The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-15

Washington, July 11.-General Shat
ter's report from Siboney sent just be-
fore midnight last night caused Off
Gals Of the war department to wait
all day with the expectation of hear
ing that the bombardment of Santiago
had begun. No word to that erect
came, however, up to the time the de-
partment closed, and though there is
little reason to doubt that the general
carried out the programme Of which
he a notified the department it was
regarded as possible that he had con-
scented to a further extension under
the flag Of truce in view of certain
signs of weakening on the part of the
Spanish commander.
Tests made recently Of the naval
ordnance gave very satisfactory re-
suits when it was attempted to pro-
ject shells over the high hills from
the open sea into Santiago city. Pos
sibly better results may be obtained
tomorrow if the attack is recumed
then, but there is much likelihood that
the main reliance will be Upon such
VI IL NI"b5AN 'DN
Sampson's fleet as may succeed in
getting close to the shore and in a
better position than the heavy battle
ships.
The officials here are satisfied that
what appears to be delay on the part
Of General Shafter was really caused
by his efforts to carry out strictly the
presidents injunction to prevent the
Spanish army from escaping from San
tiago. He might have attacked the
town several days ago with the re-
suit that if the Spanish were over
come they would have retreated with
out obstruction to the northwest be-
yond the reach of our soldiers to fol-
low. His dispatch written late last
night indicates clearly that he has
been trying to complete his line of
investment SO as to prevent such an
escape, and as he appears to feel sat-
isfied that he has accomplished this
the final assault will not be delayed
much longer. General Shafter is dis
posed to save every life possible in
the war. 1t is to save our troops that
he desires to make a free use of ar
tillery before the assault proper be-
gins, and, also to secure the cooper
alton of the navy in the attack.
DEFEAT OF A GALLANT OFFICER
The little artillery duel of yester-
day appears to have been more serl-
Gus in it's results than was at first
suspected by General Shafter himself,
for during the afternoon he vas
obliged to report as one result the
death Of Captain Charles w. ROwell,
Second Infantry, one of the most gal
lane and popular officers of the reg
ular establishment.
The cable communication between
Washington and General Skaters
headquarters has now been gotten into
excellent condition, so that it has been
possible to receive at the department
a message within twenty minutes af-
ter it had been dispatched by Gen
eral Shafter. Colonel Allen, who IS
in charge of General Skaters end of
the line, has reported to the depart
ment that he is now engaged in laying
a cable from Guantanamo to Playa del
Este, which will still further reduce
tina time required for the exchange
of communications.
FIREPROOF WOOD FOR OUR WAR
SHIPS.
Ex-Secretary Herbert had quite a
conference with Secretary Long this
afternoon upon the subject of fire.
proof wood for naval construction. He
brought with him a formidable array
of facts gathered from the newspaper
reports Of the battle to show that fire
was the element that worked the
greatest destruction among the Span
ish squadron and that wherever Amer
lean vessels had been hit, even in
the case of the tiny torpedo boat, they
had escaped such fires because of all
their wood work being fireproof. So
impressed was Secretary Long with
the statement hat he has concluded
to r~econvene a special board which
swaS appointed some time 6 to Zeal
with this matter and which had rec
commended that the use of prepared
wood be curtailed in some measure in
American warship building.
Naval officials say that a serious
irregularity occurred at the time the
ships of Admiral CerVera'S fleet haul
cd down their colOrs and surrendered.
Inquiries have brought out the fact
that the breech blocks of the guns
were thrown overheard. thus disabling
the guns and making them practically
worthless and the valves by which the
ships were flooded opened after the
surrender, when under rules of war
fare the enemy had ceased fighting
and had asked for quarter. 1t is said
that further destruction to the ships
at such a time was both wantOn and
h~ishonorable, and that if the persons
responsible for it are located they are
liable to be held accountable.
The department has not yet receiv-
ed the report of the court of inquiry,
showing in detail the injuries received
to these ships and the possibilities of
salvage. The press report of the
boards findings, saying that only the
Maria Teresa could be saved, excited
much surprise as it was confidently
believed that the Colon also could be
saved in whole or in part. The Off
Gals are still hopeful that the full re-
port of the board will show that there
is a chance of saving the Colon.
Washington, July 11.-Adjutant Cen
NO NEWS FROM YESTERDAYS
BATTLE.
Secretary Long had received no dis
patches from Admiral Sampson up to
8 o'clock tonight. The secretary was
not anticipating any important in
fnv1g7 ofin, f~o~- 49, Gant