The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-07-14

mldnight the war department CAV,
out the following dispatch from Gen
Shafter:
PLAYA DEL ESTE, July 10.
To Adjutant General, Washington:
Enemy opened fire q few minute.
past with light guns which were soon
silenced by ours. Very little musketry
firing and the enemy kept entirely in
their entrenchments. Three men
slightly wounded. Will have consid
cradle forces Monday. enough tc
completely block all the roads on the
northwest l am quite we'll
SHAFTER
The news Of the bombardment came
at the close of busy Sunday in the
war department Previous to the re-
ccipt OF this dispatch the secretary Of
war had heard twice from Gen. Shat
ter In the early morning came a tele-
gram saying that lie had ridden over
the American lines and was gratified
at their condition. second dispatch
reported that the lines were imprcgna.
bic, thus removing any fear of sue
ccssful sortic by the Spanish troops
should n maneuver of this kind be at.
tempted Both kilograms, which en-
phasized the fact that Gen. Shafter's
physical condition had greatly inn
proved, were promptly shown to the
president and occasioncd him con-
siderable qualification. When qucs-
toned as TO whether ne believed that
thcre had been n bombardmcnt of tho
city, Gen. Corbin replied: "You know
as much about it as do have kept
nothing back. | should say, however,
that the firing Sunday was but the
preliminary to the more serious busi-
ness of Monday" This being the case
the attempt to take the city will prob
ably be made Monday.
BEFORE SANTIAGO, July 0, via Port
Antonio and Kingston, Jamaica. July
l1.-Evcrything on the firing line is
now ready for the commencement Of
hostilities in case the Spanish gencr-
ais do not surrender. The dynamite
gun which has been in position for
several days, is now in better working
order than at the time OF the battle Of
San Juan, and it is predicted that its
charges consisting Of pounds of gun
cotton and gelatine will work havoc
in the Spanish trenches when it opens
fire.
Twelve mortars in one battery arc
mounted and ready to use and they
are relied upon to do effective work in
shelling the city. Three batteries Of
artillery are now posted on Ell Paso
ridge, 2,4OO yards from the town, and
the Capron and Grimes batteries are
l,5OO yards to the north of the road in
the rear OF Gen. Lawton's division. In
firing, the field guns will be compelled
TO she'll the town over the heads Of our
own men, but the artillery officers say
1t can be done safely and without in.
jury TO our soldiers The dynamite
gun has been so placed that it will be
able to enflade several OF the Spanish
lines.
On the other hand, during the truce,
which so far as regards the continuing
Of preparations for defense or attacl;
has been no truce whatever, the Span
iards have not been idle. They have
been mounting guns and some Of these
are of much heavier caliber than any
the American army can bring into
play. Some OF their guns are OF anti
quated pattern and not capable OF
much damage, but others are differ
ent and capable of excellent work.
One sevcn-iuch gun, which had 50 per-
feet n range during the battle Of San
Juan, OF many ridges occupied by tho
American troops has been located with
especial care by the American gun
ncrs and it will be the recipient OF
much attention when hostilities re.
open.
Gen. Bates division, which holds Tic
extreme left of the line, moved for'
ward Sunday to new position, 400
yards In advance of its former line.
1t was, since the battle Of san Juan,
planted along the edge of n pre-
ci pitous ravine, the walls of which are
about so feet high. This ravire is
q about 700 yards long aud about 400
yards wide.
Gen. Bates has now moved the Goth |
infantry to the side OF the rayine near
est Santiago and placed the Sd in
fantry, which with the Goth forms his !
at right angles to the line OF
.he Goth. The extreme left of his line, !
which is the extreme left of the Amer
can army, is about opposite the upper
md of Santiago ha-bor and from four |
% six miles from the coast line.
When hostilities are opened by the !
pom ba ardment great things are expect
ID from the navy.
Gen. Otis Will Hasten His Departure.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 1l.-Maj. Gen.
)tis will hasten his departure for
Manila, in accordance with instruc-
ions from Washington. He may go
m either the Peru or City of Puebla,