Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-04
Sampson Engages cevera's Fleet
and the Spanish Ships Are
Destroyed.
sHAFTRR DEMANDS SURRENDER
And Believes That the Demand Will
Be Promptly Complied With By
the Spanish Commander.
DISPATCHES ARE CONTRADICTORY.

Earlier Report from shafter Says He Can.
mot Garry the City without Reinforce
ments, While Miles Calls the Friday
Fight Drawn BattIe-Losses on Our
sde Put ut 1000 In AII-Some Michigan
Men In the Casualty List-Raport 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.
Inc destruction OF Cervera's fleet is
confirmed. tSlgned.l 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 ana burning on the
beach. 1t was witnessed by Captain
Smith. who told the operator. There
Ii no doubt of Its 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 3:
Early this msrning'I sent a demand
Tor the immediate surrender ofSantiago,
threatening to lombard the city. / be-
lieve 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 tire Dispatch and other news he
has General MNes soncllL1ts that tire
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 werk.
General sbaftor would probably give
up FL Caney and the plain not far from
Santiago.
Our Troops 10 Withdraw.
Is understood that General Shafter
will withdraw to the hills near the sea
and await achievements which will
be sent as soon az possible. Assistant
Secretary Mieklejohn is now busy ar
ranging for transportation.
General Skaters Dispatch to AIrer.
Following Is the text of General Shat
ter's 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 line. Upon approaching it we find
II OF such character and the defense
81 stFOHg tlht u VIII ne impossible to
carry II by storm with my present
forces. Our losses up to date will az
gregate 1.o00 but the list has not vet
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 I'D on
the trenches.
General Wheeler is seriously IN. and
VIII probably have to 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 repulsed.
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 a 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 nsble army on Friday.
July !. The steady yalor and heroisu,
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 to our roll OF
heroes"