The record-union., 1898-07-05

Spanish General declined to surrender
at the time first set by Shafter. At
present a truce exists, pending the ex-
piration of the twenty-four hours asked
for by the foreign Consuls. General
Shafter has given the Spaniards until
noon tomorrow before he will lombard
the town, then proceeding to final and
most aggressive operations. Every
thing is announced to be very favor
able.
General Skaters other dispatches
breathe the same air of confidence and
deter mination as shown in his demand
on the Spanish commander. The first
one made public during the day stated
that his lines completely surrounded
the town from the bay on, the north to
San Juan River on the south, leaving
the city thus enveloped by a stretch OF
water on one side and a stretch OF
froWning American guns on the other
In another dispatch General Shafter
ePitcmiZed the strength of his position
by saying:
i feel that I am master of the situ-
alton and can hold the enemy for any
leEgth of time
In another dispatch General Shafter
states that his demand for the surren-
der of Santiago is still being considered
by the Spanish authorities which indi-
Gates that the refusal of the Spanish
commander to capitulate was not final.
In any event, Il o'clock on Tuesday
marks the limit of Skaters concession,
and if Santiago has not captulated at
that hour, the great siege guns, now
brought to the fornt and in position,
aided by the batteries of lighter field
pieces, will begin their work of destruc-
tion.
The present need of reinforcing Cen
eral Shafter is no longer felt, now that
the Spanish fleet is out of the way. A
large number of men, however, are al
ready on the way, and others will fol-
low.
The changed naval situation will
bring no abatement in the activity of
the authorities here in carrying the war
directly home to Spain. There is a re-
neFVed determination to get Commo-
dore Watson'S Eastern Squadron away
at the earliest moment, for the double
purpose of striking a blow at the coast
towns of Spain, and of pursuing Ad-
miral Camara's fleet, which has halted
at the entrance of the SueZ Canal. Sec
retary Long made the official statement
to-day that the fleet would sail at the
earliest possible moment, and although
he did not go into details as to its pur-
pose, it is well understood that it will
devote its attention to the Spanish
coast and to Camara. The destruction
of the Spanish fleet at Santiago re-
lieyes Admiral Sampson from surveil-
lance of this squadron, and he can
readily spare the ships intended for
the attack on the Spanish coast.
It has been Acting Rear admiral
Sampson for some time, but that it
will be Rear Admiral Sampson in fact
as we'll as in name is the prevailing
feeling in naval circles as a result OF
the victory reported by the American
Admiral. Shortly after the war broke
! out Captain Sampson was made Act
| ing Rear Admiral in order to give him
rank befitting his high command, ad-
| though his actual naval rank remains
Captain. By a singular coincidence his
| rank was advanced to-day to that OF
Commodore, owing to the retirement OF
Rear Admiral Kirkland In the event
his now being made Rear Admiral
il would advance him over the ten
Commodores making up the list of that
grade. and would place him just below
that very famous hero of the war, Rear
Admiral Dewey. 1t is of course purely
conjectural thus far, but it is con-
| lecture which receives such common
acceptance in naval quarters that it is
| likely to be realized.
| The release of Hobson and the other
heroes of the Merrimac incident is like
ly to be another result of the events
transpiring to-day. 1t may now come
| about either by the surrender OF the
| city. which would include the surrender
| of Hobson and other American prls-
oners in the city, or else by the eX-
| change of HobSan for Admiral CerVera
| or some other high ranking naval offl-
| cial Until to-day the possibility or
| exchanging Hobson was slight, as this
Government had no Spanish prisoners
| of high rank to offer in his place. Now,
however they have one Of the fore
most Admirals Of Spain and among the
| 1 800 other naval prisoners there are
many officers of distinguished rank.
To exchange a Spanish Admiral for an
| American Naval Constructor might
| seem strange under ordinary circum-
| stances. but 1t would be done without
/ any begrudging by the authorities
here and would be particularly appro-
| pirate III view Vi liic eAStAcii " - -
| at the time Hobson surrendered TO him.
The dispatch from the front states
| that there was likely to be some criti-
| cism because Of the treatment of for
eign military attaches here. 1t was
stated by one of the highest officers IN
| the service that the foreign gentleman
/ had received absolutely everything in
| the way Of accommodation, supplies,
| eto <riI n officers
and men What was most surprising
was that this protest should come at
| a r,oment when our men We're fighting
| in swamp and thicket under blazing
sun. with $50 dead or wounded, and
under the fire of an entrenched enemy.
There IS every disposition here to ex-
| tend the most complete courtesy TO
these gentlemen that is consistent with
| the circumstances. There is no pur-
| pose. however. to recognize them as
| superior set, or to give them greater
| attention in mounts. tents or attend
| ance than our own officers and men
receive.
General Miles sent the following dis
patch to General Shafter before the
news Of the destruction of the fleet:
| Headquarters Of the army, Wash
/ ington, July Sd. To General Shafter.
/ Playa del Este, Cuba: Accept my
| hearty congratulations on the record
uada of n1n o>1ificent fortituGe gall