Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-07

Gen Skaters other dispatches breathe
the same air OF confidence and determin-
alton as shown in his demand on the
Spanish commander. The first one made
public during the day stated that his lines
completely surrounded the town from the
bay on the north to San Juan River on
the south leaving the city thus enveloped
by stretch of water on one side and a
stretch of frowning American guns on
the other In another despatch Gen.
Shafter epitomized the strength of his
position by saying:-
If feel that / am master of the stua-
ton and car hold the enemy for any
length of time"
In another despatch Gen. Shafter states
that his demand for the surrender of San
tiago Is still being considered by the
Spanish authorities which indicates that
the refusal of the Spanish commander to
capitulatc was not final. In any event IL
O'Clock on Tuesday marks the limit of
Skaters concession and If Santiago has
not captuated 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 destruction.
| The pressing need of reinforcing SHAFT r
| 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 of the author
| tiles mere in carrying the war directly
home 10 Spain There Is renewed deter
mnation to get Commodore Watson's
Eastern squadron away at the earlir ct
moment. for the double purpose of strik =
ing a blow at the coast towns Of Spain.
and of pursuing Admiral Camara's fleet
which has halted at the entrance of the
Sucz Canal. Secretary Long made the Of
lhcial statement to-day that the fleet
would sail ut the earliest possible moment.
! The destruction of the Spanish fleet at
Santiago relieves Admiral Sampson from
surveillance OF this squadron, and he can
readily spare the ships intended for the
lSttnck on,thc Spanish coust.
SAMPSON WILL BE PROMOTED.
1t has been acting-Admral Sampson ror
some time but that it will be Admiral
Sampson in fact as well as In name is the
prevailing feeling i'm naval circles as Il re-
suit of the victory reported by the Amer.
lean Admiral Shortly after the wal
broke out Captain Sampson was made act
ing admiral IN order to give him Il ranL
hitting his nigh command although his
actual naval rank remains at Captain
by singular coincidence. his rank was
advanced to-day to that of Commodore
owing TO the retirement of Admiral Kirk
land. In the event of his now being mad,
an admiral. it would advance him over tn,
ten commodores making up the list OF
that grade. and would place him lust he.
low that very famous hero of the war
ADMIRAL Dewey. 1t is of course purcIN
iconjcctural thus far but 1t Is conjectur,
Wnlch receives such common acCcptnnc,
in naval quarters that it IL most liIicll
to be realized
The release OF ITobson and the othe,
Of la.
10 ne another result of the events trans
plring to-day. 1t may now come about
either ny the surrender of the city which
would include the surrender of Hobsor
ana other American prisoners in the city
or else by the exchange Of Hobson 70,
admiral Cervera or some other high rank
ing naval official
Until to-day the possibility of exchanp
ing iiobson was slight as this government
hnd no Spanish prisoners of high rank +
oifcr in his place. Now, however. the
have one of the foremost admlrals q
spain, and among the 1900 other naya
prisoners there are many officers of dis
tinguishcd rank. To exchange a SPANS
admiral for an American naval construc
tor might seem strange under ordinar
circumstances, but II will be done withou
any begrudging by the authorities her
and Will be particularly appropriate ii
view of the action of Ccrvera at the tim
Ilobson surrendered to him.
The despatch from the front Stain,
that there was likely to he criticism be
cause of treatment of foreign military at
taches excited much Indignation amon
? the military authorities here. 1t WA
! stated by one of the highest officers Il
Z tho service that the foreign gentlemen ha
received absolutely everything in the wa
OF accommodation. supplies, rations. etc
given to our own officers and men, VIVA
. was most surprising was that this pro
test should come at moment when ou
men were fighting in swamp and thicko
under blazing sun with thousand dea
or wounded and under the fire of an Ell
trenched enemy.
There is every disposition here to cxton
, the most complete courtesy to these ger
! tlemcn that Is consistent with the circun
stances. There is no purpose however.
recognize them as a superior set or
! give them greater attention in mount
= tents or attendance than our own officer
u and men receive.