until ten o'clock of fifth instant
before city is fired on. They claim that there are between fifteen
thousand and twenty thousand people, many of them old, who will leave.
They ask if I can supply them with food, which I cannot do for want of
transportation to Caney, which is fifteen miles from my landing. The
following is my reply:

"'THE COMMANDING GENERAL SPANISH FORCES,
"'Santiago de Cuba.

"'_Sir_:--In consideration of the request of the consuls and officers in
your city for delay in carrying out my intention to fire on the city, and
in the interest of the poor women and children, who will suffer very
greatly by their hasty and enforced departure from the city, I have the
honour to announce that I will delay such action solely in their interest
until noon of the fifth, providing, during the interval, your forces make
no demonstration whatever upon those of my own. I am, with great respect,

"'Your obedient servant,
"'W. R. SHAFTER,
"'_Major-General U. S. A._'

(Signed) "SHAFTER,
"_Major-General Commanding_."

CHAPTER XII.

THE SPANISH FLEET.

"_Don't cheer; the poor devils are dying._"

It was Sunday morning (July 3d), and the American squadron lay off
Santiago Harbour intent only on blockade duty. No signs of life were
visible about old Morro. Beyond and toward the city all was still. After
two days of fighting the armies of both nations were resting in their
trenches.

The fleet had drifted three miles or more from the land. The battle-ship
_Massachusetts_, the protected cruiser _New Orleans_, and Commodore
Watson's flag-ship, the cruiser _Newark_, were absent, coaling fifty miles
or more away.

Shortly before nine o'clock Admiral Sampson, desiring to ascertain the
exact condition of the Spanish coast defences about Aguadores, ordered the
flag-ship to go that way, and after flying the signal, "Disregard the
motions of the commander-in-chief," the _New York_ steamed leisurely off
to the eastward.

The little _Gloucester_ lay nearest the shore; the _Vixen_ was opposite in
a straight line, and to the eastward of her about five miles. A mile or
less from