Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1898 — BIG BATTLE FRIDAY [ARTICLE]

BIG BATTLE FRIDAY

Combined Attack by Our Army and Navy on Santiago. FIGHTING IS FURIOUS "i—ptinfi Hammers Forts While ShJ ter Advances Upon the City. Dm. Shatter's Dispatch Announcing the Assault Set All Washington A thrill with Excitement—Cubans Do Splendid Fighting and Spaniards Resist Desperately-Lawton Makes First Advance and Takes Cabona— Cervera hires Upon the Advancing Troops.

Washington special: “The battle has begun.” This was the startling news conveyed in a dispatch received from Gen. Shatter at 10 o’clock Friday morning. Secretary of War, Washington: Camp, near Sevilla, Cuba —Action now going on. The firing only light and desultory. Begun on the right , near Caney, Lawton’s division. He will move on the north part of the town of Santiago. SHAFTER, Major General. Brief as it was, it told the whole story that the first shots of the long-expected crash of arms, probably the first great land engagement of the war, was under way. It sent a thrill through official circles, from the highest to the lowest. Secretary Alger was the first to read it. He passed it to Gen. Corbin, adjutant general of the army, and directed him to take it at once to the White House. Gen. Corbin went to the President, carrying the original dispatch. The President eagerly took the message from Gen. Corbin’s hand, while at the same moment the latter, almost out of breath, gasped: “The battle’s on and the enemy is retiring.” - “That’s good!” ejaculated the President, joyfully, and the anxious look on his face faded away as he read the brief but pointed dispatch from Shafter. The news spread through the corridor, and a wave of aweiike agitation and expectancy took hold of every one. A great crowd of correspondents struggled about the bulletin board, messenger boys dashed off with dispatches, the clerks, men and women, turned from their desks and gathered at the doorways. Up to noon Friday hard fighting all along the American lines was reported. Geh. Lawton advanced and took possession of Cabona, a suburb of Santiago. The Spaniards made a desperate, though ineffectual, resistance. The Spanish fieet in the harbor fired qp the American troops, who were very close to the city. Gen. Garcia’s Cuban patriots fought in the front ranks and did splendid work, Morro Castle and the other forts at the entrance of the harbor were bombarded by our fleet. The Vesuvius used her dynamite guns with good effect. Gen. Shafter cabled Gen. Miles that he was leading thfl United States troops before Santiago in person. The American army after a furious fight lasting all day, drove the Spaniards intc the city of Santiago, and at night the American troops encamped near the trenches and on the outpost, held in the morn teg by Spaniards. victory was most complete. The Americans drove the enemy from Caney, destroyed tfie Spanish fort at that place and occupied the village Another division captured the heights of San Juan. The losses of Americans were heavy, numbering about 1,000 killed and wounded. Comparatively few were killed outright, a majority of American losses consisting of wounded. The Spanish loss was heavy. The Americans attacked the Spanish from three directions. Lawton fend Wheeler's forces nssailed Caney. Northeast of Santiago Kent’s men advanced on Aguadores, Garcia and the Cubans attacked Cilney from the southeast and divisions of the army advanced, upon Santiago from the east. The Americans presented a solid front from the const to Santiago, the northern defense and (he line never wavered. The men were filled with eager enthusiasm and their officers had a hard time restraining them. The Spaniards fought desperately to hold Caney, but in vain. Foot by foot our troops drove them back. The fighting of Infantry here was superb. Mon of the line were ably assisted by the rough riders and other dismounted cavalry. Troops, late in the afternoon successfully drove the Spaniards out of Caney and occupied the place, but only after desperate fighting. The land fighting was desperate all along the line, the Spaniards stoutly resisting the advance of Americans at San Juan and Aguadores. Slowly but surely the Spanish had to give ground and the darkness found the American linos presenting a solid front from the coast to El Caney, thus hemming the Spaniards In the city and cutting off all means of retreat to the interior. The fierce struggle Jo drive the Spaniards out of the last line of, intrenebments around Santiago continued all day Saturday, but with much loss fury, and a good deal smaller loss of life than on Friday.

Surrounded by Rebels. Advices from Manila to Madrid dated June 23 declared the city surrounded by 25,000 rebels. The insurgent leader, Aguinaldo, has called on Captain General Angusti to surrender, but he announced his determination to maintain the sovereignty of Spain to the last extremity. Will Not A*k Blanco. Washington officials wonder if Blanco Will consider Admiral Don Pasqnale de Cervera y rTopete, Count of Jerez and llarquis of Santa Ava, a fair exchange for Hobson. However, they will have Hobson without Gen. Blanco’s perm ha Be- nforcement* Leave Tampa. Upwards of 4,000 men are now on their way to re-enforce Gen. Shatter hi his operations* in Santiago province. A most important contingent is six batteries of light artillery, consisting of twenty-four officers end 028 men, which tas left