Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-23

The British steamer Quen Sang,
which arrived Saturday at Hong Kong
reports that at 2 a. IN. last Wednesday
when less than day from Manila, she
sighted the steamer City Of Pekin, one
Of the three transports carrying the
first expedition of troops to the relief
Of Admiral Dewey. She also reported
that the rebels had SO closed in on
Manila that the town was at their
mercy, but that Admiral Dewey was
restraining them, so as to permit
ed surrender. Twelve hundred ref
ugees on board the Quen Sang say
that the Spaniards we're utterly de-
moralized, and most of them believe
that the town has capitulated by this
time.
The Madrid correspondent OF the
Paris Temps says there is report in
the Spanish capital that Manila has
surrendered, though cabinet officials
deny that they have received any news
to that effect.
A special cable message from Berlin
says that the German foreign office
has expressly repeated the assurances
already given to the United States
government that Germany has TO OBJ
ject in the Philippines except the pro-
lection of the lives and PROPERTY OF
Germans, Swiss and Portuguese, and
has no indea of Intervention.
Admiral Sampson received word on
Monday that more than thirty trans
ports, containing Gen. Skaters army,
were nearing Santiago. He sent word
for them to remain ten miles south OF
the harbor until he could prepare a
landing place. A landing and a decis-
i've battle are expected by the end of
this week.
Juan Santos, a Cuban pilot, who
has returned from Santiago says there
are $4,000 Spanish troops in that city.
Lieut.. Hobson and the other heroes
from Moro Castle and Admiral Samp-
son has decided to attack that strong
hold without delay. The dynamite
cruiser Vesuvius may be used in the
work,
Cadets Powell and Hart are praised
in official reports of a accommodating
NJ frr-n az To- nj,
which, under their command and with
Lieut.. Harlow in charge, ran into
Santiago bay Friday morning and met
with hot fire from the forts aud bat
teries. The launches were struck, but
no damage was done nor was any one
hurt.
The American vessels in Guantana-
mo bay steamed up near the town of
Guantanamo and fired rs heavy shells
into the town Friday. The officers say
that several fires were caused by the
BON bardment and much damage was
apparently done. The object of the
attack was to prevent reinforcements.
A careful inspection of the fort1fica-
tions along the crest Of the hills de-
Tending Santiago harbor since the
commandment Of Thursday shows that
the American gunners spread wreck
and ruin everywhere. Some of the
batteries were demolished beyond
repair.
Vultures circled over the hills as
thick as swallows around a chimney
for hours after the firing ceased, fur
nishing gruesome evidence of the
fatality among the Spanish soldiers.
Hundreds Of troops could be seen try
ing to bury the dead while their heads
were famed by the wings of the black
scavengers of the battlefield.
There were two spots, one on the
east and the other on the west side Of
the harbor enterance, which are de-
nuded OF foliage. The hilltops seem
literally blown away. These marked
the places where the S00-pound charges
of guncotton sent by the Vesuvius
landed.
There was evident decentralization
among the Spanish troops during the
bombardment. Officers could be seen,
with drawn swords, driving the men
to the guns, but even then they could
not be forced to remain long. The
Is minutes night work of the Vesuvius
had doubtless shattered their. nerves.
1t is believed by some that the pro-
jectiie fred from the Texas, which was
reported to have exploded the powder
magazine in one Of the western bat
teries, did not fall in the battery, but
went beyond and blew up one of the
ships in the harbor.
A dramatic incident of the lombard
ment was the act of a Spanish officer,
who bravely ran along parapet I'M
der heavy fire. encouraging his men
to stand by their guns. Shot and shell
rained about him, and after one ter
rifle explosion he was seen no more and
the parapet had disappeared. He
could scarcely have escaped death.
II WAN tho most doc div on1 Iaotr,o