The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-05

Washington, July 4.-The complete
humiliation of the Spanish squadron
at Santiago and the capture of the
Spanish admiral, Cervera, with 1900
prisoners: the demand by General
Shafter for the surrender of Santiago
by i o'clock, noon, on pain Of lombard
ment: word from Admiral Dewey that
the LadTone islands had been captured;
that a Spanish gunbOat had surren-
dsred; that hundred or more Spanish
officers and men were taken and that
our first Philippine expedition had
Ianded-that is in part the thrilling rec
ord OF such a Fourth of July as has
net been known since the bells OF In
dependence hall rang out the tidinSs OF
American freedom. It was q day when
one mOmentous event followed another
in constant and rapid SUCCESSION eacn
hour bringing forth some new feature
more startling than what had gone be
fore The climax came at O'Clock,
when, amid the widest cheering, which
fairly shook the great war, state ana
navy building TO its foundations, Ad-
nlIral Simpsons dispatch announcing
his glorious victory and the entire de-
sLructiGn of the Spanish fleet was given
TO the public.
The !, ME House was The focal point
OF the enthusiasm and stirring 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
he military and naval departments,
high officials of the service came and
went in d constant and steady stream,
and as each hour brought ats a1deu
ulster to the American arms, the
crowds Of officials increased.
The president had non a moments
respite. kilograms came and went
without cessation and the historic old
mansion presented a scere such as has
not been paralleled since the moment
Gus hours Of the civil war.
SIMPSONS VICTORY.
Although brief, Admiral SIMPSONS
dispatch tells the story Of fearful de-
struction. It not only disclosed the
tremendous progress of the American
feet, but it again displayed the i'm
nlunity which the American sailor
seems 10 have in the midst of death
and carnage. That but one Of our
sailors, a yOeman on the Brooklyn,
should have been killed in an engage
Inent Of this magnitude is without d
parallel in naval annals. save in that
other unparalleled record which Dewey
made at Manila. With the Spanish
feet destroyed, the way is partly
cleared Tor the advance Of the Amer
lean squadron into the harbor of San
Jiagc. Ii Cervera's armoTed cruisers
could cross the mine field and clear the
wreck at the entrance. the ships can
follow the same course. Then are the
inner Notifications and island fortifica-
tons to be reduced, but they have
passed through a baptism of fire re-
Gently and are little more than runs.
Thus, with Skaters guns laundering
on Santiago from land and Simpsons
from the harDOr, the fall of the city
is assured beyond further question.
The authorities, military and naval
say that Santiago has already made
its best fight. and that its occupation
is only a question Of time, and very
brief time.
SKATERS POSITION.
General Skaters strong position was
shown in a series of dispatches. Most
convincing of all as to his feeling OF
confidence and strength was that dis
patch given out late in the day, in
which General Shafter gives the text
of his demand for the surrender of the
city on pain Of bombardment.
General Skaters other dispatches
breathe the same account Of confidence
and determination as shown in his de-
mand on the Spanish commander. The
first one made public during the day
stated that his lines completely sur
rounded the town from the bay north
to San Juan river on the south, leav-
ing the city thus enveloped by stretch
of water on one side and a stretch Of
frowning American guns on the other
In another dispatch, General Shafter
epitomized the strength OF his position
by saying:
Il feel that am master of the situa-
ton. and can hold the enemy for any
length of time"
In another dispatch General Shafter
states that his demand for the surren-
der of Santiago is still being consid
cred by the Spanish authorities, which
indicates that the refusal of the Span
ish commander TO canitulats was NOT