The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-06
AMAZING CREDULITY

OF the spanIards, who are celebrating
the MESoapo Of cSrVsFG"-GoTsrnmeni
SuppreSses the TruIh-SituatlOn Would
be Amusing, iEit were Net so Pathetic
ally Tragic.
Copyright, 1888. by the Associated Press
MADRID, July 8, p. m.--Almost In
describablee enthusiasm continues to pre-
vail here over the supposed escape of
Admiral cerevra and his squadron from
the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The
admirars name is on every tongue. and
1t is claimed that It was he who saved
Santiago de cubn by adding to General
LAnares handful OF soldiers his brave
sailors to man the guns ashore and re-
pei the Americans under General Shat
ter"
such is about the exultant euiogy Of
Admiral Cervera heard on all sides, this
state Of public feeling being due to the
official announcements from Santiago.
For instance, one statement from Santt-
ago Is as follows: when Admiral Ger
era found that 1t was certain Col Es-
carlos relnforcements were in close
proximity to Santiago. the admiral held
q council with the commanders OF his
squadron, disclosing to them plan to
force the blockade In broad daylight.
The commanders responded unanimous
~, .Adlante' (forward).
"Tt was then arranged that the tor
pedo deBtToyerS should take the lead,
feigning an attack, and discharge the
torpedoes against the enemy's ships, the
Cristobat Colon protecting their ad-
vance, sheltered by the batteries OF
MoEro castle, and distTRctiRg the enc
my's attention, while the remainder Of
the squadron sailed out OF the hnrbor.
THE Americans at first were taken by
surprise Then recovering, they opened
tremendous fire, especially against the
torpedo boat destroyers, which vessels
Admiral Cervera had instructed to
steer an opposite course to the squad
ron. The Americans were deceived, and
manoeuvred toward the supposed
course Of the SpauIards, while Admiral
Cervera went fun steam ahead, main
tanning d continuous firs until clear Of
the American hnes, and then steamed
away westward, pursued and breasted
for some distance by the swiftest Amer
lean vessels untif they were lost sight OF
from Moro castle.
TN the meantime the torpedo boat de-
stroyers sank under rain OF shell from
the numerous American warships. 1t Is
presumed part OF their crew were saved
by the enemy or swan ashore. A num-
ber OF life buoys were provided on board
the torpedo boat destroyers, whose
crews anticipated that their vessels
woulS be destroyed.
The foregoing Is the popular Spanish
version OF the sortie Of Admiral Cervera
from the harbor OF Santiago de Cuba,
and the sacrifice OF the crews Of the tor
pedo boat destroyers Is said to be highly
appreciated by the queen regnt, while
the general public Is overjoyed at their
conduct.
It Is supposed here that Admiral Ger
vera Is running for Havana, since he
has not been reported as arriving at
CIenfuegoB. and there Will be tremen-
dous anxiety here until Il is reported
that Admiral CerveTG and his squadron
are safe In Havana harbor. Hopes are
expressed in this city that the Spanish
admiral may capture or destroy some
American vessels whi1e on his way to
Havana.
Forelgn news giving contradictory
versions OF the sortie have cast q unge
OF perpleXity and dampnesS upon the
general rejoicing. In military circles It
Is considered that General ShRfter has
been checked, that Rear Admiral Samp-
son has been baRed, and that the as
peot OF the war has changed, but the
universal expressions Of opinion is that
peace Is impossible until something oc-
ours which Ii satisfactory to the ma
tIonal feeling.