The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-04
SIMPSONS FEAT TOO
GOOD FOR BELIEF.
Continued From Page L

~ 10 the department posted the following
On the bulletin board:
The destruction o. Ce-vera's feet is
conarneI''
The informal don contained In the above
statement came early IN the evening. hu,
il was not announced officially until hours
late~- AS result % lis receipt. however.
a conference % prominent officials Was
held al the White House Immediately.
Those present at the conference besides tae
president, were Vice Pveside TT Hobart, Sec
retaxies Day. Long. Alger. Postmaster Gen.
4ra Smith. Gen. Miles. Adjutant General
Corbin. Gen Guy V. Henry and Senator
Hanna The information was discussed In
ali its phases. The news sent by both
Gen Shatter and Lieut.. Col. Allen was
received with intense satisfaction. 1t was
taken 10 Indicate not Only that Admiral
Sampson had accomplished magniticen,iy
the work TO which he had been set but
it was clearly proved that Gen. Shafier
was in a stronger position than the war
officials had been lei 10 believe he had.
one OF the officials VINO attended the con-
ference said after the news had been OFF,
ciaAy announced tina: the victory material
ly modified the seriousness of the situation.
The destruction OF the feet. which was
rot confirmed until few minutes before
the news was given 10 ina public removed
by far the most serious obstruction toward
the capture Of Santiago by the land forces.
During the almost continuous conflict OF
Friday and Saturday. reports show that
the Spanish fleet did awful execution by
Smelling the American troops. II is re
garded as unlikely that with the feet ly-
ing In the hay Gem Skaters forces wouli
have been able safely TO occupy Santiago.
After the reduction and capture of the
outer defenses OF the city by Gen. Shafter.
it became necessary that Admiral Cerveras
flee, be eliminated from the conflict. Its
elimination was accomplished by Admiral
Sampson. thus leaving the way open for
the continued advance OF Gen. Skaters
troops upon the city.
Details OF the destruction OF Ceryera's
flee: have not been resolved at this writing
by either the war or navy departments.
Whether Admiral SIMPSONS ships entered
the harbor and there attacked and annihi-
lated the Spanish squadron or whether
Ceryera made a desperate dash past thu
sunken Merrirnac TO the ocean beyond in
the hope tina. he might be able to save at
least a part OF his fleet, has not been OF
tciaily reported.
Adjutant General Corbin voiced The feel
ing Of every one OF the officials when he
stroyed 1t vas destroyed. That is enough
for me. 1t is great news for the Fourth
O. July
The reet OF Admiral Cery era was one OF
the finest Spain possessed.
Three of the vessels, the Almirante
Oauendo, the Vlcaya and the Cristohal
Colon were modern armores. cruisers OF
the first class OF the remaining vessels
Of the fleet. the F'uror and Terror were
torpedo boat destroyers and the Reina
Mercedes was an old vessel that was sunk
a short time ago by shell from Admiral
Simpsons fleet. The Terror was not with
the feet at Santiago. but is supposed TO
b. at San Juan, Porto Rico. undergoing
with the ST Paul few days ago.
In addition To the above mentioned YES
seis. there were two torpedo boats and a
collier in the Spanish fleet originally.
Whether the collier was at Santiago or
not is not known.