The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-15


Santiago is ours. Tt was formally turn
cd over to us at o'clock yesterday after
noon There is no doubt a general feel
Ing Of satisfaction that this result was
accomplished without the battle that was
expected from the time Of the two days
bloody contest for the outer Notifications
of the place until the surrender actually
took place.
The importance of the surrender is very
great, just as great as If it had occurred
after many more lives had been sacrificed.
Many brave men were killed at Santiago
and very many more are suffering from
wounds received there on the first two
days of July.
The dispatches say that the surrender
means that the spaniards give up control
OF all Eastern Cuba from Asseradero on
the south to Sagua on the north, by way
of Palma, with practically the fourth
Army Corps. 1t is not definitely known
yet how many soldiers are contained in
this army corps, but whatever the num-
Der Is they have ceased to be factor in
the war. They are to go home, and doubt
less they are glad of it-at least the pri-
vate soldiers are.
The fact that the United States is to
take them home will not lessen the moral
effect of the victory on the Spanish people.
Indeed, it is not improbable that it will
increase 1t. 1t will be an object lesson
to the Spanish people in more ways than
one. 1t viii impress upon them the mag
nitude of our resources, and, at the same
time, tend to convince them that our de-
claration. that we engaged in the war for
the benefit of humanity, is true. We
agree to transport the Spanish soldiers to
Spain because Spain has no ships To
turn them loose in Cuba on parole, would
be to expose them, in the present condi-
ton of affairs, to starvation and death.
To guard and feed them as prisoners
would cost more than to send them home.
Indeed, IL is a question whether it wouldn't
be better to send Admiral Cervera, his
officers and the crews of his wrecked
ships back to Spain. It might result in
bringing our war to an end much sooner
because they would be missionaries, as
it were. who would convince the Span
iards of the folly Of continuing the war
AS to what effect the fall of Santiago
will have towards bringing the war to
an end no one can predict with any de-
gree of certainty. No doubt the Span
iards would gladly give up Cuba If by
doing so they could secure peace, but it
Is likely they will continue to be stubborn
rather than consent, at this time, to terms
which they will have to accept eventually.
san. peace cannot be far away. Spain
is too nearly exhausted and is threatened
with troubles of too serious a character
at home to carry on war very long in
Cuba.
The surrender will be claimed by Gen
Skaters friends as vindication for
him. He has captured the whole of the
Spanish force at Santiago without the
heavy losses he was expected TO suffer if
he took the place by assault. If his pur-
pose was to capture the Spanish army
without losing many of his own men he
was eminently successful. The result of
the campaign is a sufficient excuse for
the delay in bombarding Santiago. The
people of Santiago also have reason for
being thankful for the delay. Their homes
have been saved 10 them.