Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-11
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Two Dispatches Received From Major
General Shafter.
an ARTILLERY DUEL AZ SANTIAGO
Warships and the Army Batteries
Participated.
SECRETARY LONGS VIEWS

Up to ] o'clock this afternoon President
Mckinley and the War Department had re-
ceived two dispatches from General Shaf-
ter. The kilograms were more important
in furnishing implied purposes of General
Shafter than anything else. They stated that
the bombardment was renewed ye- srd-.
morning by the navy and army. They also
stated that the infantry was not engaged
and that the big guns solely were at work.
All of the White House callers who knew
of these kilograms were given to under
stand that it might be up into the after
noon before General Shafter would order
his infantry to charge upon the Spaniards
in the city.
Gen. Skaters Motives.
In the artillery duel, which was started
and kept up, Gen. Shafter had several mo-
tives. The chief one was to infiict as heavy
damage as possible upon the Spaniards by
his big guns without exposing his infantry.
The loss of life in this way has prob
ably been minimized. The artillery fight
certainly resulted in the destruction of
many Spanish guns thereby making the
danger less when the infantry was ordered
to the front.
Another strong motive in bombardment,
1t is officially learned, was to give Samp-
son chance to get into the harbOr with
several of his ships This is positively
known to have been the intention of the
American commanders. Whether it was
carried out depended largely on circum-
stances. General Skaters artillery was to
engage the enemy's artillery in all direc-
tions, giving Sampson opportunity to make
the attempt into the harbor.
Admiral SIMPSONS Movements.
Admiral Sampson probably did not make
the run of the harbor until several hours
after he had attacked the forts, making the
trip less hazardous for his ships. 1t is not
believed that any of the big ships have
been sent In. Those to be employed in this
work will be swift, light-draught vessels,
which will get ever the mine fields quickly.
1t is also thought that Gen. Shafter began
the bombardment without using all of his
artillery. He does not care to destroy the
city if the Spaniards will surrender. The
destruction of the city by fire and shell will
treble the suffering of the people now at
FL Caney when they return to Santiago.
Gen. Shafter probably hoped that the Span
iards would surrender after making a short
fight, enough to appease their ideas Of
honor
What Secretary Long Says.
Secretary Long and the members of the
war beard of the Navy Department We're
in conference with the President today.
Secretary Long was asked If he had re-
ceived anything to indicate the part the
ravy Is playing in today's engagement at
Santiago. He said that no kilograms had
been received, but he took it for granted
that the navy was doing its share.
The Secretary was asked if ne thought
toGay's fight was intended to be decisive.
He answered by saying that he looked for
news at any minute that the city has been
taken. THAT is largely based on my hopes,
however" said the Secretary.
Secretary Long said that no new work
for the navy has been planned and that
nothing will be decided until the fall of
Santiago.