The Mena star., 1898-07-13


 may have succeeded in evacuating the town before the American lines were completed, and that when the Ameri. cans enter the city it will be found empty, with perhaps nothing more than a desperate rear-guard of Spaniards left to protect and con- eeal the retreat of the main body of troops. There were several indications of some such move, which is supposed to have been in progress for the past three or four days. Gen. Shafter reported under date of Sunday that the Spaniards evacuated a small town on the west side of the bay, one of the suburbs of San tiago, while the Associated press dispatches yesterday referred to tine departure of body of Spanish troops from Santiago towards Holguin. Of course, these facts are not conclusive that the town has been evacuated by the Spanish army, but the fact cannot be concealed that there is some apprehension entertained that the main result of the investment of Santiago. aside from the important achievement of driving the Spanish squadron to it's destruction, will be the inheritance by Gen. Shafter of several thousand wounded Spanish soldiers and many more thousand hun gry mouths in Santiago.
 Gen. Miles who arrived at Siboney on the Yale yesterday, made the fol- lowing report to Secretary Alger to- day:
 Arrived at noon Had consultation with Ad- miral Sampson and with Gen. Shafter by teie- phone Troops brought from Tampa. Charles ton and New York arrived and leaving for the front Line of investment being extended. Miles. Gen. Miles has not taken and will not take charge of the operations now being conducted against Santiago. He is simply in his capacity as command ing general of the army, to look over the field and ascertain whether the operations are going along as they should.
 The naval officers regard their part in the operations at Santiago as at an end practically and are looking around for new worlds to conquer. Their eyes are turned to the east and they are rushing preparations for the dispatch Of Commodore Watson's eastern squad ron. This is decidedly a more attract i've cruise from naval point of view than the demonstration proposed against San Juan de Porto Rico, which is understood to be the next number upon the programme. but which the naval authorities believe will not
 amount to much because of the easy
 reduction of the defenses.
 Every ship in Watson's squadron has
 been prescribed the very latest charts.
 not only of the coasts of Spain and of the Mediterranean, but of track xcourses that will take them clear to
 the Philippines. h addition to this
 the few officers assigned to the vessels 7 oi this squadron, but not yet aboard,
 have received orders from the depart kment to go to their ships at once.
 Secretary Aigsr's Opinion. Washington, July At the cabi- Nnet meeting to-day telegrams from uen. Shafter were read and discussed, DO new plan of campaign was consid- cred or important orders given. Gen. cnafter's report that he had the city Ol Santiago completely invested was teceiyed with much satisfaction, as ||Ttaere had been some apprehension
 mat the Spaniards were contemplate #ng night evacuation. Secretary
 niger, on leaving the cabinet meeting Paiu that although Shafter's line on the zwest was thin in places. he had no [ouot that it was sufficiently strong " repei any attack the enemy was #apaole of making at this time. It
 as the secretary's opinion that the
 panlards were now completely cut ii rom outside aid and it was now Ynly question of prompt surrender
 nght which would result in their *apture. It was Secretary Alger's
 p4hion as well as that of other mem
 e's of the cabinet that the Spaniards
 gulu surrender rather than take the
 'shs Of general assault.
 r Situation at santiago.
 "ashlngton, July 12-The following
 spatch was received here from Gen.
 rafter at 9:30 a. m.
 .aya del Este, via Hayti, July i2 2-Adjutant
 ts,.at ,at Washington: It has been very quiet
 o,a,,e i,eie lighting A flag of truce up since two
 s~ s considering proposition for surrender
 AoM that have the town surrounded on
 Aor'n- Lines were completed at five p m
 eeH Ludlow right down to the bay. The
 as rather thin. but will have 1t strength
 st .n tne morning by Gen. Henry who has
 nr arrived at headquarters Only three or
 casualties; no one killed so far as can
 Expect to have two of the new bat