
| in the echoes which rumbled around
| and filled the gully. All the stored-up
| thunder of the clouds seemed to have
| broken loose, and smoke soon rose over
the hills and the gully was shut out
Then the firing became more deliber-
| ate.
OF our troops ashore in the brush.
/
| ping of the small arms of the army
/ hoated out to the sea during the Occa-
| sional lulls in the firing of the big guns,
| which peppered the rifle pits until
| clouds of red earth rose above them.
| An 8-inch shell from the Newark
| dropped in the massive bluffs and
clouds of white dust and huge stones
/ filed the air.
BreastwOrks Taken.
Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press.)
DrnUinch of Santa de
! Cuba, July 1.-9 p. m, via Playa del
| Este.-At this hour, p. m, the fight
| ing has practically stopped 1t will be
| resumed in the morning. Our troops
have gained several breastworks They
| encountered a barbed wire fence eight
| feet high.
400 Killed and Wounded.
washington, July 2.-The war de-
! partment last night received the fol-
| lowing from General Shafter, dated at
Siboney:
Had a very heavy engagement. which
lasted from 8 a. m. until sundOwn. We
have carried their outworks and are
now in possession of them. There is
now about three-quarters of a mile OF
! open between my H-4es and the city.
BY morning troops will be entrenchad
| and considerable augmentation OF
| forces will be there. General Lawton's
! division and General Bates brigade
! have been engaged all day in carrying
I'll Caney which was accomplished at
D. m. VIII be in line and in front
of Santiago during the night. I regret
to say that our casualties will be above
400. OF these not many killed.
"(SigneD, SHAFTER.'
A Higher Estimate.
Playa del Este, Guantanamo Bay
July /. (evening). g).-The fighting CONT 4
ued until dark. Our forces carried the
! eneny's outer works and have Occ1I-
pied them. The battle will probably 6f