Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1898 — ENDS THE FIGHTING. [ARTICLE]

ENDS THE FIGHTING.

Shafter’s Assault on Santiago Is Checked by a Flag of Truce. OBJECT OF THE MESSAGE UNKNOWN. The American Commander Believes That Spaniards TaJte Advantaite of the Lull and Fly from the City. Off Santiago de Cuba, via Playa del Este, July 12. —At half-past nine Monday morning, after several range-find-ing shots over the ridge protecting Santiago from the sea, the United ' States cruiser Newark.opened fire into the city with her eight-inch guns. The signal corps officers stationed on top of the ridge reported the effect of the shots. The New York, Brooklyn and Indiana participated in the firing, At itntervals of five minutes. The bombardment lasted for two hours, when »Gen. Shafter reported that the shells "were mostly falling in the bay and doing but little damage. The last shot, however, struck a prominent church In the heart of the city, which was heavily stored with powder and ammunition, causing a tremendous explosion. The extent of the damage is not yet known. When the warships ceased firing and before Gen. Shafter had begun a land attack, a flag of truce was seen coming from the city. The object of this is not known. Gen. Shafter believes the Spanish troops have taken advantage of the truce to flee from the city. The attack on the city Sunday was not an attempt to capture the city. At two o’clock Monday afternoon the United States auxiliary cruiser Yale, with Gen. Nelson A. Miles and the United States protected cruiser Columbia, arrived. Rear Admiral Sampson visited Gen. Miles immediately on his arrival, and then the Yale went to Siboney, Gen. Miles and his personal staff landing in a pouring rain. Mlle* Reache* Santiago. Washington, July 12. —The war department is advised-of the arrival off Santiago Monday of the auxiliary cruiser Yale with Gen. Miles and his staff and a portion l of Garretson’s brigade. Gen. Miles had a conference with Admiral Sampson and later conferred with Gen. Shafter by means of the signal service telephone wires. Bombarded by Schley. On Board the Press Dispatch Boat Dandy, off Aguadores, Cuba, July 10, via Port Antonio and Kingston, Jamaica, July 12. —The Brooklyn, Indiana and Texas, under Commodore Schley, began the bombardment of the city of Santiago, at 5:15 this afternoon in obedience to a request from Gen. Shafter, conveyed by a signal from the shore. The warships lined up from east to west, a quarter of a mile from shore, and fired over the limestone cliffs that comedown to the sea and hide the city five miles away. The bombardment was continued for one hour. After 35 shots had been fired from the eight-inch guns, Commodore Schley became convinced that the Brooklyn’s fire was falling short, and ordered a cessation, permitting the battleships to continue, they, with their larger guns, havinglonger range. The shots were fired apparently with great deliberation, and at intervals of two minutes. The signal from the shore announced that the shells fell a thousand feet short and a little to the left of the Spanish position. At dusk the squadron eeased firing and Commodore Schley sent a launch to shore to ask Gen. Shafter if he desired firing continued during the night. When the press reporter went aboard the Brooklyn, Commodore Schley said he was ignorant of the purpose of the bombardment. The press reporter read to him a message received at Juragua from a mounted courier saying the armistice was ended and that hostilities hud been resumed. Caaualtlea of Sunday. Washington, July 12. —The war department has posted the following dispatch from Gen. Shafter: "Playa del Este. July 11.—To Adjutant General, Washington.—Headquartern Near Santiago, July 11. —Following reports of casualties in the First division yesterday afternoon just received; KILLED—Capt. Charles W. Rowell, Second Infantry, and Private Peter Nelson, company A, Second infantry. WOUNDED—Lieut. N. J. Luts, Second infantry; Private Charles Jenks, company A, Second Infantry; Private Charles Lentki, company B, Second infantry, and Private Nelson Gilbert, Jr., Twenty-first infantry. Why He Went Into Santiago. New York, July 12.—A special to the World from Portsmouth, N. H., suys that Admiral Cervera's explanation to a naval officer, as to why he took the fleet into Santiago, wns that he expected to provision and coal and get awn\ inside of 24 hours, but this was found to be impossible ow ing to the tropical methods employed in handling coal. ■There Capt. Gen. Blanco w as communicated with and the presence of the two fleets in Yucatan channel and Windward passage was announced. No News from the Front. Washington, July 12. —Up to midnight ro news from either the army or navy at Santiago had reached the departments so far as the public was informed. Though the possibility of interrupted cable communication was suggested ns an explanation for the lack of advices, it was announced at midnight that nothing had been filed at Playa del Este for the officials here. Both Secretaries Long and Alger were at the white house during the evening, but returned to their residences early and gave no outward sign of anxiety or expectation of startling news. The arrival of Gen. Miles and the conferences between him and the commanding officers of the nrmy and navy is taken by some to indicate that if

fighting occurred Monday it was not of a serious, character, for with a heavy engagement in progress it was hardly possible that Admiral Sampson or* Gen. Shafter would find time for conferences. Officials contend that a delay of a day or two can only result in bettering the position of the American forces, give opportunity for the reenforcements to go to the front and allow the newly arrived artillery to be placed in advantageous location. It is believed that if the conflict was not resumed Monday a final attack is not far distant. To Cut Off Spanish Retreat. The officials here are satisfied that what appears to be a delay on the part of Gen. Shafter was really caused by his efforts to carry out strictly the president’s induction to prevent the Spanish army from escaping from Santiago. He might have attacked the town several days ago with the result that if the Spanish were overcome they would have retreated without obstruction to the northwest beyond the reach of our soldiers to follow. His dispatch written late Sunday night indicates clearly that he has been trying to complete his line of investment so as to prevent such an escape, and as he appears to feel satisfied that he has accomplished this, the final assault will no doubt not be delayed much longer. Anxious to Save Life. Gen. Shafter is disposed to save every life possible in the war, probably having in mind the particularly large proportion of killed, wounded and missing compared to the total strength of his army in the battle of Caney which the official figures show was exceptional in modern warfare. It is to save our troops that he desires to make a free use of artillery before the assault proper begins and also to secure the cooperation of the navy in the attack. The little artillery duel of Sunday appears to have been more serious in its results than was at first suspected by Gen. Shafter himself, for, during the afternoon, he was obliged to report as one result the death of Capt. Charles W. Rowell, Second infantry, one of the most gallant and popular officers of the regular establishment. One Can Be Saved. Off Santiago de Cuba, July 10, via Kingston, Jamaica, July 12. —The board of survey appointed to examine the wrecks of the Spanisn ships and to inquire into the nature of their injuries reports that only one ship can possibly be saved. She is Ihe Infanta Maria Teresa, the former flagship of Admiral ( Cervera. I The hull of the Cristobal Colon shows she was only hit six times, and then only by shells of eight-inch, five-inch and six-inch calibers. This verifies the j story that the commander of the Cris-I tobal Colon surrendered because he saw she could not get away from the Brooklyn and Oregon, and to continue the battle meant a sacrifice of life. The Vizcaya showed she had been riddled by the Brooklyn and Oregon. She had not been struck by projectiles larger than eight inches. There was no' sign of her having been struck by a' shell of 12 or 13 inches. Her upper works were riddled by one and six- > pounder shells. Nearly all of these j shells exploded inside the superstruc-1 ture, and must have driven the men ■ from the guns. This confirms the story 1 of Capt. Eulate that the Brooklyn’s j secondary battery fire was so terrible that the men deserted their guns. More Troops for Manila. San Francisco, July 12. —This week will see another exodus of the Manila forces. Thursday morning the Peru,) carrying Maj. Gen. R. S. Otis and staff, j six troops of the Fourth United States cavalry under command of Col. Kellogg and two batteries of the Sixth United States artillery under command of Maj. Crugan, and the City of Puebla, with the Fourteenth infantry detachment, will steam out of the harbor. Maj. Gen. Otis has decided not to wait for the New York volunteers, but will proceed at once to Honolulu to assist, according to his orders, in the ceremonies of occupying the city. The Fourth cavalry, Sixth artillery and Fourteenth infantry will have the privilege of taking part in the ceremonies. They will remain in Honolulu until the other three vessels of the fleet of five destined for the fourth expedition come on; then the whole force of the troops, with Ma j. Gen. R. S. Otis and Brig. Gen. H. G. Otis, will proceed to Manila. Report* from Sampaon. Washington, July 12.—Ensign Palmer arrived in \\’ashiugton Monday, bringing with him a series of reports from Admiral Sampson, including the reports pf his subordinate officers, describing the engagement resulting in the destruction of Cervera’s squadron. These reports are under examination and such parts of them as are deemed suitable for publication will be given to the press later.