THE WAR.

New Zealand Mail, 11 August 1898, Page 31

THE WAR.

THE FUTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES. AMERICAN FEELING AGAINST RETURNING THEM. Washington, August 2. The feeling is growing throughout the United States against handing over the Philippine Islands to either the Spaniards or the rebels. Washington, August 3. Reports from Manila state that Aguinaldo has threatened to massaora Bishop Nozaleda and others of the clergy who are among the refugees at Cavite. As it is feared that serious trouble will arise with the insurgents, Admiral Dewey and General Merritt have been ord*r*d to suppress anything in the nature of a riot. Washington, August 6. The Archbishop of Manila has sought American protection, fearing a massacre of the clergy and refugees at Cavite by the insurgents. AMERICA'S TERMS OF PEACE. SECRECY AS TO SPAIN'S REPLY. Madrid, August 2. The reply of Spain to the conditions of peace offered by America was sent on Tuesday, but the greatest secrecy is maintained in reference to their nature. The feeling in Madrid is now of a more hopeful character. Washington, August 3. M. Cambon, French Ambassador at Washington, acting as a fully accredited-; commissioner and envoy on behalf of Spain, has had an hour's interview with President McKinley. It is supposed that he handed Spain's reply to the peace negotiations. Possibly, however, he only asked for elucidation as to the details. No official statement has been made, and the impression prevails that Spain has not accepted the terms unreservedly.

It ia understood that President McKinley i 8 disposed to exercise patience, but if he sees a dispos tion to "shilly-shally " he will cancel the offer. New York, August 5. It is believed that Spain has accepted the fundamental conditions of the American peace proposals. The difficulties relate to minor details, which are not raised in a contentious spirit. ' i ~- A full acceptance is expected to-day or to-morrow. Madrid, August 6. Senor Sigasta (Premier) is conferring with the various party leaders on the peace details, and it is expected that the Cortes will be convened at an early date. General Campos considers that it is madness to continue the war. Madrid, A ugust 7. The Spanish Cabinet has approved of the basis of a reply to America's peace proposals. It is stated that the reply will give no occasion for further response from America. Another report says that the Cabinet will fight thy question of the assumption by America of the Cuban ddbt. FLOATING OF THE STRANDED CRUISER. Washington, August 2. The American cruiser Columbia (7375 tons) has gone ashore at Ponce, on the south coast of Puerto Eico. Washington, August 3. The American cruiser Columbia, which went ashore at Ponce, on the coast of Puerto Eico, has been re-fioated. Widespread desertion of Spanish soldiers to the Americafi army is taking place. THE EXPEDITION TO PUEIU'O EICO. Wash: ,3ton, August 4 American, troops are being hu-rried to' Puerto Eico regardless of the paace prospects. ( It is alleged that Mr Eu33ci)l Algar, Secretary for War, desires as many as possible to share in the glory of the American" conquests.-

TOWN CAPHJRED BY THE CUBAN' REBELS. Washington* August .&, General Garcia reports that he has captured Mayari and 500 Spaniards. A SPANISH COMMANDER TRIED BY COURT-MARTIAL. CONVICTED AND SHOT. Madeid, August 5. Colonel San Martin has been tried by court-martial on a charge of abandoning Ponce (Puerto Rico) without offering any resistance, and was oonvicted and shofc"' '' His second in command committed suicide. FEVER. RAVAGES AMONG THE AMERiCANS. THE TROOPS MUST BE REMOVED OR PERISH. Washington, August 6. The chief officers of the American army have signed an appeal to Gdneral Shatter to remove the troops to the Northern Stntes, as malarial fever has destroyed tht* efficiency of the troops, and they fear thu inroads of yellow fever, and, further, that; the army must be removed or perish. On these representations being made at; Washington transports were instantly ordered to S instead of carrying the forces to Puerto Rico. ■ Washington, August 8. All the energies of the War Department are being concentrated in bringing General Shatter's army away from-Santiago. General Ames reports that the army is incapable of marching, except to tha transports. ✓;■. THE CUBAN INSURGENTS. Washington, August 6. A difficulty is being experienced by tha American garrisons in Cuba. As the Spaniards leave, the insurgents in many places are ready to assume control and wreak their vengeance on the Spanish residents. RAISING ONE OP CERVERA'S SHIPS. THE VESSEL INTACT. Washington, August 6 The Americans have succeeded in raising the Spanish warship Maria Teresa, 7000 tons, sunk during Admiral Cervera's attempt to escape from Santiago. The vessel is quite intact. ANOTHER TOWN CAPTURED IN PUERTO EICO. Washington, Ausust 7. The American forces under Brigadier Haines have captured Guayama, a town in Puerto Rico, 37 miles south-east of Sail Juan, after a slight ekirmish. Washington, August 7Pressure i 3 being brought to bear on 1 he Spanish commauder of the Cuban port of Manzanillo, which was recently bombarded by the American fleet, to induce him to surrender. The residents are anxious that he should do so, and the commander desires the American fleet to make a further demonstration against the town sufficient to prevent his being court-martialled.

BATTLE OF SANTIAGO.

HEAVY FIRING ON BOTH SIDES. 1700 AMEEICANS KILLED AND WOUNDED. CHAEGE OF EOOSEVELDT'S EOUGH . EIDERS. (Per RMS Alameda at Auckland.) San Francisco, July 13. ' A great battle took place around San Juan hill (over-looking Santiago de Cab*) on July 2nd, after two days of most terr.fio fighting, daring whioh more than 800 Americans ware killed and wounded. The American army is still out-ide Siatiago. Captain Capron's battery, planted oa a bluff a mile and a half from El Canoy, fi>©d the first gun at 6 o'clock, and this opened toe battle. There was no reply, and it looked as if the Spaniards would not fight. The Cubans believed they were retreati ag, and thousands of them under General Garcia and Darnetrio Castallo hurried along the road from El to El Caney to hea,d the Spaniards off. They were just in time to catch ths flj-ing Spaniards at Duerance. There was a hot fight for a few minutes, and the Spaniards then went back (o El Caney, taking.their wounded with them. Meantime Captain Capron's battery continued firing. T:icj Spaniards were driven back into a cover, and they now showed fight. Captain Capron's battery dam>ged the town, but not the fortifications. When the 28in shot was fired there wa=» a whistling n«ar the battery, followed bv the explosion of a shell from the Eeiuer Mireeeda's battery. Auothei»and another followed, but the Spaniards did poor shooting. Their shells did not touch the baifery, but fell on a house where somi sol were. Three shells wounded 10 Cubans and IS Americans, The duet beeaou> noc now, and the A'noricaus fired vi'.iick.er, having a lino on the fort. Every Khofc from i he v i.-attery told, as did many < f the Spanish shi-Us. The tiring thowed 'OUO3* improveai9Ufc> and the guna, were hai\clsi§

in masterly style. After an hour firing ceased on both side 3. . Grimes' battery at El Pozo had m the meantime opened fire across a gulch from a hill below San Juan. There was no reply until the tenth shot, but the Spanish shells burst over the American line, all of them flying too high to do any harm. For half an hour shells from both sides whistled and shrieked. The Spaniards on the hill were surrounded by a cloud of yellow dust that was thrown up by the American shells. Still they fired, but as usual their shells went too high. In halt ■an hour more the position became too hot for them. The tenth and first regiments and rough riders were ordered to make a detour and take the hill. Then began the real fighting. Ihe Spaniards were not in sight, but there were hundreds of them in concealment. The rough riders marched through the gulch across to the slope, whereupon the blockhouse opened fire again. At the same time the Spanish sharpshooters began popping away, picking off men here and there. Lieutenant-Colonel Kooseveldt rode at the head of his troops, with the 10th Cavalry alongside. The riders all dodged behind bushes and trees to escape the hail of bullets. The Spanish fire grew hotter and hotter, and the Americans dropped two and three at a time. When they camejto the open, smooth hillside there was no protection; bullets were raining down on them and shot and shell from the batteries were sweeping everything. There was a moment's hesitation, and then came the order:" For ward, charge!" Lieut-Colonel Eooseveldt led, waving his sword, out into the open, and the men went up the hill. Death to every man seemed certain. The crackle of the Mausers was continuous. Out of the bush came the troops; up, up they went, with coloured soldiers alongside of them; not a man flinched. Eooseveldt was a hundred feet in front, the men dropping from the ranks at every step. The "rough riders acted like veterans. Astonished by the madness of tbe rush, the Spaniards exposed themselves. This was a fatal mistake, for the 10 th Cavalry picked them off like ducks and rushed on and up. As the Spaniards were killed, more seemed to take their places. The rain of shells and bullets doubled—the men dropped faster and faster, but others took their places. Eooseveldt sat erect on his horse, shouting for his men to follow him. Finally his horse was shot from under him, but he landed on his feet, and continued calling for his men to advance. He charged up the hill on foot. They went on firing as fast as their guns would work. At last the top of the hill was reached. The Spanish in the trenches could still have annihilated the Americans, but the Yankees' daring dazed them. They wavered for an instant, and then turned and ran. In the rush more than half the rough riders were wounded. Though they had the hill their position was still perilous on account of the sharpshooters in the Spanish blockhouse on a hill a mile ■ away. The skirmishers were half-way across the open space, and it looked as though the capture of the blockhouse would be easy, when, without any warning, the whole hillside rained shot and shell upon the advancing lines. The Spaniards had waited uatil there was no chance of the Americans getting back under cover before thoy opened on them. The 71st Eegiment dashed out into; the| open, facing the fire of shrapnel that burst on themj and was tearing holes in their ranks. Before they were halfway across the field the 71st had lost over 70 men killed and wounded. The fire grew more awful every minute. The enemy were behind breastworks and out of sight. Into the face of this fire the Americans went. They broke into a run and headed straight into it. The 6th Eegiment came out after the 71st in the face of the same fire. Their ranks were cut to pieces, but there was no flinching. Eight into the teeth of it they rushed and across the open, cheering as they ran. The whole body then dashed up the hill, the Spaniards still pouring their deadly fire into them. Half-way up the hill the Americans caught sight of the enemy, and for the first time returned their fire at close range with deadly effect. They dashed up the hill to its crest with bayonets fixed and charged on the trenches, driving the*Spaniards out at the point of the bayonet, and shooting them as they fled. The Yankees captured the blockhouse, and before they were through the hill was covered with dead and wounded Spaniards. ...The Spaniards who were driven off rplfnrrood in other trenches, ?.vA the battle went <m for hours. The Spanish tried to

recapture their position Init were ui'iveu ';;'!. off H!?.cl R<r-u£ v.'ifch heavy losses.

can army entrenched everywhere before the city. The fighting was resumed at about 5 o'clock on Saturday morning. The Spaniards made a desperate effort to recapture the San Juan hill. The position was assaulted again and again, and each time the enemy was driven back with awful loss. There was fighting upon all sides, the Americans driving the Spaniards back inch by inch. The city was soon within easy reach. The fighting during the last two days had cost the American army over 1700 men. The very heavy slaughter was brought about mainly by the gallantry with which the American troops advanced into the open ground in the face of a heavy fire from the Spanish entrenchments and rifle pits. ''"'."■