The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-30
SKATER TO Be SWIFT.
Attack on Santiago May Open
at Any Moment.
DELAY MAY BE DANGEROUS.
PandO Fastening to City With
800 Men.

sbnftcr Anxious to Effect the Towns
Capture Before the Spanish Rein
fOrcements Arrive-Lac< of ArtiI-
Icry the Only Cause for Hesitation.
Guns of Cervera's Fleet the Most
Serious Factor in the Situation for
the Americans-Wiu Sampson
Force His Way Into the HarbOr to
Lend His Mighty Aid to the Army.
no Yellow Fever Among Troops.
Washington, June 29-The opinion pre-
walls here that within a day or two at
most, Gen shafter will have begun his at
tack upon the city of Santiago proper.
The important event of the day was the
generals announcement that he could
take the city in forty-eight hours but at
considerable loss. Taken in connection
with the announcement contained in an
other dispatch that he is going 10 attack
without waiting renforcements, IL will be
seen that the officials have ground for
their expectation that the first general en-
gagement of the war will begin in a very
short time.
Numerically, the opposing armies are not
very different, the estimate of the Spanish
force being placed at 1900 men, thorough
ly entrenched and behind barbed wire
fences and blockhouses as against about
1900 men under Skaters command,
aided by 1900 Cubans.
One of the gravest elements in the prob
lem however, is the Spanish warships, for
unless Gen. Shafter is materially assist
ed by Admiral Sampson, VINO might en-
gage the fun attention of the Spanish
ships, their fire upon the American ad-
vance forces would be very hard to meet
The military authorities here say that
Gen. Linares has shown great military
tact in slowly retiring during the last few
days, as he has gradually drawn our
troops away from the protection of the
American ships and brought them close
to the fire of the Spanish ships in San
tIago harbor.
For this reason it was with relief that
the announcement was received here that
Gen. Shafter had succeeded in landing
all of his artillery, including his siege
train, for unless Admiral Sampson can
be relied on to force his way into the
harbor and attack the Spanish ships
iAA1sC SlS5G guns pAdillSu OA l'SAANS NCAii3
manding the bay will be the main reliance
Of Cen Shafter in offsetting the presence
Of the Spanish ironclads.
Undoubtedly Gen. Shafter is animated
to attack as soon as possible by his
knowledge of the approach of the rein
forcement for Gen. Linares from Man
zanillo, for with this additional force
1 Gen. Skaters position would be disagree
able, if not perilous, at least until he
had received reinforcements.
The war department received the first
definite news to-day as to the approach
of these Spanish reinforcements. This
was in an official dispatch stating that
5000 men, with pack trains and droves
Of animals, were advancing from Man
zauillo and were hfty-four miles from
Santiago.
It has been known through reports of
Lieut.. Joyce made to Gen. Miles that the
spaniards have 1900 men at Manzanillo
and 10000 at Holguin, and every precau-
ton has been taken to guard against their
advance from either quarter
The official dispatch showed that 5000
of those at Manzanlo had covered half
the distance to Santiago and it is the be-
lief of military officials here that Gen.
Pando is making similar advance with
his 10,000 men from Holguin. These ad-
vances, now practically unopposed, are re-
garded as one of the most serious phases
of the situation.
There is the further element to which
the military authorities are giving careful
attention, that one man intrenched behind
earthworks or rife pits is worth three men
IN the open. 1t is said that the battles
OF Charlottesville ard Spottsylvania af-
Iorded the most direct proof on this point.
Il was announced at the war department
that transports with 1900 soldiers should
De leaving Tampa to-day to join Gen.
Snatter. They will be three or four days
on the voyage and il is probable that il is
tnis force that Gen. Shafter refers to as
hkely TO arrive too late for his action.
1t IS believed by many of the more eau
uous oflcers OF The army that Gen. Shaf-
!, teI VIII consider carefully the situation be-
lofe ne attempts TO move upon the city.
according TO the reports from the scene
VI Dattie, artillery can be employed to a
much better advantage IN the attack than
dulahtry, hence IL is believed that Gen.
Shatter may conclude 10 await the arrival
lief y ''S ~
Ihe most gratifying information receiv-
"a from Gen. Shafter was his statement
that the health Of his command is excel
ieht In view OF the reports that yellow
JACK mad entered the camp and taken a
laIse number Of prisoners, much anxiety
was felt at the White House, and in fact
an over the country.
Yellow fever is more dreaded by some
"a "a me soldiers and their friends than the
puhets Of che Spanish soldiers and II Is
hlth a feeling Of sincere relief that word