The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-07-14

report from Siboney, sent just before
midnight Sunday night, caused officials
Of the war department to wait all day
yesterday with the expectation of
hearing that the bombardment of San
tiago had begun. No ward to that eff
feet came, however, up to the time the
department closed, and thought there is
little reason to doubt that the general
carried out the programme of which
he had notified the department, it was
regarded as possible that he had con-
Sented to a further extension under the
flag of truce in view of certain signs
OF weakening on the part Of the Span
ish commander. 1t is supposed here
that Gen. Miles, with additional rein
forcements on the Yale arrived at
Siboney last night or this morning, and
if a surrender had not been secured by
thai time it is believed that the assault
unn the town proper will be prose-
cuted at once with the greatest energy
AID determination. Estimates made
recently Of the naval ordnance gave
very unsatisfactory results when it
was attempted to project shells over
the high hills from the open sea into
Santiago City. Possibly better results
rray be attained to-day if the
Attack Is Resumed
then, but there is more likelihood that
the main reliance would be on such
lighter draft vessels of the fleet as may
get closer to the shore and in a better
position than the heavy battleships.
The officials here said that what aD-
pears to be delay on the part. of Gen.
Shafter was really caused by his eff
forts to carry out strictly the presi-
dents injunction to prevent the Span
ish army from escaping from Santiago.
He might have attacked the town sew
eral days ago, with the result that if
the Spanish were overcome they would
have retreated without obstruction to
the northwest beyond the reach of our
soldiers to follow. His dispatch, writ
ten last night indicates clearly that he
has been trying to complete his line of
investment so as to prevent such an
escape, and as he appears to feel sat-
isfed that he has accomplished this
the final assault will not be delayed
much longer. Gen. Shaftor is disposed
to save every life possible in the war,
probably having in mind the Darticu-
ldrly
Large Proportion of Killed
wounded and missing compared to the
total strength of his army in the bat
tic OF Caney, which the official figures
promulgated shows was exceptional in
modern warfare. 1t is to save our
troops that he desires to make a free
use of artillery before the assault
proper begins, and also to secure the
cooperation of the navy in the attack.
The little artillery duel of Sunday aD-
pears to have been more serious in it's
results than was at first suspected by
Gen. Shafter himself, for during the
afternoon he was obliged to report as
one result the death of Capt. Charles
W. Rowell, Second infantry, one Of
the most gallant and popular officers
Of the regular establishment.
The cable communication between
Washington and Gen. Skaters head
quarters has now been gotten into ex-
cellent condition, so that it has been
possible to receive at the department
a message within twenty minutes af-
ter it has been dispatched by Gen.
Shafter. Col. Allen, who is in charge
at Gen. Skaters end of the line, has
reported to the department that he is
now engaged in laying a cable' from
Guantanamo to Playa del Este, which
will still further reduce the time re-
Quired for the exchange Of communica-
tiOnS