The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-05

without a parallel ina navay aiiilAlr, save
fn tf1t other unparalleled record whicn
Dewey made al Manila. with the span
ish foot destroyed. the way Is paruy
cleared for the advance of the American
squadron into the harbor Of Santiago. II
Ccryeras armored cruisers could cross
the mine field and clear the Merrimac al
the entrance Of the harb0r tho Aneri-
can ships can follow tho same course.
FEEBLE OBSTACLES.
There are the inner fortihcatiCns ana
island forts still 10 he reduced. but
thev have passed through a baptism OF
fire recently and arc little more thah
ruins. Thus with Skaters guns thun-
dcrins on Santiago from the land anu
SIMPSONS from the harbor' the
fan OF the city Is assured beyond furth-
or question The authorities here milf
tary and naval say that Santiago has al
ready made It's best fight. ana taat l,s
occupation f. only a question OF uHhe'
and very brlef time.
General Shafters strong position was
slown I'm a series OF dispatches. Most
convincing Of all as TO his feeling OF
confidence and strength was that dispatch
given out late IN the day in which Gen
eral Shafter gives the text OF the de-
/ mard for the surrender OF the city on
! pain Of bombardment
MASTER or THE SITUATION.
Cen Skaters other dispatch breathes
tho s7me air or confidence and determi-
nation as shown in his demand on me
| Spanish commander The first one made
public during the day stated that his
! lines completely surrounded the town
/ from the bay on the north 10 San Juan
river on the south. leaving the city thus
| ervcioped by "A stretch OF water on one
| side and stretch of frown,ng American
guns on the other. In another dispatch
/ General Shafter epltomized the strength
| OF his position by saying
or feel that I am master OF tho situa-
! ton, and I can hold the enemy for any
| length OF time"
REFUSAL NOT FINAL.
IN another dispatch General Shafter
states that his demand Tor tho surrender
or Santiago is stiu being considered by
| the Spanish authorities, which indicates
| that the refusal OF the spanish command 70
/ er 70 capitulate. was not final. In any
event L o'clock on Tuesday marks the
| limit OF Skaters concession and II San
uago has not capituated at that hour
great siege guns. now brought 10 the
front and in position, backed by the bat
teries OF lighter feld pieces. will begin
their work OF destruction.
The pressing need Of reinforcing Shat
ter Is no longer felt. now that the Span
ish feet is out of the way. A cOnsidera-
bic number OF men, however. are already
on the way. and others will follow.
THE WAR WILL BE PUSHED.
The changed naval situation will bring
no abatement IN the activity Of the au-
thorlties here in carrying the war directly
home 10 Spain. There is renewed deter
mnation 10 get Commodore Watson's
g. -. us ha arli u
moment for the double purpose Of strik-
ing a blow at the coast towns Of Spain
and OF pursuing Admiral Camara's heet'
which has halted AT the entrance OF the
SueZ canal Secretary Long made the
official statement that the feet would
sail az the earliest possible moment. ana
though he did not go into details as
10 it, purpose. II Is well understood that
81 Will devote its attention % the Spanish
coast and 10 Camara. The destruction OF
the Spanish fleet al Santiago relieves Ad-
mirat SAMPSON from surveillance OF this
-qraerou. and he, can readily spare
the ships intended for the attack on the
Spanish coast.
NOW ADMIRAL IN FACT
II has been Acting Admiral SAMPSON
for some time, but that 1t VIII be AZ
miral Sampson in fact as well as IN
name Is the prevailing feeling in naval
circles as a result of the victory reported
bv the American Admiral Shortly after
the war broke out Captain Sampson was
made acting admiral in order 20 give him
a rank htting his comm I'd, although
his actual naval rank remained al cdp-
tain. BY a singular coincidence ms rank
was advanced to-day 10 that or commo-
dore owing TO the retirement or ADM 10
raj Kirkland. In the event or his now
being made an admiral IL would advance
him over the ten commodores making
mn tho list OF that grade. and would place
him lust below that very famous nero
~ the war Admiral Dewey. IL Is, OF
course. purely conicctural thus far, but
it IS a conjecture which receives such
common acceptance I'm naval quarters
that II is most likely TO be realized.
HCBSON WILL BE FREE.
The release OF HobsOn and the othei
heroes OF the merrimac incident Is hkeIy
Ia Doe another result of the events trans
piring to-day. IL may now come ABOUT
eitber bv the surrender Of the city. which
would include the surrender Of Hoosoh
and other American prisoners there OF
elss bv the exchange or HObsOn for Al
niraI Cervera or some other high rank
''7 CRIrICIsM IrNCALLcD FOR.
The dispatch from the 'front.' stating
.hat there was nkeiy To be some crluciH
becauss of tho treatment OF foreign
military attaches, excited much indlsna-
fon among the military authorities here
n was stated by one OF the highest ON
| co,.s ip Inc service that the foreign gentle
men nad received absolutely eyerytnlhs
| in tine way Of accommodations supplies
! ratious. etc. given 10 our own ofncers
| go men what was most surprising
| c.ss that this protest should come AT a
| ,,Cr,ent when our men were lighting in
@vyann and tricket under blazing SUM-
/ with A thousand dead or wounded ana
| under the fire OF an entrenched enemy
| ,rhere is every disposition hero To eA'
! tcnd the most complete courtesy TO these
| gentlemen that is consistent with the
! circumstances. There IS no purpose
however. To- recognize them as superior
| - ~. ~, nlNn them great0r attention ln