Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-07-04

Then came the brief but graphic re-
cital of the terrible effect of the Amer
lean attack from land and sea. The
bursting shells from our fieetahad done
the greatest damage inside of the city.
Buildings were riddled with rifle shot
and mown with the huge shells and
solid projectles from the ships.
Most serious OF all, the Spanish COM
mander, Gen. Linares, occupying a
place similar to that of Gen. Shafter In
the American army, was very serious
ly wounded. This last fact had been
grudgingly admitted from Madrid, but
the report reaching here left no room
for doubt as to the seriousness of this
feature, with it was the further fact
that the Spanish casualties even be-
hind entertainments ran up to 1000. and
was equal to that of the fearless men
who fought in the open.
With all the light furnished on the
situation official and unofficial, direct
and Indirect, it was apparent that
each side had suffered terribly, with
now period of lull for those in re-
sponsibility to measure their condi-
tions, bury their dead, care for their
wounded and prepare for the grave
conflict yet to come.
The President and his war advisers
remained calm throughout the trying
experiences of the day. All their at
tention was directed to the work OF
preparation The future movements Of
Gen Shafter are well established.
They had been made known in his dis
patch. but it is deemed advisable not
to make this portion public as it would
serve to advise the enemy of the Amer
lean plans.
1t can only he said that Gen. Shat
ter's forces VIII be strongly and favor
ably located by the guns of the Ameri-
| can warships serving as an. additional
| protection to the front Reinforce
ments will be hurried to them, which
viii he ample for any emergency.
whether it .bc storm or siege.
With Santiago partially wrecked and
filled with 1000 dead and wounded the
condition there is desperate. even criti-
cal There is little likelihood of amy
| Spanish sorties in force under such cir
cumstanCcs. but the possibility is still
open that the Spanish garrison may
seek relief by evacuation of the city
and retiring to the mountain paths to
the north.
But the American plan is for often
| sivc. vigorous action and the full re-
sources of men and arms at the com
mand of the country. AS Gen. Miles
said, $4,000 if need be. will move on
| Santiago, if more are needed. then it
will be $1,000.
The lesson of Santiago has served
only to cnkindle a greater earnestness
throughout every avenue of official life
at the National Capitol ana there is 4
deep set determination to meet heroic
conditions with heroic treatment.
Following the receipt of Gen. Shaf-
tors telegram there was n hurried war
conference at the White House Sec
retary Alger accompanied by Gen.
Corbn reached there a few minutes
before ! o'clock and were Immediately
closeted with the President. Secretary
Alger brought the Shafter dispatch
with him and also map and other
data necessary for the important meet
ing about to take place. Gen. Corbin
was with the President and the secrc-
tary for n few minutes and then hur-
ried back to the war department
where he made public such portion OF
Gen. Skaters dispatch as was com
patible with the public interest.
The combined American and Cuban
forces. now under the command OF
Gen. Shafter amounted to' approx
mately. Gen. Miles said. today. 23o0(
men, while those available for the
Spaniards was probably 81. 900 soldiers
These included. however the men al
Holguin, presumably about 10000, ant
the force under another Spanish gen
eral amounting to about 5000 men.
Gen. Miles did not say whether tn,
two bodies of men. last referred to
had actually joined Gen. Linares bu
the understanding is here that the!
have not. Col. Humphrey is in charg,
of the transport service with Shaftcri
army and he will send back to TamT;
the vessels that can be spared a
rapidly as possible. In fact word ha,
been received that the transports ha,
started for the United States thi
morning. 1t is possible the war de
partment will send $1,000 men from
Tampa on these transports.
Six vessels have recently loaded wit
men. ammunition, arms. supplies. etc
ard are now at Key West or on thei
way to reinforce Skaters army In
cluded in this expedition are som
..F IN u hoe,