Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-07-06


one side and,a stretch of frowning
American guns on the other. In
another dispatch General Shafter
epitor1ized the strength of his
position by saying:
tItee1 that I am master OF the
situation and can hold the enemy
fof any length Of time
In another dispatch General
ShRfter states that his demand for
thk surrender of Santiago is still
being considered by the Spanish
authorities, which indicates that
the refusal of the Spanish com.
mander to capitulate was not final.
Iniapy event, II o'clock on Tues
day, marks the limit OF Skaters
concession, and if Santiago has not
capitulated at that hour, the great
siege guns now brought to the
front and in position, backed by
the batteries of lighter field pieces,
will begin their WORK of destruc,
ton.
The pressing need of reinforcing
Shafter is no longer felt, now that
the Spanish fleet is out of the way.
A considerable number Of men,
however, are already on the way,
and others will follow.
The changed naval situation will
bring no abatement in the activity
oflthe authorities here in carrying
thk war directly home to Spain.
Ehere is renewed determination
toiget Commodore Watson's eastern
squadron away at the earliest
moment for the double purpose
OF striking a blow at the coast
towns of Spain and ofpursuing Ad-
miral Camara's fleet which has
halted at the entrance of the Suez
canal. Secretary Long made the
official statement today that the
fleet would sail at the earliest posi-
bic moment and although he did
NOT 30 into details as to its purpose
it is we'll understood that it will
devote its attention to the Spanish
coast and to Camara. The destruc-
ton of the Spanish fleet at Santiago
relieves Admiral Sampson from
surveillance of this squadron, and
he can readily spare the ships in
tended for the attack on the Span
ish coast.
WILL BE ADMIRAL IN FACT.
1t has been Acting Sampson for
some time, but that it will be Ad-
miral Sampson in fact as well as IN
name is the prevailing feeling IN
naval circles as a result of the vic
tory reported by the American ad-
niral. Shortly after the war broke
out Captain Sampson was made
acting admiral in order to give him
a rank fitting his high command.
although his natural naval rank
remains at captain. By a singular
coincidence his rank was advanced
today to that of commodore, owing
to the retirement of Admiral Kirk
land. In the event of his now be-
ing made an admiral, it would adj
vance him over the ten Commcdores
making up the list Of that grade
and would place him just below
that hero famous hero Of the war,
Admiral Dewey.
1t is of course purely conjeCtural
thus far, but it is a conjecture
Which receives such common &C.
ceptance in naval quarters that it IS
most likely to be realized.
The release of Hobson and the
other heroes OF the Merrimac Incl
dent is likely to be another result
of the events transpiring today. 1t
may now come about either by the
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 ofh-
cial. Until today the possibility
of exchanging Hobson was slight
as this government had no Spanish
prisoners of high rank to offer in
his place. Now, however, they
have one of the foremost admirals
of Spain and among the 1900 other
naval prisoners there are many OF.
fcers of the distinguished rank. To
exchange Spanish admiral for All
American naval constructor might
seem strange under ordinary cir
Icunstances, but it would be done
without any begrudging by the au-
Ithorities here and would be partic.
ularly appropriate in view OF the