The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-07
5HIFIER IO GO SLOWER
Likely 10 Wait for More Men
and Guns.
FLEET AFRAID OF FORTS.
Attempt TO Enter Harbor Would Be
Full Of Danger
SHIP ALPHONSO XIII SUNK.
Vessel Knocked TO Pieces in Trying
to Run the Blockade.

washington, July 6.-By comparison with
what has gone before, to-day was very
ouet at the war and navy departments.
There were bulletins posted in the form
4 er denar.ment, but there were none of
more recent date than yesterday, and so
far from indicating an impending battle,
The general tendency of these bulletins
& was to show chat no forward movement is
in immediate contemplation.
Deep concern is felt here at the depriva-
tons and sufferings of our troops lying i'll
the trenches and in field hospitals sur
rounding Santiago And there is every
where d disposition to insist that here
after haste shall be made slowly, and that
the equipment Of our soldiers, their COM
missary and quartermasler's supplies,
their ammunition and their hospital stores
shall be complete in every respect before
they advance further.
This is likely to be the rule, even at
the expense of time, and in the face of the
criticism of an element that has been We
hemently insisting upon rushing the cam
paign, without regard to cost in blood
and money.
Confidence is felt that there will be no
friction between the army and navy COM
manders, and that the conference about
to take place between them will result in
an agreement upon a joint plan for the
i prosecution of the campaign. In the event
bf-
ed, the President is prepared to act him
self by orders from first hand.
There is much in the naval argument
that if Admiral Sampson is obliged to
enter Santiago harbor before the forts
are captured he will jeopardize the safety
oil the lronclad fleet under his command
BY the sinking Of these ships in the mar
row channel through Spanish mines or
Shell the fleet would be left helpless and
exposed 10 destruction under the guns of
Ine forts, to which they could make no
reply owing to the elevation of the latter
OA The other hand, the army officers
seem TO be justified in avoiding the tre-
mehdous sacrifice of life that would be in
vowed in again throwing our soldiers
Dgen materially reinforced in numbers
ana strengthened by the artillery.
AumHaI Sampson did not report to-day
7' lne navy department., but the war de-
p'i'"eht sent over very agreeable mes
sage from Gen. Shafter, announcing the
Ieaalness Of the Spaniards to exchange
4 LeuI. Hooson and his men. 1t is be-
4e'e' taat this was accomplished some
,''"e uurlng the day, though notice of it
h "oS not been received.
q Inc lact that several of the vessels se
a ''''ea Tor Commodore Watson's fleet were
d" 'ue thick of the engagement of July
r,''i,'ses TO delay somewhat the departure
~ lae eastern squadron for the shores
N 9p'Hl' The vessels have consumed a
sg9' 'e'u OF coal, and without doubt have
'ps''e' large quantity of their high
5''Ie Of ammunition in the furious
n luck on the steel warships of the Span
& ''S' It viii be necessary to replenish
,'.''g stores before the long European voy-
age IS begun
however Secretary Long has given
'" orders for the preparation Of this
t5s '.''o' ana it certainly will be off in
',g course of a few days.
movements of the Cadiz fleet are
4 ''@|Ans to our experts here. Weak
N to.- 80 Us by the sending back of the
p','' boat destroyers, the Spanish
'1a''on bound for the Philippines seems
n d5 -,''' to go to as sure destruction as
N -'il'aI Cervera's unlucky ships when
Wy WY headed westward from the Cane
verde Islands. pe
s, 9pi"lards, without doubt. are fully
ana 'l the inferiority of their feet
4 snr,. ""S 'hey persist in sending it to be
B r.,' ~ me Philippines is a mystery. The
ts 4e 'fnent was advised to-day thar
& Sic, On was Passing through the
o-.' .'aAI' and as the vessels must have
n tss 'eaVy toll required in advance
\ oh. '-1' 'tions are now regarded &c 81,
fo- that the ships are actuallv hound
H.. I.ippines. This belief stimulates
H.. carnations here for commodoro
n sto. sailing. He will strike straig5t
doo,-.' -''.I'i al Camara, who in the end :
Dewey. si' oet"een Watson and
lyrr report thai the fine ship YANKEE
4 las ,.1 IompkInsville, just from Cuba
d.,i ~" fever aboard. caused .ao,,
worry at the department. unth