The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1898-07-08

patch to the secretary of war at noon
Sunday from Gen. Shafter on the
battlefield saying it would be impos-
sible to carry the city Of Santiago
by storm with his present force OF
men. This came at the moment when
war department officials were expect
ing word that Santiago had fall
en- and that our flag was waving over
other details, showing splendid BRAY
the city. Gen. Shafter gave many
cry on the part of our men, but all
this was lost sight of in the fact of
the momentous report that the city
itself, after three days of desperate
battle, could not be taken. The dis
patch was carried by Adjutant Gen
eral Corbin to the white house, where
a council of war was held by the pres
ident, Secretary Alger, Gen. Miles, Gen.
Corbin, Assistant Secretary of War
Meiklejohn and Assistant Secretary
of the Navy Allen. The officials wore
an outward calm, but the report had
caused the deepest agitation. All at
tention was directed TO sending rein
forcements to Shafter Immediately,
in order that the battle might be re-
newed and Santiago taken. At the
war council 1t was positively deter
mined there should be no halt in the
movement on Santiago, except such
time as was necessary to get more
men to Shafter. They will be sent
from Tampa in large numbers and
$4,000 men will then be moved from
Chickamauga to Tampa to go for
ward on transports. Dispatches were
sent to the fleet off Santiago to have
twelve transports return at once to
Tampa to take on more troops for
Shafter. Hurry orders were sent to
Tampa, and one expedition of six
ships with about 6,0O0 men left there
Sunday.
Gen. Skaters report caused an agi-
tation throughout the national capital
almost indescribable. Great crowds sur
rounded the bulletin boards and
churchgoers were greeted with cries Of
Extra" papers. The public shared the
apprehension Of officials, and It was
feared Gen. Skaters position had be-
come dangerous and possibly critical.
The official dispatch given out did not
contain all Gen Shafter reported, as
part Of the report OF his future plans
was suppressed in order not to reach
the enemy. This told of the place he
would occupy in order to protect his
force from an attack by the enemy. It
will be near the coast and under the
guns Of the American ships. There will
certainly be no more fighting for the
present until large reinforcements
reach Shafter In the meantime there
is a possibility that the Spanish troops
may make an attack on our forces, but
this is not expected, as the Spaniards
are quite as much worn out as our men,
There are reports showing that the
Spanish loss is over 900 and that their
leading general, Linares, is severely
wounded. Santiago is a mass of ruins,
caused by the fire of our troops and
bursting shells from Simpsons feet.
The city is like a great morgue, filled
with the dying and wounded. and
starvation is added to the horrors Of
their situation. They are far worse off
than Skaters troops, although they
cling to their intrenchments in despera-
ton.
The war councils at the White house
were devoted to the planning for send
ing reinforcements. Every available
ship has been ordered to Tampa, and a
wholesale movement OF troops will be-
gin there. Although feeling keenly the
failure to take Santiago, officials at the
war department say that our troops
have done splendid service against ter
rible odds. They have suffered from the
terrible heat and have cut through al
most impossible underbrush. They
have captured many outposts of Sam
tiago, driving the Spaniards into the
city. But the forts and intrenchments,
combined with guns of the Spanish
feet, have given the enemy heavy a6-
wantages.
Gen. Miles may be sent to the field
nj once to take supreme command, ow-
ing to the emergency. He wishes to
go, but the war department hesitates
" ant pei AOA lCdl IL VIII NC
taken as a criticism of Shafter. There
is no desire by the president or the
secretary of war to criticize Shafter In
any way. They say he has done the
best possible under adverse circum-
stances.
Many Of his best generals have been
Frustrated with the heat and are suf-
fering with fever. Major General
Wheeler and Gen. Young are among
those fever stricken. This seriously
cripples our strength. Wheeler and
Young will be brought home and 9TH
err generals sent in their places. There
are rumors also that the heat and cli-
mf have told seriously on General
Shafter himself, and that he has been
unable to lead the army during the
fight officials say the heat and cli-
mate have done more than Spanish bull