The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-07-08
WILL HELP SHAFTER.
SIMPSONS Warships and Land
Forces to BOmbard Santiago.
Commodore Wstson's Expedition to the
Spanish Coast 60 Start at 3he Earliest
Possible 1Ioment-schley's VIC
tory the Leading Topic.

WASHINGTON, July 6.-As result Of
the cabinet meeting yesterday, in
.struetiOns were sent by the president
to Admiral Sampson and Gen. Shafter
to confer together concerning a joint
plan Of attack upon the city. Upon
the outcome Of this conference de-
ponds the line Of action for the imme-
date future For the present the
land bOmbardment by Gen. Skaters
forces has been deferred, as the situa-
ton has 50 completely changed by the
humiliation Of the Spanish feet that
it is manifestly the part Of wisdom for
this land bOmbardment to await the
cooperation and support of a lombard
ment from Admiral SIMPSONS feet
Gen Skaters demand for the
surrender of Santiago, on the
pain Of bombardment, was made
at $50 Sunday morning. An hour
later Admiral Cervera made his
suicidal dash from the harbor, re-
sulting in a complete transformation
Of the naval and military conditions
Instead OF a menacing Spanish feet
within the harbor, the way has been
cleared, save for the shore batteries,
for the entrance Of the American feet
up to the very wharves Of the city.
With this material change wrought it
was obvious to the authorities here
that the blow, first intended to be de-
liYered by Gen. Shafter alone, would
be dOubly effective and decisive if the
two forces could be brought together
and strike simultaneously from land
and sea. It is for this reason that the
conference was ordered to be held be
tween the American general and the
admiral
There is said to be no obstacle, so
far as navigation is concerned, to the
entrance Of the harbor by the Ameri-
can fleet. The CristObal Colon, which
cleared the Merrimac and got out of
the harbOr Sunday, drew 231{ feet,
which is within seven inches of the
draft Of the battleships Iowa, Indiana,
Massachusetts, and Oregon, and is
greater than the draft of the battle
ship Texas Moreover, the navy de-
partment has known for the last ten
days that the neck Of tn e channel was
open, despite the sinking Of the Merri-
mac, and that there was a clear sea
way of seven fathOms, through which
any ship in our navy could sail This
removes all difficulty, except from
submarine mines or from the shore
batteries.
AS to the mines, little account is
taken of them since the Spanish feet
passed over them The Spaniards are
n the habit of using contact mines so
that there is little likelihood of there
being mines operated by electric con-
nection with the shore. The forts
and batteries have been badly weak
ened by the constant fire of the fleet
for may weeks past and, while still q
factor, they are greatly disabled.
Once up to the city the fleet and army
could combine in a terrific double fire.
No less than 800 heavy guns would be
trained from the American warships
on the city, and at the same time the
big siege guns which 1t is expected
have been brought to the front Of
Skaters line would rain down tor
rent Of steel from that quarter. The
siege guns throw shells of 1S5 pounds
Aside from them there are four mod
ern hOwitzers and guns Of a smaller
caliber. These are in the heavy artil-
lery, while the light artillery en-
braces a great number of guns Of 80
caliber. Combined this fire from land
and sea would be terrific in its effect
The action Of the foreign represent
atives at Santiago has been an addi-
tiOnal reason for deferring lombard
ment It was made known late yes
terday that one of Gen. Skaters dis
patches stated that these representa-
tives had joined in a request to him TO
put of the Smelling of the city for an
other brief period, until their re
spective colonies could be removed
The definite official report reaching
here to-day that the Spanish feet had
entered the Suez canal made no change
in the plans Of the navy department
as to sending Commodore WatsOn's
squadron to the coast Of Spain Sec
rotary Long said it would start at the
earliest possible moment, but he did
not care to give the day Of departure
The humiliation Of the Spanish feet
continues to be an absorbing topic
among naval officials, and they are
giving most generous praise to Com
modOre Schley for the noble manner
in which he destroyed the feet, when
the immediate command feel to his
lot The cOmmOdore's friends have
long predicted that II he secured an
opportunity he would render good &C
count Of the fighting ability Of the
American navy, and they are glad the
opportunity was finally reached
skaters Casualties to Date.
WrTu SuA FTEF,s A R,FF- via Jamaica.