Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1898 — THE TRUCE IS ENDED [ARTICLE]

THE TRUCE IS ENDED

Commander of Spanish Forces at Santiago Refuses to Surrender. ♦ . BE OPENS EISESUJDAI WTERSOOS. Hli Gunn Are Soon Silenced by the American*-Shafter Reports Three Men Wounded—Prepared to Cut Off Enemy’* Retreat. Washington, July 11. —Shortly after midnight the war department gave out the following dispatch from Gen. Shafter: “Enemy opened fire a few minutes past four with light guns, which were soon silenced by ours. Very little musketry firing and the enemy kept entirely in their entrenchments. Three men slightly wounded. Will have considerable forces to-mor-row, enough to completely block all ; the roads on the northwest.” The dispatch also says that Gen. Garcia reports that the enemy evacuated the little town called Doscaninos, about three miles from Santiago and near the bay. Bombarding the Trenches. )£ofd has been received from Gen. Shafter that owing to his belief, which , is equivalent to a moral certainty, that ! all the Spanish soldiers have left the city and are in the intrenchments, he is bombarding the intrenchments with a view of saving the buildings in the city for future occupancy. > It is rumored here that Sampson ' ceased firing at eight o’clock owing to darkness. One of his ships, it is report-' ed, was found to be injured. Which ! one is not known. The navigation bureau knows nothing of it. Both land and sea forces are work-, Ing in harmony, Sampson throwing j 1,100-pound shells from his 13-inch guns across the six miles of country ? separating the sea from the city, and Shafter firing from his howitzers, ten | at least of which he had in position early in the day. Merely Preliminary. When questioned as to whether he believed that there had been a bombardment of the city, Gen. Corbin replied: “You know as much about it as I do. I have kept nothing back. I should say, however, that the firing Sunday was but the preliminary to the j more serious business of to-day.” This being the case, the attempt to take the city will probably be made to-day.

The news of the bombardment came at the close of a busy Sunday in the war department. Previous to the receipt of this dispatch the secretary of war had heard twice from Gen. Shafter. In the early morning came a telegram saying that he had ridden over the American lines and was gratified at their condition. A second dispatch reported that the lines were impregnable, thus removing any fear of a successful sortie by the Spanish troops should a maneuver of this kind be attempted. Both telegrams, which also emphasized the fact that Gen. Shafter’s physical condition had greatly Improved, were promptly' shown to the president and occasioned him considerable gratification. The belief is held by’ the best in-, formed officials that Gen. Toral, the Spanish commander, will surrender when he finds it will be impossible for him to evacuate the city. Upon what grounds this belief is based could not be ascertained, but that information to that effect is in the hands of the war officials there is no doubt. Gen. Shafter’s dispatch shows that he is engaged now in strengthening his posl-; tion and to-day will follow up his oper-! ations with a final assault upon the city. Opposing; Forces nt Santiago. Jj The American forces before San- • jfnago are as follows: Volunteers—-First Illinois, Seventyfirst New York, Second Massachusetts. Ninth Massachusetts, Thir-ty-third Michigan, Thirty,font th Michigan and Rough Riders (i.gon Regulars—Gens. Kent's, Wheeler's and Lawton's divisions. 13 regiments of infantry, rttsnrounml cavalry and artillery 12, Cubans —Gen. Garcia 3.W Reserves 3 SOO i ~ I Total 25.000 J Sampson’s Fleet—New York. Brooklyn, In- ' dlana, Massachusetts, Texas. Vesuvius and auxiliaries, 26 of the 13. 12 and eightinch guns. The Spanish forces: Regular Infantry 9.000 Cavalry... 300 Artillery HOO Volunteer! 4,000 1 Total .18,900 Batteries in the-hall'-d’smantled forts of; Morro, Socapa, etc., at the entrance to the harbor.

The Offer to Surrender Mantlngo. On Board the Dispatch Boat Wanda, Off Juragun. July 9, via Kingston, Ja maiea, July 11. —The surrender of San- 1 tiago was formally offered by the ' Spanish commander, Gen. Total, Sai -' .urday, but the conditions attached caused a prompt refusal of the offer by Gen. Shafter. The negotiations, how ever, resulted in the extension of the armistice until noon Sunday. Gen. Total’s proposal contemplated the immediate surrender of the city, but he insisted that his army be permitted to march away under arms ami with flying colors and declared that he would fight to the last ditch unless the conditions were accepted. Gen. Shafter replied that nothing but unconditional surrender would be considered by him, but he consented to cable the Spanish offer to Washington, in the meantime extending the armistice. The days of temporary peace are being utilized by both armies in strengthening their defenses. The Americans have strongly entrenched themselves, and the artillery now at I the front has been placed in strong position behind earthworks, and will be able to cover the advance of the troops much more effectively than during the previous engagement. The • feeling is strong tynong officers and men that Santiago will surrender without further fighting.