SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

Western Star, Issue 2219, 5 July 1898, Page 3

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

SANTIAGO BESEIGED. FURIOUS FIGHTING. INDECISIVE BATTLE. 1000 KILLED. Washington. General Shafter is using balloons to survev the vicinity of Santiago. Three divisions comprising 15,000 trojps and sevpral thousand Cubans , attacked the Spanish positions early on Fridav. heavy fighting all day resulted in the capture of the outer defences. Cervera’a fleet fired on the American troops. Lawton’s brigade carried Caney,a suburb ofSantiago The Spaniards fought stubbornly but were , handicapped by the winknees of their i artillery. Admiral Sampson bombarded Morro Estrella, tbe Vesuvius , throwing dynamite shells with great effect. Shafter reports that the casualties on his side are 400, chiefly wounded. Torrents of rain fell during the fight and the American troops bad many commissariat difficulties to contend with. Shafter is hurrying a number of dynamite field guns to tbe front. It is reported here that Commodore Watson has been instructed to follow Camara’s fleet and that a fresh squadron is proceeding to the Spanish Coast, The Spaniards desperately maintained the defence of Caney for eight hours. The American cavalry under Major-General Wheeler, made several brilliant charges. Brigadier-General Kent’s brigade attacked Aquadores, the American fleet also pouring in a heavy fire upon the Spanish line. The fighting which was of a furious character lasted until sundown. Shells from Cervera’a squadron did heavy execution, one annihilating an entire companr. Casualites on Friday exceed 1000. General Shafter has telegraphed for 50 surgeons and an additional hospital ship. The fighting round Santiago was resumed on Saturday, tbo whole of the reserves were ordered to the front. The battlelastcd all day but was apparently indecisive. Both sides lost heavily. A telegram despatched to President McKinley from tbo front at four o’clook on Saturday afternoon in- • dicated that a fierce battle is proceed- , ing. Tbe marksmanship , of the > Spanish riflemen is described as poor. | The gunner of Sampson’s fleet was „ remarkably good. All tbo Spanish , batteries in the Aquadores valley have been silenced.