The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-07-06

immediate surrender of Santiago,
threatening to lombard the city /
believe the place will be surrender
ed -
In addition to the splendid work
accomplished by Admiral Sampson,
Gen. Shafter, in command of the land
forces before Santiago, had so far pro
gressed in the carrying out of his
plans for the reduction of that city,
that at 1890 yesterday morning he
demanded the immediate surrender
Of the Spanish forces At 4:30
yesterday afternoon Gen Skaters
demand had not been complied with,
SO far as the war officials here were
able to ascertain. That the demand
will be complied with, however.
Gen shafter fully believes, and that
tine Stars. and Stripes will ON this
Fourth Of July be raised over the
former capital of Cuba is regarded as
practically certain
During the almost continuous con-
fic: of Friday and Saturday, reports
show that the Spanish feet did awful
execution by shellirg the American
troops 1t is regarded as unlikely
that with the feet lying in the bay,
Gen Shafter's forces would have
been able TO safely occupy Santiago
After the reduction and capture OF
the outer defenses of the city by Gen
Shafter, it became necessary that
Admiral Cervera'a feet be eliminated
from the occasion It's elimination
was executed by Admiral Sampson,
thus leaving the way open for the
continued advance of Skaters troops
upon the city
Shortly after l2 O'Clock this morn
ing Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Allen left the White House hastily
and going directly to the department
posted the bulletin from Lieut. Go!
Allen
The information contained in the
statement was received early in the
evening, but it was not announced
officially until several hours later
AS a resul: of it's receipt, however,
a conference, of prominent officials,
was held at the White House lmme-
diate'y. Those present at the con
ference. besides the President, were
Vice President Hobart. Secretary
Day, Secretary Long, Gen Alger,
Postmaster Gen Smith. Gen Miles.
Adjutsnt Gen. Corbin. Gen Guy V
Henry and Senator Hanna. The in
formation was discussed in all it's
phases The news seat by both Gen
Shafter and Lieut. Col Allen was re
ceived with intense satisfaction. 1t
was taken to indicate not only that
Admiral Sampson had accomplished
magnifcentiy the task TO which he
had been set. but it alec clearly
proved that Gen Shafter was in
much stronger position than the war
officials had been led to believe he
held. One of the officials who at
tended the conference said, after the
news had been officially announced,
that it very materially modified the
seriousness of the situation The de.
struction of the feet, which was
not confirmed until few minutes be
fore the news was given to the pub
lie, removes by far the most serious
obstacle to the occupation of Santa
20 by the American land forces
Details of the destruction of Ger
veva's fleet have not been received.
at this writing, by either the war or
navy departments Whether Samp
sons ships entered the harbor and
there attacked and annihilated the
Spanish squadron or whether Cervera
made deperate dash past the supken
Merrimac to the ocean beyond in the
hope that he might be able to save at
leas; part OF his fleet, has not been
officially y ascertained
Adj. Gen. Corbin voiced the feel
iugs of every one of the officials
when he said !:
II don't care how the fleet was de
stroyed 1t was destroyed That is
enough for me. 1t is great news for
the Fourth of July
The feet Of Admiral Cervera was
one Of the finest Spain possessed
Three of the vessels. the Amirante
Oquendo. the Vizcaya, and the Girls
tobsl Colon were modern armored
cruisers of the first class The Viz
caya was of 1000 tons displacement,