The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-07-07
ATTACK DELAYED,
sHAFTER AND SAMPSON HOLD CON-
FERENCE TO MAKE PLANS.


Severe Tropical Storm Cause shafte,
to Postpone the Attack-The Cubans
Not to Be Depended on Hereafter.
Washington, July 6.-The lombard
ment of Santiago has been postponed.
The cabinet decided to allow General
Shafter to use his discretion in regard
to the matter. General Alger said af-
ter the cabinet meeting:
General Shafter and Admiral samp-
son have been advised TO hold a con-
ference before any movement is made" !"
A dispatch from General Shafter an
nounced that severe tropical storm
was raging at Santiago. He said it
might be twenty-four or forty eight
hours before the storm subsded and
any action could be taken. and this
was the principal reason why a post
ponement of the bombardment was
decided on.
Secretary Alger cabled to General
Shafter to use the reinforcements that
have arrived to fill the places of the
men killed and sick, and that reinforce
ments equal to Pandos regiments were
on the way. This message also stated
that the president had directed Admi-
raj Sampson and General Shafter to CO.
operate and lombard at their dissrsy
ton.
There Is great deal of feeling at the
war department in regard to the action
or the Cubans and their seeming fail
ure to prevent General Pando with his
reinforcements from entering Santiago.
1T is the general opinion among the
officers that the Cubans hereafter must
be left out of all calculations. The re-
ports at the war department received
during the last few days show that
they cannot be depended upon to take
orders and fulfill them.
There was continual teiegraphic
correspondence between the war de-
partment and the headquarters at
Santiago all the morning, and the prin-
cipal subject before the cabinet meet
ing yesterday was the situation of our
army at Santiago. Admiral Sampson's
fleet has not entered the harbor of San
tiago because the truce was not up un-
til noon yesterday, and he is evidently
awaiting instructions from Washington
before making the attempt. There was
great deal of anxiety felt at the de-
partment yesterday in regard to the
army but General Shafter's dispatches
were reassuring and stated that he was
able to maintain his position.
There was also much uncertainty in
regard ITO General Miles's movements
1t was stated that he would leave for
Santiago on the ST. Paul from New
York to-day, with the Eighth Ohio.
After, the cabinet meeting, however, a
cabinet officer stated that General Miles
would not go to Santiago, at least not
at present, and that General Shafter
would be allowed to continue the cam
paign there alone. General Miles was
at the war department and refused to
be interviewed.
Another question discussed at the
cabinet meeting yesterday was the dis
position of the prisoners taken by Ad-
miral Sampson and his fleet. 1t was
decided that while the minor officers
and seamen from the Spanish fleet
should be sent to the United States to
be confined in military prisons, Ad-
mfral Cervera and his staff will be
kept on board one of the vessels in the
vicinity of Santiago until the fate of
Lieutenant Hobson and his crew Is de-
cided. OF course, there is no intention
of exchanging the admiral for Hobson,
but the cabinet as we'll as the officials
were of the opinion that IL Admiral
Cervera was kept in the vicinity of
Santiago, it might have a moral effect
upon the treatment of Lieutenant Hob
son and his crew by the Spaniards.
Admiral Cervera will be treated with
the greatest courtesy and consideration
due an officer of his rank, and in fact
the administration has decided that
all prisoners OF war shall be cared for
in the best way possible. AS this Is a
war for the sake of humanity, the
president Is determined that humane
treatment shall be accorded everyone,
so far as possible. Although the 1000
prisoners under Admiral Sampson are
naval prisoners, they will be turned
over to the war department for con-
fnement. 1t is now supposed that they
will be sent to Atlanta and cared for
at Fort Mcpherson. 1t was proposed
to build a stockade at that place, and
this plan may now be carried out.