The Portland daily press., 1898-06-27
PLEASED WITH SHAFTER.
President Wires Him His COngratu-
latiOns.

Z Washington, June 26.-Though there
%ere the usual number of officials for a
Sunday at their desks in the war and
navy departments today, there did not
seem to be any expectation of important
news. Secretary Alger explained this
readily. In his view the army has been
moved on one of those stages incident to
the progress of a campaign and is now
effecting a new formation.
AS part of this plan the advance must
halt and wait until the rear guard should
arrive. In the Secretary's opinion this
work was going on yesterday. To say
that the President and Secretary Alger
are gratified with the success that has so
far attended the progress of Shafter S
campaign would be stating the case mild
ly. The President in quick appreciation
of General Skaters energy has sent
cablegram congratulating him and the
men composing his army on the excel
lent work they have done. The message
could not be obtained here, this officials
taking the ground that it would be proper
for General Shafter alone to make it pub.
lie, but it is known to be couched in
words OF praise. Secretary Alger added
his tribute today in the course of a short
talk with tan Associated Press reporter.
He said he felt sure Shatter would prove
himself to be wise, brave and prudent
general. He was particularly Impressed
with one short statement in Skaters de-
spatch received yesterday, stating that he
tod M hir1u xuhi ich O.
garded as an evidence of self reliant
character of the man. Nevertheless the
Secretary is sending along reinforcements
with all possible promptness 1t is a good
deal better to have 1000 too many soldiers
than 1000 too few in his opinion. He be-
lieves that General Duffield's troops to
| the number of 1900, which embarked four
days ago from Newport News will arrive
at Balqu1rl tomorrow and within four
days 340O more troops which leave Fort
Monroe today will be at the scene of
action. In addition there will be a
further movement of troops to Santiago
just as soon as the men and transports
are ready; Possibly Gen sral Miles may
go with these. II the troops are not
needed when they arrive, nothing will be
lost for they can be very we'll en-
advantage of seasoning. The Secretary
took occasion to state again that
| Gen. Shafter is being allowed the wild
est liberty of action, unrestricted by IN
necessary orders from Washington. he
thinks the wisdom of this course is amply
justified by the results so far ,e5 obtained.
For this reason it is not possible to &C. &C.
curately foretell Gen. Skaters plan of
Operations against Santiago, the matter
being largely in his own hands.
a dispatch last night from Lieut. Col.
Alien, in charge of the signal corps, with
Skaters army. He said nothing about
the military operations, but stated that
he was about to extend his lines of tele-
graphic communication westward from
Playa del Este to Aguadores, which, is
only half dozen miles east of Morro castle
and very much nearer the advance of
the American army. This will be done
by short cable which already exists be-
tween the two points. A field telegraph
sevice has already been despatched from
Tampa, SO that in the course of few
days at most > Gen. Shafter will have a
telegraphic instrument In his own tent,