The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11
Their Light Guns Soon Silenced by the Bat
teries of the American Forces.
Only Three of Skaters Soldiers Wounded-Mortars,
Artillery and Dynamite Cannon in Position
for Causing Havoc To-Day

WASHINGTON. July 1O.-"rhe lombard
ment of Santiago has begun" That was
the verbal information obtained this even
ing shortly before o'clock at the War De-
partment. Almost Immediately three bulle-
tins were posted, the most important of
which was from General Shafter. This dis
patch announced that General Toral, who
succeeded General Linares in command of
the Spanish forces in Santiago when the
latter was wounded. had declined to sur
render Internationally and that the bonn
bardment would be begun by the army and
navy about o'clock this afternoon.
The fact that the bombardment was sched-
uled by Shafter to begin so late in the day
created some comment, but no explanation
Of it was offered. In answer to questions
bearing upon that point General Corbin
said: 'I have not the slightest information
: beginning the bombardment at the hour he
names, but it was probably because he was
ready just at the time You can speculate
about it as well as we can"
Information received by the War Depart
ment during the few days Of truce indi-
- L. ,rf~l1x~
his position. During the past week he has
received relnforcements of both artillery
and infantry. Randolph's battery of twenty
four guns, which left Key West last Tues
day at midnight, is now in position before
Santiago and as one of the War Depart
ment officials expressed it, When those long
Toms of Randolph begin to talk something
will happen in Santiago General Shafter
has nearly fifty siege guns and a large
er artillery at his disposal. These guns TAX
en- in connection with the work that can be
done by the feet WILL it is believed, carry
terror and destruction to Santiago.
Anxiety has been expressed by the War
Department officials as to whether General
shafter had a sufficient force to prevent the
evacuation of Santiago by the enemy. This
anxiety was allayed about half past II to-
night by the receipt of the following dis
patch from General Shafter, which con-
tanned confirmation, too, of the early re-
ports of the beginning of the bombardment:
Enemy opened fire few minutes past
with light guns, which were soon silenced
by ours. There was very little musketry
firing, and the enemy kept entirely in their
intr4nchments. Three men were slightly
wounded. VIII have considerable forces to-
morrow, enough to completely block all the
roads on the northwest. 1 am quite WELL
General Garcia reports that the enemy
evacuated the little town called Doscaninos,
about three miles from Santiago. and near
the bay"
The news OF the resumption of hostilities
came at the close of busy Sunday in the
War Department. Previous to the receipt
OF the dispatch the secretary of war had
heard twice from General Shafter. In the
!. early morning came telegram, saying that
he had ridden over the American lines and
was gratified at their condition. A second
dispatch reported that the lines were i'm.
pregnable. thus removing any fear of a sue
cessful sortie by the Spanish troops should
maneuver of this kind be attempted. The
first dispatch from Gen. shafter this evening
was dated "siboney. Cuba. via Haiti, 5:55
p. m, July 10. 1t reads:
II have just received letter from General
Toral declining unconditional surrender
Bombardment by army and navy will begin
ct as near p. m. to-day as possible"
General Skaters physical condition had
greatly improved. They were promptly
shown to the President and occasioned him
considerable gratification. When questioned