The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-09
THE SELF-DECEIvED DONs.
They Still Believe hat dmirai Cervers
and His Destroyed Fleet Made Their
Escape-Captures Expected.

MADRID, July 6.-Almost indescriba-
bic enthusiasm continues to prevail
here over the supposed escape of Ad-
miral Cervera and his squadron from
the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The
adniral's name is on every tongue, and
it is claimed that it was he who saved
Santiago de Cuba, by adding to Gen.
Linares' handful of soldiers his brave
sailors to man the guns ashore and re-
pei the Americans under Gen. Shafter."
ExuItant Eulogy of Admiral Ceryera-
Such is about the exultant eulogy OF
Admiral Cervera heard on all sides,
this state of public feeling being due
TO the official announcements from
Santiago.
For instance, one statement from
Santiago is as follows:
A Lante.i"
when Admiral Cervera found that
was certain Col. Escario's reinforce
ments were in proximity to Santiago,
the admiral held a council with the
commanders of his squadron disclos-
ing to them a plan to force the block
ade in broad daylight. The command
ers responded unanimously: .Ad
lante'" (forward).
The Plan for Escape.
SIT was then arranged that the
torpedo-boat d~estroyers should take the
lead, feigning an attack, and discharge
the torpedoes against the enemy's
ships, the Cristobal Colon protecting
their advance, sheltered by the bat
teries of Moro castle, and distractinR
the enemy's attention while the re-
mainder of the squadron sailed out
of the harbor.
The Americans Surprised.
"The Americans at first were taken
by surprise. Then, recovering, they
opened a tremendous fire, especially
against the torpedo-boat ~destroyers,
which vessels Admiral Cervera had in
structed to steer in an opposite course
TO the squadron. The Americans were
deceived, and Unanswered toward the
supposed course of the Spaniards, while
Admiral Cervera went full steam
ahead, maintaining a continuous fire
until clear of the American lines, and
then steamed away westward, pursued
and breasted for some distance by the
swiftest American vessels, until they
were lost sight of from Moro castle.
The Torpedo-Boat Destroyers sunk.
sin the meantime the torpedo-boat de-
stroyers sank under a rain of she'll
from the numerous American war
ships. 1t is presumed part of their
crews were saved by the enemy or
swan ashore. A number of life-buoys
were provided on board the torpedo
boat d~estroyers, whose crews antici.
pated that their vessels would be de-
stroyed."
Highly Appreciated by Queen and Subjects.
The foregoing is the popular Span
Ish version OF the sortie of Admiral
Cervera from the harbor of Santiago
de Cuba and the sacrifice of the crew
of the torpedo-boat destroyers Is said
to be highly appreciated by the queen
regent, while the general public is
overjoyed at their conduct. 1t is sup
posed here that Admiral Cervera is
running for Havana, since he has not
been reported as arriving at Cienfue-
Cos, and there will be tremendous
anxiety here until it is reported that
vi NOA" ohN ms oduoNAO h u
safe in Havana harbor.
Hopes Hinged by Perplexity.
Hopes are expressed in this city that
the Spanish admiral may capture and
destroy some American vessels while
on his way to Havana.
Foreign news giving contradictory
versions of the sortie, have cast a
tinge of p~erplexity and dampness upon
the general rejoicing.
Peace Not Yet Possible.
In military circles it is considered
that Gen. Shafter has been checked,
that Rear-Admiral Sampson has been
batfled, and that the aspect of the war
has been changed, but the universal
expression of opinion is that peace is
impossible until something occurs
which is satisfactory to the national
feeling.