Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-14
BELIEVE FIGHT Is ON
OFFICIALS THINK SANTIAGO IS
BEING BOMBARDED.
SKATER DOESN'T REPORT
Nothing Heard from Commander of
the Army Up TO Time of Closing
War Department Monday-Captain
Charles W. Rowell Killed-Enemy
Wantonly Destroys Guns and Sh ps.

Washington, July 12.-Gen. Shat
ter's report fl ON Siboney, sent just be-
fore midnight Sunday night, caused
the officials OF the war department to
wait all day Monday with the expec-
tation of hearing that the lombard
ment of Santiago had begun. No
word to that effect came, however, up
to the time the department closed,
though there is little reason to doubt
that the general carried out the pro-
gram of which he notified the depart
ment.
1t is supposed here that Gen. Miles,
with additional reinforce m nts en- the
Yale, arrived at Slboney last night, or
will arrive morning, and if surrender
has not already been secured it is be-
lieved that the assault upon the town
proper will be prosecuted at once with
the greatest energy and determination.
Skaters dispatch written late Sunday
night indicates clearly that he has
been trying to complete his line of in
Vestment so as to prevent the escape
of the Spanish forces from Santiago.
AS he appears to feel satisfied he has
accomplis he'd this the final assault will
not be delayed much longer. The
little artillery duel Sunday appears to
have been more serious in results
than was at first suspected by Gen
Shafter himself, for, during the at
ternoon, he was obliged to report as
one result the death Of Captain
Charles W. Rowell, I'd infantry, one
of the most gallant and popular Of
| ficers of the regular establishment.
The appearance at the navy depart
ment Monday morning at an early
hour of Ensign Palmer, one of the Of
floors of the ST IOnis, which arrived
at Portsmouth Sunday, led the Of
ficials to believe that he brought with
him reports of the American naval
commanders upon the battle which re-
suited in the destruction of Cervera s
squadron. 1t turned out, however
that the st. Louis had started from
Siboney before the official reports had
been prepared. The package brought
to the navy department by Ensign
Palmer contained a batch of letters
written by Spanish prisoners to be
forwarded to friends in Spain. The
letters will be examined by the de-
partment.
The naval officials say that a seri-
Gus irregularity occurred at the time
the ships of Admiral Cervera's fee
hauled down their cOlOrs. Inquiries
have brought out the fact that the
hreech 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 were opened
after the surrender. 1t
is said that further destruction of the
ships at such time was both WantOn
and d'ishonorable, and if the persons
responsible for it are located they will
likely be held accountable.
Adjutant General COrDin Monday re-
ceived from Gen. Shafter a revised and
corrected report of the casualties be-
fore Santiago on July l, and 3. 1t
is as follows: Killed, 90 officers; 208
men. Wounded, 80 officers, 1908 men.
Missing, 81; total, 1885. Gen. Shafter
is of the opinion that the number of
missing will be reduced somewhat