The record-union., 1898-07-05
The White House the Focal Point
Of Enthusiasm and Activity.
Was the Busiest Day the President Has
Had Since the War Began-A Con-
stant Stream of War and Navy
Department Officials.

WASHINGTON, july II Ht COlii-
plete annihilation of the Spanish squad
ron at Santiago and the capture OF the
Spanish Admiral Cervera with 1,3Oo
prisoners; the demand by General
Shafter for the surrender of Santiago
by II O'Clock tomorrow noon, on pain
of bombardment; word from Admiral
Dewey that the Ladrone Islands had
been captured that Spanish gunboat
had surrendered, that a hundred or
more Spanish officers and men were
taken, and that our first Philippine eX-
pedition had landed-this is in part
the thrilling record of such Fourth
of July as has not been known since
the bells of Independence Hall rang
out the tidings of American freedom.
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 climax came at l o'clock, when,
amid the widest cheering, which fairly
shook the great War, State and Navy
building to it's foundation, Acmi1 al
Simpsons dispatch announcing his
glorious victory and the entire destruc-
ton Of the Spanish fleet was given to
the public.
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
began. Conference followed conference
with the heads of the militry and naval
departments. high officials Of the serv-
ice came and went in a constant and
steady stream, and as each hour
brought it's added luster TO the Amer
lean arms the crowd of officials in
creased. The President had not mo-
ment's respite kilograms came and
went without cessation, and the his
toric old mansion presented scene
such as has not been paralleled since
the momentous hours of the civil war.
The story of the day is best told in
the series OF official dispatches, each
bearing date of July 4th, from Samp-
son. from Shafter and from Dewey.
Stirring as they all are, that of Samp-
son was accorded the honor of chief
Importance. not only for the immediate
results secured but also from the ef-
fects of this crushing defeat in weak
ening the defenses of the city of San
tiago and in dealing Spain such a stag
gering blow that she is left practically
without a navy.
Although brief, Admiral Simpsons
dispatch tells the story OF fearful de-
struction. 1t not only disclosed the
tremendous prowess of the American
fleet but it again displayed the immu-
nifty which the American sailor seems 10
have in the midst of death and car
mage That but one of our sailors. q
woman on the Brooklyn, should have
been killed in an engagement of this
magnitude is without 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-
hor az Santiago. If Cervera's armored
cruisers could cross the mine field and
clear the Merrimac at the entrance to
the harbor. the American ships can fol-
low the same course. There are the
inner Notifications still to be reduced
hut they have passed through a bap-
tism of fire recently, and are little
more than ruins. Thus. with Skaters
guns laundering on Santiago from the
land and Sampson's from the harbor
tbe fan Of the city is assured beyond
further question.
The authorities, military and naval
saw that Santiago has already made It's
best fight. and that its occuption Is
only a question of time, and very briei
time.
General Skaters strong position was
shown in q series of dispatches. Most
convincing of all as to his feeling OF
confidence and strength was the DIS
patch given out late in the day. III
stated Skaters demand for the sur
render of Santiago at noon to-day, on
pain of bombardment. Thereupon the
foreign Consuis at Santiago made a
Joint representation requesting that
the women and children in the city
have until Tuesday noon to withdraw
before the bombardment begins. The