The age-herald., 1898-06-24
TROOPS WILL
 PUSH FORWARD Have Gone to Fight and Are
 Ready to Begin. NEWS OF THE FIRST BATTLE Gen. Miles Expressed No Surprise When
 Informed of Engagement. sPANIARDs WILL MAKE A STAND Under the Protection of The Guns of
 Cevera's Fleet. THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SANTIAGO will Be Conducted Against Odds As Long As the Cape Verde Squadron Remains Undestroyed-Sampson Will Force
 Harbor and Attack Cruisers.
Under the Protection of the Guns Q
 Cevera's Fleet.
THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SANTIAGO

Washington, June 2S-seeretary Alger and. General Miles were in conference in the secretary's office at o'clock this af- ternoon when the first Madrid bulletin an- nouncing that fighting had begun was shown to them. The secretary read it aloud with evident satisfaction and both of them expressed themselves gratifed with this favorable report coming as it did from the enemy There was no surprise that fighting had begun so soon. It was sug- gested that the troops had completed their landing only this morning.
 ''Yes, but they have gone there to fight and are ready to begin it at once," replied General Miles.
 Secretary Alger said no word had been received up to that hour indicating that fighting was in progress. He had no rea- son to doubt, however, that our troops had encountered the Spanish forces and had given good account of themselves. He commented on Admiral Cervera's cable that the situation was critical and that the Spaniards had been obliged to retire, as in strange contrast with Madrids claim of "a Spanish victory =
 Will Push Forward
 General Miles said the American troops NOulu hoW pdoh lOl Wdl u d65iSoolfSiys Ni4N- ing in the Spanish and forcing them to fight. There not suggestion of ap- prehension or doubt, either with Secretary Alger or General Miles, as to what the out come would be. They had made their plans well, and they were confident that General Shafter and his troops would be hammer ing, at the gates of Santiago before long.
 The impression here is that the Spaniards will ma ka Their stand close tO Santiago and the inner harbor within the range of the guns of the big Spanish cruf- sers lying there There is no doubt that until these ships are removed from the field of operations the campaign against San tiago will be conducted against odds The guns of the Spanish ships command the hills over which our soldiers must come to attack the men and reach the bay but will soon bring our own artillery into play. The naval officials here believe that when the enemy coms for an attack by land upon the town Sampson will force his way to the .harbor and take part in the en- gagement They are satisfied that the wreck of the Merrimac does not completely block the channel and say that If Sampson does not come in the Spanish fleet is likely to make desperate effort to come out. The mines are to be considered in such ease but it is believed that once Morro castle is taken by the combined attack of inc soldiers and fleet, the Instructions can be easily removed with the experience gained in Guantanamo bay.
 Cuban Soldier Hurt
 The only positive news coming to the war department up to the closing hours was a dispatch to General Miles from his stan officers, with General Shafter and also a brief dispatch to General Greedy from Lieutenant-C Colonel Allen. General Miles stated in substance that the landing of tue troops had been completed without any casualties save to one Cuban soldier, who had his arm injured by the bursting Of a shell. The troops of Garcia and Rabbi, about 5,7O0 in number, had met the Amer ican forces with enthusiastic greetings
 Stress was laid upon the point that the Cubans were well armed and well discip- lined General Garcia was confident that his forces would be swelled to 10000 men as soon as Santiago fell. About the only need in the Cuban army was shoes. and quinne
 The dispatch to General Greedy merely stated that progress was being made with connecting the military forces directly with the war department.
 During the day orders were issued to the entire division comprising the newly ere . ated command of General Guy Henry for . their speedy departure to reinforce General Shaftef at Santiago Already the Thirty third Michigan regiment and one battery of the Thrty-second Michigan have started on this mission. Today orders covered the balance of General Henry's command. It included the remaining battalions of the Michigan regiment and the Ninth Massa- chusetts. This will complete General Duff fields command The orders also cover the brigade of General Garretson, which in- cludes the Sixth Illinois, Sixth Massachu- setts and Eighth and Ninth Ohio regi- ments. The plan is to move all of General
 (Continued on Second Page1
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