The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-05
Spanards at Santiago Given Until Noon To-Day to
Surrender -Noncombatants Removed-Com-
modore Watson Ordered to Spain.

great war. state and navy building to foun-
dation. Admiral SIMPSONS dispatch an
nouncing his glorious victory and the en-
tire destruction of the Spanish fleet. was
given to the public
The White House was naturally the focal
point of the enthusiasm and stirring ac-
tivity which marked official Washington.
1t was the busiest day the President has
had since the war began. Conference fol-
lowed conference. with the heads of the
military and naval departments, high Off
GERS of the service came and went in a
constant and steady stream and as each
hour brought it's added luster to the Amer
lean arms the crowd Of officials increased.
The President had not moments respite.
kilograms came and went without cessa-
ton and the historic old mansion presented
a scene such as has not been uaralleled
since the momentous hours OF the civil
war.
The story of the day is best told in the
series of official dispatches, each bearing
date Of July 4, from Sampson, from shafter
and from Dewey. Stirring as they all are,
that of Sampson was accorded the hono-
of chief Importance, not only for the inn
mediate results secured, but also from the
effects of this crushing defeat in weakening
the defenses Of the city of Santiago. and
in dealing Spain such staggering blow
that she is left practically without a navy.
The admirars dispatch is as follows:
"Siboney, July 3. night, via Playa del
Este and Haiti, 3:15 a. m, July 4.-The fleet
under my command offers the Nation as q
Fourth of July present the destruction OK
the whole Of Cervera's fleet Not one ship
escaped. The fleet attempted to escape at
$3.50 a. m, and at 2 p. m. the last, the CTIs- J
tobaI Colon, had run ashore, sixty milesC
west of Santiago, and had let down her coll =
ors. The Infanta Maria Teresa, Oquendo
and Vizcaya were forced ashore, burned and
blown up within twenty miles of Santiago.
The Furor and Pluton were destroyed with
in four miles of the port. Our loss, one
killed and two wounded. The enemy's loss
is probably several hundred, from gun fire,
explosions and drowning About 1900 pris-
oners taken, including Admiral Cervera-
The man killed was George E. Ellis, chief
yeoman Of the Brooklyn"
Although BRIEF Admiral SIMPSONS dis
patch tells the story of fearful destruction
1t not only disclosed the tremendous Prov
ess of the American fleet. but it again dis
played the strange immunity which the
American sailor seems to have in the midst
Of death and carnage. That but one Of our
sailors a yeoman on the Brooklyn, should
have been killed in an engagement OF this
magnitude, is without q parallel in naval
annals save in that other unparalleled rec
ord which Dewey made at Manila
With the Spanish feet destroyed, the way
Is partly cleared for the advance of the
American squadron into the harbor of SAINT
iago. If Cerveras armored cruisers could
cross the mine field and clear the Merrimac,
at the entrance to the harbor. the American
ships can follow the same course. There are
the inner fortihcations and island forts stiiI
to be reduced. but they have passed through
a baptism of fire recently and are little
more than ruins. Thus with Skaters guns
laundering on Santiago from the land. and
Sampson from the harbor, the fall of the
city. is assured beyond further question The
authorities here. military and naval, say
that Santiago has already made its best
fight. and that its occupation is only ques-
tion of time-and very brief time.
SKATERS DEMAND ON SANTIAGO.
General Skaters strong position was
shown in a series Of dispatches. Most con-
vinoing Of all as to his feeling Of confidence
and strength was that dispatch given out
late in the day. 10 which General shafter
gives the text Of his demand for the sur