Evening journal., 1898-06-30
AN ATTACK IMMINENT.
American Army May Not Wait Fol
Re-enfOrCementS.
FLYING SQUADRON is NO MORE.
sehIsys Fleet Merged with sampson's
Pando Advancing -Rnmor In Kings
ton That Spanish Shell sunk tho
brooklyn with schiey on Board.

WASHINGTON. June s0.-The opin-
Ion prevails here that within day OF
two at most General Shafter Will have
begun his attack upon the city Of San
tiago proper,
The Important event OF the day was
the generals announcement that he
could take the city In 48 hours but at
considerable loss Taken in connection
with the announcement contained In
another dispatch that he is going to at
tack without awaiting re-enforcements.
Il will be seen that the officials have
ground for their expectation that the
first general engagement Of the war Will
begin in very short time. Numerical
ly tho opposing armies are not very diff
ferent the estimate Of the Spanish
force being placed at 1900 men. thor
oughly intrenched and behind barbed
wire fences and blockhouses. as against
about $4,000 men under Skaters COM
mand aided by 1000 Cubans.
one OF the gravest elements In the
problem. however, is the Spanish war
ships. for unless shafter is materially
assisted by Sampson. who might en-
gage the full attention Of the Spanish
ships. their fire upon the American ad-
vance forces would be very hard to
meet. The military authorities say that
General Linares has shown great milf
tary tact In slowly retiring during the
last few days. as he has gradually
drawn our troops away from the pro-
tection OF the American ships near San
tiRgo harbor. For this reason # was
with relief that the announcement was
received here that Shafter had succeed
ed,in landing all Of his artillery. includ-
ing his Siege train, for unless Sampson
can be relied upon 70 force his way into
the harbor and attack the Spanish ships
these. siege guns planted on the heights
coppiRnding the bay VIII be the main
relinnco ofGeneral Shafter in offeettins
the presence of the Spanish ships
Undoubtedly shafter Is animated to
attack as soon as possible by his knowl-
edge OF the approach OF the REINFORCE
ments for Linares from Manzanillo, for
with this additional force Shafter's POSI-
tion would be disagreeable II not peril
Gus. az least until he had received re-
enforcemcnts The war department re-
celved the first definite news yesterday
as 20 the approach OF these Spanish re-
Endorsements This was In an onlcial
dispatch stating that 5000 men, with
pack trains and droves OF animals. were
advancing from Manzanillo and were 81
miles from Santiago. It has been known
through reports from Lieutenant Joyce
made TO General Miles that the Span
iards have 1900 men at Manzanillo
and 10000 at Holguin, and every pre-
caution has been taken TO guard against
their advance from either quarter. The
official report showed that 1000 OF these
at Manzanillo had covered half the dis
tance TO Santiago, and 1t Is the belief
Of military officials here that General
Pando is making similar advance with
his 10000 men from Holguin. These ad-
vances, now practically unopposed, are
regarded as one OF the most serious
phases Of the situation.
There Is the further element TO which
the military authorities are giving care
full attention-that one man intrenched
behind earthworks or In rifle pits is
worth three men in the open. 1t is said
that the battles OF Chanceliorsville and
Spottsylvania Afforded the most direct
proof on this point,
II was announced at the war depart
ment that by their reports 5000 soldiers
should have left Tampa yesterday to
join Shafter They viii be three or fouf
days on the voyage and II is probable
that 1t is this force that General SHAFT
ter refers to as likely to arrive too late
for his action.
The report that the Egyptian govern
ment had finally refused coal TO Ca
mara's feet at Port Said has not yet
been officially confirmed but it's ac-
curacy IS not questioned. There is stil
some doubt whether this refusal In IT,
self VIII operate to prevent the further
movement of the Spanish squadron to-
ward the Philippines. as Madrid advices
allege a purpose on the part OF She
Spanish government TO send additional
colliers with the expedition 20 overcome
the refusal OF the various ports along
the way to the Philippines to supply
coal. There is a strong impression. how.
ever, that the Spanish government will
avail itself Of the pretext Afforded by
this refusal to turn the fleet back to
Spain.