The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-07-06
VICTORY VERY NEAR.
Sampson Engages Cevera's Fleet
and the Spanish Ships Are
Destroyed.
sHAFTER DEMANDS SURRENDER
And Believes That the Demand Will
Be Promptly Complied With by
the Spanish Commander.
DISPATCHES ARE CONTRADICTORY.

DISPATCHES ARE CONTRADICTORY.
Earlier Report from Shafter Says lie Can
not Carry the City without Reinforce
ments, While Miles Calls the Friday
Fight "a Drawn Battle-Losses on Our
Side Put at 1000 i'm Ali-some Michigan
Men in the Casualty List-Report of
Saturdays Fighting.
Washington, July At is reported on
what is believed to be reliable authority
that Admiral SIMPSONS fleet Sunday
engaged the fleet Of Admiral Cervera
and entirely destroyed it.
Washington, July 4.-The following
cable dispatch was given out at the
White House: playa del Este, July g.
The destruction Of Cervera's fleet is
confirmed. [Signed.] ALLEN,
Lieutenant Colonel"
The following dispatch was received
at the war department.:
Playa del Estex, July 3.-The ST.
honey office confirms the statement that
all the Spanish fleet except one war
ship is destroyed and burning on the
beach. 1t was witnessed by Captain
Smith, who told the operator. There
is no doubt of it's correctness.
[Signed.l ALLEN,
Signal Officer"
Washington, July 4.-The following
statement was given out at the White
House Sunday night: General Shafter
telegraphs from Playa del Este, July 8:
early this morning l sent demand
for the immediate surrender ofSantiago,
threatening to lombard the city. / be-
iieve the place will be surrendered"
This contradicts the report that Gen
eral Shafter has fallen back.
Washington, July 4.-From the heat
and carnage of the battlefield Of Santi-
ago, where for the last three days the
American forces have pressed forward
against an entrenched enemy. General
Shafter sends the war department
dispatch summarizing the situation.
From the dispatch and other news he
has General Miles concludes that the
result at Santiago appears to he
drawn battle. He also says that the
withdrawal of General Shafter TO the
highlands OF Siboney, near the sea-
would be temporary, enabling the troops
to rest and prepare for future work.
General Shafter would probably give
up FL Caney and the plain not far from
Santiago.
Our Troops to Withdraw.
1t is understood that General Shafter
will withdraw 10 the hills near the sea
and await reinforcements. which will
be sent as soon as possible Assistant
Secretary Mieklejohn is now busy ar
ranging for transportation.
General Skaters Dispatch To AIger.
Following is the text of General Shat
ters dispatch to the secretary of war:
Camp near Sevilla. Cuba, July g.
We have the town We'll invested on
the north and east, but with a very
thin lire. Upon approaching il we find
IL Of such a character and the defense
~ SbipiiS NiiaN IL VIII Vt iIpboSiblt ~
carry il by storm with my present
forces. Our losses up to date will ag-
gregate 1000. but the list has not yet
been made. But little sickness exists
outside of exhaustion from the intense
heat and the exertion Of the battle of
the day before yesterday, and the al
most constant fire which is kept up on
the trenches
General Wheeler is seriously i'll. and
will probably have 10 go to the rear
today. General Young is also very i'll,
confined TO his bed. General Hawkins
was slightly wounded in the foot dur
ing sortie the enemy made last night.
which was handsomely repused.
Troops Behave MagnifcentIy
THE behavior OF the troops was mag
nificent. General Garcia reports that
he holds the railroad from Santiago to
San Luis, and has burned bridge and
removed some rails. Also that General
Pando has arrived at Palma"
Secretary Alger wired General Shat
ter in reply, praising the effective
work Of your noble army on Friday.
July l. The steady valor and heroism
of officers and men thrill the American
people with pride. The country mourns
the brave men who fell in battle They
have added new names 90 our roll OF