The San Francisco call., 1898-07-05

eral Shafter is no longer felt now that i the spanish fleet is out of the way A large number of men, however, are al- ready on the way. and others will fol- low
 The changed naval situation will bring no abatement in the activity of 1 the authorities here in carrying the war directly home to Spain. There is re- newed determination to get Commodore WatSon'S' eastern squadron away at the earliest. moment, for the double purpose kof striking blow at the coast towns of Spain and of pursuing Admiral Ca mara S. fleet, which has halted at the entrance of the Suez Canal Secretary Long made the official statement to-day that the fleet would sail at the earliest possible moment, and although he did not go into details as to it's purpose; it IS well understood that it-will devote it's attention to the Spanish coast and to Camara. The destruction of the Span ish fleet at Santiago relieves Admiral Sampson from surveillance of this squadron, and he can readily spare the ships intended for the attack on the Spanish coast.
 It has been Acting Admiral Sampson for some time, but that 1t will be Ad- mlral Sampson in fact as well as in name is the prevailing feeling in naval circles, as a result of the victory. re- ported blythe American admiral. Short ly after the war broke out Captain Sampson was made acting admiral in order to give him a rank befitting, his high command, although Us actual na- Nal rank remains captain. By a singu- lar: coincidence his rank was advanced to-day to that of commodore, owing to the retirement of Admiral Kirkland In the event of his now being made. an admiral it.would advance him over the f7111 G6N 1f that grade. and would place him just below that very famous hero of the war, Admiral Dewey.
 The release of Hobson and the other heroes of the Merrimac incident is likely to.be another result of the events transpirfng to-day. It may now come about either by surrender of the city, which would include the surrender of Hobson and other American prisoners in the city, or else by the exchange of Hobson for Admiral Cervera or some other high ranking naval official. Until to-day the possibility of exchanging HobsOn were slight as this Govern ment had no Spanish prisoners, of high rank to offer in his place. Now, how ever, they have one of the foremost ad- mirals of Spain, and among the 1900 other naval prisoners there are many officers of distipeutshed rank. To ex- change a Spanish admiral for an Amer ican naval constructor might seem strange under ordinary circumstances, but it would be done without any be- grudging by the authorities here, and would be particularly appropriate in view of the action of Cervera at the time Hobson surrendered to him.
 :, Adjutant-GeneralC Corbin sent the fol- lowing telegram to Shafter this after noon:
 As soon as you can do SO advis- edIy, telegraph me your recom- mendntions for promotion.
 This action was taken at the instance of the President and Secretary Alger.
 A remarkable feature of the fighting in Cuba, and one much commented upon in military circles, is the heavy loss in killed and wounded of commits stoned and commissioned officers. In spite of the distress which the loss of so many officers has occasioned the army officials point to the list as splen- did evidence of the dash and personal bravery of the men who wear shoulder straps. Among the killed and wounded since the first fight at Juragua have been officers. of every grade from colonel down and in numbers said to be almost unprecedented In proportion to the forces engaged. The loss of officers in the two days fighting around Santiago demonstrates to military men that the American officers lead their men wherever they are called to go and are setting an example whichs cannot but elevate the esprit de corps of the army.