Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-07-07
THRILLING RECORD.
Renewed Cause for Celebrating the
Fourth of July.
GOOD NEWS FROM EAST and WEST.
The Destruction Of Cervera's Fleet-The
Demand for the Surrender of Santiago,
and the Arrival of Troops at Manila
With the Capture of the Ladrones.

and the Arrival of Troops at Manila
With the Capture of the Ladrones.
WASHINGTON, July 5.--The COM
plete humiliation of the Spanish
SO uadron at Santiago and the capture
of the Spanish admiral, Cervera, with
1900 prisoners; the demand by Gen.
Shafter for the surrender of Santiago
by 10 o'clock to-day, on pain OF bonn
bardment; word from Admiral Dewey
that the Ladrone Islands had been
captured; that a Spanish gunboat had
surrendered; that a hundred or more
Spanish officers and men were taken
and that our first Philippine expedi-
ton had landed-this is in part the
thrilling record of such q Fourth OF
July as has not been known since the
bells of I~ndepenence hall rang out the
tidings Of American freedom.
A Day Of Momentuous Events. 80
1t was a day when one momentous
event followed another in constant and
rapid succession, each hour bringing
forth some new feature more startling
than what had gone before. The cli-
max came at one o'clock, when, amid
the widest cheering, which fairly
shook the great war, state and navy
building to its foundation, Admiral
SIMPSONS dispatch announcing his
glorious victory aud the entire destruc-
ton of the Spanish fleet, was given to
the public.
The Focal Point of Enthusiasm.
The White House was naturally the
focal point Of the enthusiasm and stir
ring activity which marked official
Washington. 1t was the busiest day
the president has had since the war be.
gan. Conference followed conference
with the heads of the military and
naval departments; high officers OF the
several departments came and went in
O constant and steady stream, and as
each hour brought its added lustre to
the American arms the crowd OF Of
ticials increased.
The president had not q moments
respite. kilograms came and went
without cessation as the historic old
mansion presented a scene such has not
been seen since the momentous hours
of the civil war.
Best Told by the Oficial Dispatches.
The stories of the day are best told
by the series of official dispatches, each
bearing date of July 4 from Sampson,
from Shafter and from Dewey. Stir
ring as they are, Sampson was &C
corded the order of chief Importance,
not only for the immediate results
secured, but also from the effects of
this crushing defeat in weakening the
defenses of the city of Santiago and in
dealing Spain such a staggering blow
that she is left practically without a
navy.
SIMPSONS Fourth Of July Present to the
Nation.
The admiral's dispatch is as follows:
PLAYA DEL ESTE, July l.
The fleet under my comma offers the ma
ton as q Fourth Of July present the destruc-
ton OF the whole Of Cervera's feet. No one es-
capped.
1t attempted to escape at $3.50 a. m. and at
D. m, the last, the CrtStobal Colon, had run
ashore six miles west of Santiago and had let
down her colors.
The Infanta Maria Teresa, Oquendo and Viz
csya were forced ashore. burned and blown up
within 20 miles OF Santiago. The Furor and
Pluton were destroyed within four miles Of the
port.
Our loss one killed and two wounded. Enc
my's loss probably several hundred from gun
fire. explosions and drowning.
About 1900 prisoners, including Admiral Ger
vera.
The man killei was George H. Ellis, chief
yeoman Of the Brooklyn. SAMPSON.
Tells the Story of Fearful Destruction.
Although brief, Admiral Simpsons
dispatch tells the story of fearful de-
~struction. 1t not only disclosed the
tremendous proves of the American
fleet, but 1t again displayed the strange
immunity which the American sailor
seems to have in the midst of death
and carnage. That but n of our
sailors, a yoeman on the Brooklyn,
should have been killed in an engage
ment of this magnitude, is without a
parallel in naval annals, save in that
other unparalleled record which
Dewey made at Manila.
With the Spanish fleet destroyed, the
| way is partly cleared for the advance
| OF the American squadron into the har
| Dor of Santiago. If Cervera's armored
| cruisers could cross the mine field and
| clear the Merrimac at the entrance tt
| the harbor, the American ships can fol
low the same course.
The Fall of Santiago Assured.
There are the inner Notifications AND
| island forts still to be reduced, but
they have passed through a baptism O.
fire recently, and are little more thar
ruins. Thus, with Skaters gum
laundering on Santiago from the lant
and SIMPSONS from the harbor, the
fall Of the city is assured beyond fur
Their question.
The authorities here, military AND
naval. say that Santiago has alreaa.
made its best fight, and that its occu
patton is only a question of time, ant
very brief time.
Gen. Skaters Strong Position.
Gen. Skaters strong position wa
shown in a series of dispatches. Mos
convincing of all as to his feeling o
confidence and strength, was that dis
patch given out late in the day il
which Gen. Shafter gives the text O
his demand for the surrender of tn
city on pain of bombardment. Thi
dispatch is as follows:
Correspondence of Gen. Shafter Demand
ing the Surrender of Santiago.
PLAYA DEL ESTE, July 4, 1898.
Hon. r. A. Ager, Secretary or Wa
Washington:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE FIFTH Arm,
CORPS, July 3.-The following is my
demand for the surrender of the cit,
of Santiago:
HEADQUARTERS United States Forces. nea
San Juan River, Cuba, July 8, 1895, $50 o. m