Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-07-04
Gen. Shafter Said to Be in
Need Of ReinforCements.
Magnificent Work Of Our Soldiers and
Sailors in the Battle.
Santiago a Wreck and Spanish Loss Much
Heavier Than Ours.

'''
American forces have pressed forward
against an intrenched enemy, Gen.
Shafter today sent the following dis
patch summarizing the situation:
Playa del Este, July 3. Secretary of
war, Washington.-Camp near Sevilla.
Cuba, July 3.-We have the town we'll
invested on the north and east, but
with very thin line. Upon approach
ing it we find it of such character
and the defences so strong that it will
be impossible to carry ii by storm with
my present force. Our losses up to date
will aggregate 1000 but the list has not
yet been made
I'VE have but little sickness outside
of exhaustion from the intense heat
and exertion of the battle of the day
before yesterday and the almost con-
stant fire which is kept up on the
trenches.
'"The wagon road to the rear is kept
up with some difficulty on account Of
the rains, but l will be able to use it
for the present.
Gen. Wheeler is seriously i'll and
will probably have to so to the rear
today. Gen. Young is also very i'll be-
ing confined to his bed.
Gen. Hawkins was slightly wounded
in the foot during a s0rte by the enemy
made last night which was handsome
ly repulsed. The behavior of the troops
was magnificent.
"Gen. Garcia has reported that he
holds the railroad from Santiago to
San Luis and has burned n bridge and
removed some rails. also that Gen.
Pando has arrived at Palma and that
the French consul with about 400
French citizens came into his line,
yesterday from Santiago. Have di-
rectcd him to treat them with every
possible courtesy.
SIIAFTER. Major General.
Secretary Algor sent the following
reply to Gen Shafter:
To Gen. Shafter: The President d-
rects me to say that you have the
gratitude and thanks of the nation for
the brilliant and effective work Of your
noble army on Friday, July 1 The
steady valor and heroism of the oiii-
GERS and men thrill the American peo-
pie with pride The country mourns
the brave men who fell in battle. They
have added new names to our roll of
heroes.
r. A ALGER, Secretary of War.
Gen. Miles says the result at Santi-
ago appears to be drawn battle. He
also said that the withdrawal of Gen.
Shafter to the highlands of Siboney
, near the sea would be temporary and
enable the troops to rest and prepare
for future work. Gen. Shafter would
l probably give up FL Cancy and the
plain not far from Santiago.
The dispatch speaks for itself and as
Adiutant General Corbn said tells
about a desperate fight our gallant
troops have been in. 1t was received
at noon, today, after lul of nearly
&c hours in the official information at
the field.
At first when it became known that
the American commander had report =
ed the defences to be 50 strongit would
e be impossible to carry them by storm
l with his present force, there was
momentarly a wave Of deep apprehcn-
|sion But this was not shared by the
Snilitary authorities. All their energies
nth their attention was turned to
4eeting the situation as presented by
In. Shafter.
rhere was neither time nor disposi-
nn to take account of what had gone
fore, when the fact was plain that
4 American army had fought its way
ch by inch under a blazing sun
ough a dense tropical vegetation
Iadily advancing and beating back
foe. taking position after position
htil. as Cen. Shafter reported, the
nd east by the long drawn out lin'
bf the American troops
Nalor of our brave men and it sllencet
MI cavil over the conditions now pre-
aented by Gen. Shaftcr. 1t was tm'
Tor action. for rcinforccmcnts ana to-
ward the execution of this end eYerA
Mort of the administration was a
6nce turned.
Rut there was other information o
different tenor coming about the SAM
4f,ne. The American army was 10
nlonc feeling the effect of these thre
Slnys' shock of arms. Definite, posi-
I've information was at hand that san
Yiago had been literally torn to piece
Ind that in the wreck and rum OF de
nolished buildings the Spanish casual
Mes were fully 1000 men. This was
Ming effect to any qualms raised D.
reports from the American lines
rhis information came from one q
foreign consuls stationed at san
70, who reported to the representa-
of his country in Washington. tn
havoc within the city wrougf
American army and the fleet.
etress of the city. even befol
was clearly shown by tn
Ms consul in serving OF
lN,o1f-noupd daily TO h