The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-06
SILL sooLlNo THEMSELVES.
Madrid Public Still Believe Admiral Ger
vera Escaped.

Madrid, July 5.-The general public of
the Spanish capital still believe Admiral
Cervera and his squadron have escaped
from Santiago, thanks to the official
dispatches given ont by the government
and the interviews granted by the minis
tiers. 800. 1890 49, s sr-s G Gsssga
A despatch from Capt General Blanco
says:
"Cervera's squadron at ii O'Clock On
Sunday lmorning, broke the centre OF the
line of the American fleet and proceeded
| at full steam in a westerly direction"
| Not one of the official dispatches re-
ceived from Cuba up to this hour make
mention of the destruction of Admiral
Cervera's squadron and consequently the
American accounts of the battle cause
immense surprise and sensation, though
| they are discredited by the Spanish otfic-
ials.
Every one is anxiously awaiting news
OF today's expected bombardment OF
| Santiago de Cuba, and it is anticipated
that the fighting will result in appalling
bloodshed. Tho SpaniardS doubt whoth-
er the Americans, even if they destroy the
| city, will succeed in penetrating into it.
as their losses are confidently expected to
| be enormous, since the arrival Of the
| Spanish reinforcements at Santiago de
|
enable Santiago to make more tena-
clous defence than would otherwise have
| been the case.
There Is much comment here over the
news Of the departure of the foreign war
| ships from Manila at the moment of the
arrival there of the AmericanEreinforce-
ment.
Only two German, two French andifour
British warships now remain at Manila,
and people are asking if international
politics have undergone a change and if
the Americans are to be given free hand
in the Philippine islands.
The news received hero that the British
consul at Hong Kong had sent a despatch
boat to Manila for the purpose of inform
ing Rear Admiral Dewey of the fact that
Admiral Camara's squadron had traversed
the Suez canal is much commented upon,
and the newspapers assert that Egyptian
and British authorities purposely placed
obstacles in the way of Admiral Canara' IS
departure, in order to delay his arrival at
Manila as long as possible, adding that
the British have been more scrupulous
in maintaining the neutrality OF tho Suez
canal than they were when they allowed
a steamer to leave Hong Kong loaded
with arms for the Manila insurgents
The Spanish minister for war, Senior
Aunon, is quoted in an interview as
saying: II am highly pleased with the
vera's squadron which left Santiago the
moment Admiral Cervera judged it op-
perfume to do so.''
After eulogizing the Spanish admiral,
the minister of marine added:
1.-The squadron could only leave the
harbor at given moment, and when the
moment arrived Admiral Cervera seized
it. I have never doubted he would dc
SO. But Of course it is difficult to see
the result. The American squadron was
taken by surprise. After attacking lis, the
American admiral detached five of his
best ships which steamed for some tiue
abreast of ours, but they were soon left
astern. Only the Iowa ana Brooklyn
were able to follow our fleet, but it is Ger
tain they will not do SO far, for fear of
rcprisals on our part. Admiral Ceryera
deserves great praise"
1t is said in Madrid that Gen. Pando
is still at Havana, and that the reinforce
ments for Santiago de Cuba are COM
manded by Gen. Pureja and Coils.
! Escarios;; and Mario.