The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-05
THE Spanish Account
OF the American Attack
on Santiago.
BOMBARDING The FORTS
Americana Using Balloons for Observa-
tion-No News Of the Refnforecments
for Satiago-Anxiety I'm Nadrfd over
Result Of the Battle-Trouble Over
from General August.

"cucFa ausus1hs
Madrid, July .. > p. m--An official
dispatch from Santiago de Cuba dated
July l and just made public here says:
Yesterday the enemy advanced with
n a league of here. At this moment
the cannonade is commencing against
Caney, where there are several COM
panies under General Vara de Rey.
simultaneously. the American squad
ron approached, flying fighting flags,
and no doubt for the protection OF the
movements Of the troops. Captain
General Blanco ~telegraphs that moth
umn which started from Manzanillo to
reinforce Santiago de Cuba.
Another dispatch says: Yesterday
at night twenty-five American ships
were in sight Of Havana.
3 p. m. Later in the day a dispatch
was received direct from General Lin
ares saying nothing was known of the
whereabouts of General Escario and
his troops.
General Linares and Captain Cen
eral Blanco report the Americans US
ing captive balloons for reconnoitre-
ing purposes.
The following dispatch has been
received from M~anzanillo:
Three American ships appeared
yesterday before Manzanillo. The
garrison and the gunboats are prepar-
ing to resist. During the fighting yes
terday we had two men killed and one
man seriously and two slightly wound
ed in the town.
Three American ships have bonn
barded the coast near Tunas and Taya-
bacao, probably for the purpose of
landing arms"
At a banquet in Madrid last evening
Senior Romero y Robledo made a vic
lent enforcement speech, accusing
b ministers of inactivity and being
without an original idea and leaving
everything to the admirals and II
erals.
Continuing Senior RobIedo insisted
that when the moment arrived Spain
ought to treat directly with the United
States for peace.
4 p. m In the absence of an official
dispatch giving details of the attack on
Santiago de Cuba, the newspapers here
express great anxiety which is in
creased by the report that no rein
forcements have reached the besieged
city from M~anzanillo or Holguin. The
papers complain Of the extreme brew
ity of the Spanish advices leaving all
Europe at the mercy of American eX-
aggeratiOns."
Every one here seems to feel that the
decisive game is being played around
Santiago de Cuba and that the fall Of
that city cannot fail to effect the very
existence of the government here,
but thus far, perfect tranquility pre-
walls.
The Madrid newspapers also severe
lv censure the return of the three
Spanish torpedo boat destroyers and
the two coal laden transatlantic
steamers which are said to be back
at Port Said, and much indignation is
expressed at the time lost by Admiral
Camara's feet in Egyptian waters.
The minister for foreign affairs has
caused it to be announced that the
only difficulties met with in Egypt
were due to the representations of the
American consul against the duration
of the sQuadron's stay and the pur-
chase of coal.The passage of the canal,
the minister explained, could not pre-
sent any difficulty.
DISPATCH tnOM AUGUST.
4:30 p. M. A dispatch was received
here today from General August dat
ed Manila June 26th, via Hong Kong,
in which he says:
THE situation continues as critical
as announced in my telegram of June
18th. Fifteen German, French, Japa-
nese and British war vessels are an
chored in the bay. Through them
there is frequent communication with
Hong Kong. General Monet, after
fighting sew raj battles, has arrived az
Macabore with 1000 men, where he is
entrenched. In the event of the eae-
my advancing on the capital, l have
ordered General Monet to force his
way through TO my help, though : re-
gard such an operation as difficult"