The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-08

at Santiago and the capture or the
Spanish admiral, Cervera, with 1900
prisoners; the demand by General
Shafter for the surrender Of Santiago
by IL o'clock tomorrow on pain of
COMMANDMENT; word from Admiral
Dewey that the Ladrone islands had
been captured; that a Spanish gun
boat had surrendered; that 100 or more
Spanish officers and men were taken,
ton had landed-this is part of the
thrilling record of such a Fourth of
July as has not been known since the
bells Of Independence hall rang out
the tidings of American freedom. It
was a day when one momentous ven
id succession, each hour bringing
forth some new feature more startling
than what had gone before. The eli
max came at 1908 o'clock, when, amid
the widest cheering, which fairly
shook the great war, state and navy
building to it's foundation, Admiral
SIMPSONS dispatch announcing his
glorious victory n the entire de-
SlGuCIlOu Oh the spanish meet, was CIV
en- to the public.
The White house was naturally the
focal point of the enthusiasm and STIR
ring activity which marked official
Washington. 1t was the busiest day
the president has had since the war
began. Conference followed confer
ence with the heads of the military
and naval departments; high officers
of the service came and went in a
~~,+a nd ntnnI,y rtronra a~I ar
each our brought it's added lustre to
the American arms the crowd of Of
fiicials increased. The president had
not a moments respite. kilograms
came and went without cessation n
the historic old mansion presented a
scene such as has not been paralleled
since the momentous hours of the civ
il a
The story Of the day is best told in
the series of official dispatches, each
bearing date of July 4th, from Samp-
son, from Shafter and from Dewey.
Stirring as they all are, that of Samp-
son was recorded the honor or chief
Importance, not only for the immedi-
ate results secured, but also from the
effects of this crushing defeat in weak
ening the defences of the city of San
tiago, and in dealing Spain such a
staggering blow that she is left prac-
tically without a navy.
Although brief, Admiral SIMPSONS
dispatch told the story of fearful de-
struction. 1t not only disclosed the
tremendous prOwess of the American
fleet, but it again displayed the
strange immunity which the Ameri-
car sailors 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 engage
mont of thic M Onitr1n iC without
parallel in naval annals, save that
other parallel record which Dewey
made at Manila. With the Spanish
fleet destroyed, the way in partly
cleared for the advance of the Ameri-
can squadron into the harbor of San
tiago. If Cervera's armOred cruisers
could cross the mine field and clear the
Merrimac, at the entrance of the har-
Dor, the American ships can follow the
same course There are the inner for
tifications and island forts still to be
reduced, but they have passed through
baptism of fire recently and are little
more than ruins. Thus, with Skaters
guns laundering on Santiago On land
and Sampson on the harbor, the fall
of the city Is assured beyond further
question. The authorities here, mill
tary and naval, "a that Santiago has
already made it's best fight, and that
it's occupation is only a question of
time and very brief time.
General Skaters strong position
was shown in a series Of dispatches
giving his demand on the Spanish
General and Skaters ultimatum. Gen
eral Shafter breathed the same air
of confidence and determination as
shown in his demand o. the Spanish
commander. The first mad public
during the day, stated that his lines
completely surrounded the town from
the bay on the north to a Juan river
on the south, leaving the city thus en-
veloped by a stretch of water on one
side and a stretch of frowning Amer
lea guns on the other. In another
dispatch General Shafter epitomized
h strength of his position: Il feel
that 1 am master of the situation and
can hold the enemy at any length of
time"
In another dispatch General Shafter
states that his demand for the sur
of Santiago is still being con-
sidered by the Spanish authorities
which indicates that the refusal of the
Spanish commander to capitulate was
not final. In any event, IL o'clock on
Tuesday marks the limit Of Skaters
concession and if Santiago has not
c~apitulated at that hour, the great
siege guns now brought to the front
and in position, backed by the batter
g VI lighter HelO pieces, VIII DeSlu
their work of destruction.
PRESSING NEED REMOVED.
h pressing need of reinforcing
Shafter is no longer felt, now that
the Spanish fleet is out of the way. A
considerable numbe of men, howev-
er, are already on the way and others
will follow.
TO CARRY THE WAR INTO SPAIN.
The changed naval situation will
bring no abatement in the activity of
the authorities here in carrying the
war directly home to Spain. There is
renewed determination to get COmmo-
dore WatSon's eastern squadron away
at the earliest moment for the double
purpose of striking a blow at the coast
towns of Spain and of pursuing Ad-
miral Camara's fleet, which has halted
at the entrance of the Suez canal.
Secretary Long made the official state
ment today that the fleet would sail
he earliest possible moment and al |