The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-30
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Shafter Holds Santiago in
the Hollow Of His Hand
--Camara's Fleet.

WASHINGTON, June 80, 1S9S.-The War
Department received the welcome inform
alton today that a military telegraph sta
ton had been established at Saville, in
the center of the present miitry opera
near Aguadores, where it connected with
the French cable line, thus bringing Gem
eral Shafter into direct communication
with the War Department.
Gen. Greely received a dispatch to this
effect at 1880 o'clock, from Lieut.. -Colonei
and cable operations. The information
was conveyed to the Secretary of War
and General Miles, and gave much satls-
faction as it accomplished an end long
sought and difficult to accomplish.
The work has been done by Colonel AL
len assisted by Major Green Of General
Skaters staff The shore point, at which
the military lines connects with the
French Gable Company, will be advanced
to Aguadores as soon as that town is
taken. 1t is now held by the Spanish
forces. hut the purpose is to have the
occupied as a shore base.
Beyond this, the War Department
received littl news from General onafteT'
reports received from him ystrday.. In
fact, nothing but the actual assault re-
mains to be reported after tn slgniflcent
statement made by General Shafter TO
Santiago as soon as he got ready to
move, without waiting for reinforeements.
Other official dispatches gave the adj
vance of Spanish troops from Manzanillo,
5000 strong, and also expressed General
Skaters belief that he could take the
city in 48 hours, but with considerable
not not been given out, but they are likely
to be made public later.
While not abating its close watch over
the Cadiz fleet, the Navy Department does
no 70
respecting the movements of these ships
as 1t did when the start was made for
Port Said. The Government has done
prevent this fleet from reaching tie
Philippines and the agents of the State
Department. have been particularly sue
United States Consular Agent Bread
bent has just made a master stroke which
he reports to the Department. While the
Spanish ships were seeking permmfssion
of the Egyptian government to take coal
at Port Siad, the Consular officer succeed
ed in quietly buying up all of the coal
available at that port.
This amounted to 10000 tons and it is
in a good place to be shipped to Dewey,
to serve as a base of supplies for Comin9-
dore WatsonS eastern squadron when it
enters the Mediterranean, or to coal any
American vessels that may pass throu5 h
the Suez Canal, bound to the Asiatic sta
t1on If it should be decided that it is per
missible for warships to take on coal at
The news that reached the Department
through the press reports that Admiral
Camara is about to leave his torpedo boat
destroyers at Port Said because they
would be unable to weather the mon
soons that rage in the Indian Ocean at
this season. is believed at the Navy De-
partment to presage the dissolution of
the squadron and the abandonment of
the cruise to the Philippines.
A these torpedo boat destroyers have
proved their ability to cross the Atlantic
In, 1,ad fJ1n1 9 Q7r1 id0 % q 10
department that the real reason for turn
ing them back is one that is almost
chronic in the Spanish navy, namely, a
break down Of the delicate machinery of
the war craft
Leaving out the three torpedo boat
destroyers Andaz Prosprina and Ortez,
there Is very little left in the squadron
of an offensive character aside from the
battleship Pelayo and the cruiser Carlos
v At any rate the dropping Of the de-
stroyers will weaken Camara's squadron
SO materially as to make his defeat by
Dewey foregone conclusion if they
should come together.