The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-04
VICTORY FOR SAMPSON American Admiral Attacks Admiral Cervera's Squad
 ron and Destroys It. SHIPS BURNING ON BEACH NEWS OFFICTALLY ANNOUNCED AT
 NAVY DEPARTMENT.

NAVY DEPARTMENT. It Very Materially Modifes the Serious-
 ness of the situation-shafter,s Po-
 sition Is Better Than at First Supposed
 -He Has Demanded the Surrender of
 the City Under Pain of fBombardment.
 Washington, July 4.-Glorious news from Cuba affords the American people just reason for an enthusiastic cele- bration of this, the nations national day. Admiral Sampson has accepted the work which he was directed to per- form when he left Key West for the southern coast of Cuba. He was order ed to find and destroy Cervera's squad ron.
 located the fleet in the bay of Santiago. Yesterday, after being bottled helpless in the harbor for weeks, the fleet was destroyed. Nothing now remains of the Spanish squadron but shattered burn- ing hulks.
 In addition to the splendid work achieved by Admiral Sampson, Gener- forces before Santiago had so far pro- gressed in the carrying out of his plans for the reduction of the city that at 10:30 yesterday morning he demanded the immediate surrender of the Spanish forces. Att 4:3O yesterely afternoon Gen. eral Shafter's demand had not been compiled with so far as the war officials here were able to ascertain. That the demand will be compiled with, how ever, is known by the fact that General Shafter fully believes that the Stars and Stripes will on this Fourth of July be raised over the former capital of Cuba, and it is regarded as practically certain here.
 Shortly after 12 o'clock this morning Assistant Secretary of the Navy Allen left the White house hastily and going directly to the department posted the following upon the department bulletin board:
 Playa del Este, July 3.-Siboney office confirms the statement that all the Spanish squadron except one warship, was destroyed and are burning on the beach. It was wit messed by Captain Smith, who told the oper- ator There is no doubt of it's correctness. | (Signed) Allen, Signal Officer. | The following cable dispatch was given out at the White house after the above:
 | fldNd uti bSle, Juiy o.--Ine ueSlTuCllOu l of Cerveras fleet is confirmed.
 l Allen, Lieutenant Colonel. The information contained in the above statement was received early in the evening, but it was not announced l officially until several hours later. As a result of it's receipt, however, a con- ference of prominent officials was held at the White house immediately there- | after. Those present at the confer- nee besides the president were Vice President Hobart, Secretary Day. Sec- retary Long, Secretary Alger, Post master General Smith, General Miles, Henry and Senator Hanna. The in- | formation was discussed in all its
 phases. The news sent by both Gen eral Shafter and Lieutenant Colonel 1 Allen was received with intense satis- l faction. It was taken to indicate not
 only that Admiral Sampson had &C., complished magnificently the task to
 which he had been set, but it also | clearly proved that General Shafter
 was in much stronger position than
 the war officials had supposed he was. One of the officials who attended the 1 conference said after the news had
 been officially announced that it very
 materially modified the seriousness of
 the situation. The destruction of the fleet, which was not confirmed until a
 few minutes after the news was given
 to the public, removed by far the most
 serious obstacle to the occupation of
 Santiago by the American land forces. l During the almost continuous conflict