The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-14
For a Third Time. He
Declines Proposals
OF Surrender.
A Fresh ATTACK PLANNED FOR TODAY.
Gen. Miles Has Assumed
Command and Proposes
to Hasten Things.
GORDON HAS BEEN PLACED AROUND The CITY.

A special dispatch from Playa del
Este says that General Miles assumed
command of the troops in the field
yesterday and announced his purpose
to finish his campaign on Santiago
within three days, as he did not think
it wise to let it drag
The General also ordered the de-
struction by fire of the town of Sibo-
ney as being too dangerous to the
health of the troops.
General Toral has a third time re-
fused the American proposal for an
unconditional surrender and it it in
tended to lombard again to-day.
when all of General Randolph's bat
teries and siege guns are expected to
be in position. Heavy rains are in
terfering much with the movements
of the army.
General Shafter cabled TO Washing
ton in the morning that he had ex-
tended his right wing so as to com
pletely surround the town and cut
off possible chance of escapement
by General Toral and his forces. A
special dispatch from Kingston says
that General Shafter is uneasy for
fear that a majority of the Spaniards
have already evacuated Santiago.
This impression was gained from the
fact that during a sharp firing on the
town Monday there was no response
whatever, and it was found that
dummy guns We're in several posi-
tions.
The attack on the city Monday was
a joint one, the navy participating in
it by firing shells across the hills OF
Aguadores. One set fire to a church
filled with powder and caused bad
explosion. Another was seen from
the hills to have wrecked an entire
block.
A special dispa tch from Washing
ington says that the plans for the
capture of Porto Rico, which is the
next move intended, are going for.
ward rapidly. General Brooke will
command the expedition, which will
comprise $4,000 men, at least 10000 OF
whom will be regulars. The forces
which are to be moved from this
country will go from New York and
Philadelphia instead of Southern
ports.
The st. Louis is expected to leave
Portsmouth this morning with Ad-
miral Cervera and his fifty-three cap.
tured officers. They are expected tc
arrive at Annapolis tomorrow night
or Friday, and preparations are be,
ing made to receive and provide fol
them and their needs.
A special dispatch from Tampa says
that the Fifth Maryland and the Sec.
ond New York did not get started fol
Santiago yesterday, but both received
orders to board transports early this
morning. The Fifth's camp was at
last visited by the paymaster, who
gave them money for the first time
since they left Baltimore.
The necessity of keeping Simpsons
fleet supplied with coal has prevented
several colliers intended for Commo-
dore Watson's squadron from coming
north, and so the departure of Wat
son for the coast of Spain with the
Dixie and other boats has been post
poned.
The Spanish embassy in Paris has
made public dispatch from Madrid
from an alleged authoritative source.
1t is stated therein that Spain will
continue the war with the United
States until she obtains an honor
able. peace, whatever sacrifices may
be necessary to attain this end" AL
though the Sagasta ministry has re-
signed, the Madrid correspondent of
the London Times says the conserva-
tives are not prepared to accept Office,
and "Senor Sagasta must accept the
responsibility of declining whether or
not to open peace negotiations. A
Washington dispatch states that the
terms upon which the United States
will conclude peace have not yet been
formulated, and the Madrid dispatch
purporting to state the demands of
the United States was not based upon
any expression of this government.
Major de Grandprey, the French
military attache, who accompanied