The record-union., 1898-07-06
Military Circles Consider Shafts
Checked and Sampson BaffIed,
The Premier Finally Forced to Announce
That Cervera'S Fleet Has Been De-
Siroyed and the Admiral Him
self Taken Prisoner.


| MADRID, July ,, p. m.-Almost in
describable enthusiasm continues to
prevail here over the supposed escape of
Admiral Cervera and his squadron from
the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. TIE
Admirals name is on every tongue, aud
| ii is claimed that il was he who saved
Santiago de Cuba, by adding to Gem
eral Linares handful of soldiers his
brave sailors to man the guns ashore
and repel the Americans under Cen
eral Shafter."
Such is about the exultant eulogy Of
Admiral Cervera heard ON all sides.
this state of public feeling being due
| from the official announcements from
Santiago. For instance, one statement
from Santiago is as follows: When
Admiral Cervera found it certain that
Colonel Escario's reinforcements were
IN proximity to Santiago, the Admiral
held a council with the commanders OF
his squadron. disclosing to them a plan
to force the blockade in broad daylight.
The commanders responded unanimous
ly 'Ad lante' Forward). 1t was then
arranged that the torpedo boat de-
stroyers should take the lead, feigniag
an attack9-ssid discharge the torpedoes
against the enemy's ships. the Cristo5al
Colon protecting their advance. shell
tered by the batteries of Morro Castle.
| and distracting the enemy's attention
while the remainder of the squadron
sailed out of the harbor
| The Americans at first were taken
by surprise. Then recovering they
opened a tremendous fire, especially
against the torpedo boat destroyers.
which Admiral Cerveqa had instructed
10 steer IN an opposite course to the
| squadron. The Americans Wega de-
ceaved and maneuvered toward the sup
posed course of the Spaniards, While
Admiral Cervera went full steam
ahead, maintaining a continuous ire
until clear of the American lines and
then steamed away westward, pur-
sued and breasted for some distance by
| the swiftest American vessels, until
they We're lost to sight from MORO
Castle.
In the meantime the torpedo boat
destroyers sunk under a rain of shell
from the numerous American warships
1t IS presumed part of their crews were
saved by the enemy, or swan ashore.
"A number OF life bGoys were provided
on board the torpedo boat destroyers.
whose crews anticipated that their yes-
sells would be destroy ed
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 crews
OF the torpedo boat destroyers is SAID
to be highly appreciated by the Queen
Regent, while the general public is
overjoycd 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-
gos, and there Will be tremendous anx-
iety here until ii Is reported that Ad-
mirar Ceryera and his squadron are
safe iii Havana harbor Hopes are ex-
pressed iG this city that the Spanish
Admiral may capture destroy some
American vessels while or his way to
Havana
Foreign news giving contradictory
versions OF the sortie have cast tinge
of perplexity and dalnpness upon the
general rejoicing.
In military circles II is considered
that General Shafter has been checked;
that Rear Admiral Sampson has been
baffied, and the aspect Of the war has
been changed. but the universal ex-
preston of opinion is that peace is
impossible until something occurs
which is satisfactory to the national
feeling.
A dispatch from Captain General
Banco says: "Cervera's squadron. at
IL o'clock on Sunday morning. broke
the center Of the line of the American
fleet and proceeded at rull steam in Il
westerly direction
The Spanish Minister of War, Senoc
Aunor. is quoted in an interview as
saving: II am highly pleased with the
feat CT arms performed by Admiral
Cervera's squadron, which left Santi-
ago the moment Admiral Cervera
judged it opportune to do So"
After eulogizing the Spanish Admiral.
the Minister of Marine added: Tine
SQUADRON could only leave the harbor
at a given moment, and when the mo-
ment arrived Admiral Cervera seized it.
I have never doubted he would do SO.
But OF course. it is difficult to foresee
the result. The American squadron
CONTINUED on Seventh Page)