Griggs courier., 1898-07-22
GEN. SHAFIR'S MESSAGE
he Tells of th. Occupation Of San
/ tiago by the Army Under
His Command.
THE SWEEPING EXTENT Of the VICTORY
The General Predicts That to Have
Taken the City by Assault Would
Have Cost 6,OOO Ltves-PreDaring
the Puerto Rico Campaign-Gen.
BlancO IL "BOttled Up"

Washington, July 1s.-The Ameri-
can flag is now waving over Santiago.
The first message conveying the news
| of Santiago's formal surrender was
received at the white house shortly be-
fore II o'clock, just as the president
was preparing to go to church.
Gen. Skaters Dispatch.
Late in the afternoon the official dis
| patch came from Gen. Shafter giving
in brief military fashion an unusually
clear statement from the general of
the days events. 1t was entirely sat
isfactory from every point of view.
showing that the American army was
| in, complete control of city that it
would have cost 5000 lives to capture
by storm. Moreover, it was very en-
couraging from a medical view, in that
it showed, contrary to what had been
expected, that there was little sick
ness and scarcely any yellow fever in
Santiago. but a great deal of suffering
and distress. Following is the dis
patch:
Santiago de Cuba, July 17-Adjutant
| General United States Army. Washington:
| have the honor to announce that the
American flag has been. this instant. II
the civil government In the city Of Santi-
| ago. An immense concourse Of people pres
ent. squadron Of cavalry and regiment
Of infantry presenting arms and band
playing national air. Light battery fired
salute 21 guns. Perfect order Is being MAIN
tained by municipal government. Distress
is very great. but little sickness in town.
Scarcely any yellow fever. A small gun
boat and about 200 seamen left by Cervera
have surrendered to me. Distractions are
being removed from mouth of harbor.
Upon coming into the city discovered
perfect ENHANCEMENT OF defenses. Fight
:ng as the Spaniards did the first day it
would have cost 5000 lives to have taken
depositing arms since daylight in the
armory, over which ! have guard. Gen.
Toral formally surrendered the place and
all stores at nine a. m.
wv. r. SHAFTER, Major General"
Arms Surrendered.
At 1905 o'clock Sunday night Adjt.
Corbin made public the following dis
patch from Gen. Shafter:
Headquarters United States Army, San
tiago. July ITO Adjutant General U. 8.
A.: My ordnance officers report about 1000
At the mouth Of the harbor there are quite
number Of fine modern guns. about six
inch; also two batteries Of mountain guns.
together with a saluting battery of Is old
bronze guns. Disarming and turning in
rot yet taken. SHAFTER.
Major General Commanding"
Puerto Rico Next.
The president, after his return from
! church, had conference with Sec
retaries Alger and Long and Capt.
Crowineshield, chief of the bureau of
navigation, and member of the naval
board. 1t was stated after the meet
ing that plans had been discussed for
an aggressive movement, in which both
army and navy will take part against
Puerto. Rico. Before going to the
white house Secretary Alger had been
in conference with Gen. Brooke for
two hours. They had before them q
large number of maps of Puerto Rico
and the plans Of campaign were dis
cussed from every point, of view. 1t
is expected that Gen. Miles will go di-
rect from Santiago to Puerto Rico and
that Gen. Stone and Col. Michler, of his
staff, will leave from New York in
day or two on the Resolute, to join the
general at Santiago. Secretary Long
would not discuss the naval pro-
gramme except to say that active
preparations are on foot for the next
forward movement.
..BlancO Bottled Up"
Washington, July 1s.-It is probable
that Gen. Shafter will act as censor,
of Blanco's dispatches to the Spanish
government in the future. Shafter is
in possession of the cable office in San
tiago through which all of Blan-
co.'s dispatches have passed. Blanco
is cut off from communication with
the outside world, and will be unable
to send advices to his government un-
less he is willing to submit his dis
patches to Gen. Shafter for approval.
Blanco had full swing as long as San
tiago was in possession of Toral, and,
judging from his reports to Madrid, he
achieved many great journalistic tri-
umphs.
10 Not Dead.
Buda-Pesth, July 1S.-There is no
truth in the announcement telegraphed