Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-04


burning on the beach. # was witnessed by
Captain Smith, who told operator no doubt
of its correctness ALLEN,
Signal Officer"
WASHINGTON, July 4-The following
cable dispatch was given out at the White
House:
PLAYA DEL ESTE. July 4.-The de-
struction of Cervera's feet is confirmed.
ALLEN. Lieutenant Colonel
WASHINGTON. July 4.-Glorious news,
on the celebration of this, the nations hol-
iday. Admiral Sampson has accomplished
the work which he was directed to perform
when he left Key West for the coast of
Cuba He was ordered to find and destroy
Cervera's feet. Several weeks ago Com
of Santiago. Yesterday, after being bottled
helpless in the harbor for weeks, the fleet
was destroyed. Nothing now remains OF
the Spanish squadron but shattered and
burning hulks.
In addition to the splendid work accom-
plished by Admiral Sampson, General Shaf-
ter, In command of the land forces before
Santiago had so far progressed in the car
rying out of his plans for the reduction of
the city that at 10:se yesterday morning
he demanded the immediate surrender of
the Spanish forces. At $40 yesterday aft
ernoon General Skaters demand had not
been compiled with, so far as was official
ly known. That the demand will be COM
Piled with, however General Shafter fully
Believes, and that the stars and stripes will
former capital of Cuba is regarded as
practically certain.
Shortly after Il o'clock this morning As
sistant Secretary Of the Navy Allen left
the White House hastily and going direct
ly to the department posted the news on
the bulletin board:
The information was received early in the
evening, but 1t was not announced officially
until several hours later. AS result of
its receipt, however, conference of prom
inent officials was held at the White
House Immediately. Those present at the
conference besides the president were: Vice
AIger, Postmaster General Smith. General
Miles, Adjutant General Corbin. General
Guy V Henry and Senator Hanna.
The information was discussed in all its
phases. The news sent by both General
Shafter and Lieutenant Colonel Allen was
received with intense satisfaction. 1t was
taken to indicate not only that Admiral
Sampson had accomplished. magnificently.
the task to which he had been set, but it
was clearly proved that General Shafter
was in a much stronger position than the
war officials had been led to. believe he
held. One OF the officials who attended
the conference said, after the news had
been officially announced, that it very ma
terialIy modified the seriousness of the sit
uation. The destruction of the fleet, which
was not confirmed until a few minutes be-
fore the news was given to the public,
- moves by far the most serious obstruction
toward the capture of Santiago by the land
- During the almost continuous conflict of
Friday and Saturday reports show that
the Spanish feet did awful execution by
shelling the American troops 1t is. re-
garded as unlikely that with the feet fy-
ing in the bay General Skaters forces
would have been able safely to occupy San
tiago. After the reduction and capture of
the other defeRses of the city by General
Shafter. it becomes necessary that Ad-
miral Ceryera's fleet be eliminated from
the equation. Its elimination was executed
by Admiral Sampson. thus leaving the way
nHuUnaS