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


been supplemented by another just as de-
dsiyc and just as gratifying | y Admiral
Sampson at Santiago. The famous Cape
Verde fleet. which caused or naval de-
partmcnt much worriment and which
inflicted such injury on Gen. Skaters
forces, has been utterly destroyed. Adj
mirai CcrVora and 1860 of his men have
been made prisoners. and the capture of
| Santiago with its entire force of Spanish
soldiers must soon follow as u natural
consequence.
The attempt of the Spanish admiral to
escape with his feet from the hlrbor Of
Santiago dc Cuba showed that in his cs-
t!mat!on the fail of the city was a qucs-
ton of but few days. at most, and he
undoubtedly thought that his only chance
for escape from inevitable capture lay in
4 dash for liberty through the American
fleet. Tho result was what might have
been expected. Ccrvcra prevented his war
! ships from falling into our hands to lie
! turned against Spain. but lie ensured the
/ utter destruction of his squadron with the
loss of his entire command. In the mean
time he left the troops who have been
protecting the city of Santiago in sorry
position. with Admiral Ccrvera's fleet
eliminated not only are our land forces
I in position to take up the struggle where
1t was interrupted by the determination
NJ Gen Shartcr to await achievements.
/ but our fleet can also cooperate with
our land forces after removing obstacles
in the channel of the entrance to the hdr-
hor ana thus subject the Spaniards to
calling and destructive cross fire. Moth
ing remains for the garrison, therefore,
Lut TO surrender.
Admiral Ccrvcrl will undoubtedly be
ccnsurcd by some people for recklessly
facing almost certain destruction in re-
spoons" to Il mere sentiment, but It is to
tc lCrrc in mind that SPANS peculiar
soNsc Of honor demands just such sacrifice
80 this The spirit manifested by Ger
vera WAS the same as that exhibited by
Nputiio at Manila. lie preferred the de-
.:ruction of his entire fleet and the loss
90 his entire force of men to the surron-
de" of his ships into the hands OF the AM
orleans, knowing that the former course
would receive the approval of the great
mass of the Spanish people. The deter
mircd bravery shown by the Spaniarls in
this. as IN other instances. certainly vim
dicutcs their claim to courage of an UNI
usual degree. and almost any ether nation
under similar circumstances would lie ex-
l,ct,d to take advantage of this crushing
blow to sue for peace.
/ Premier Sagasta has stated repeatedly.
/ however. that Spain would fight to the
bitter end, which may be taken to mean
that she will prosecute the war until all
of her colonies are lost TO her or until sho
/ has no war ships left with which To con-
/ tinuc operations on this side of the At
lantc. But whatever may have been the
former attitude of the government a Mad
rid the overwhelming defeat at Santiago
/ can not fail to have a demoralizing effect
upon the Spanish populace, as well as
/ upon the ministry itself. Spain has now
! lost two fleets in succession. which in
cludod some of her finest war vessels: and
outside of the few uncquippod craft which
arc now being collected at Cad2, her ma.
val resources are confined to the feet
! which has started for the Philippines
under command OF Admiral Camara.
The destruction of Ccrvcra's fleet leaves
undertake operations in new directions
A portion of the vessels which made up
SIMPSONS victorious squadron can be sent
! to lombard San Juan in Porto Rico. while
another portion is despatched to the Span
sh coast with the flying squadron and
thus make more certain the destruction
ct Camara's fleet, which will now in all
probability be recalled.
The direct results of the splendid work
Of our forces at Santiago can not be
otherwise than far-reaching in Cuba. The
Spanish have now practically lost their
stronghold in the southeastern section of
! the island. \ few garrisions remain, but
these scattered forces cannot hope To cope
with our forces which are now strongly
established about the city of Santiago and
in a comparatively short time the entire
province of Santiago de Cuba will UNI
duubtedly fan into our hands. There is
no communication between that province
and the western extremity of Cuba by rail
and nasmuch as the intervening provinces
Of Santa Clara and Puerto Principe are
held Ey the Cuban revolutionsts there is
no avenue of escape, much less hope of
aid In that direction. Henceforth, follow
ing the capture Of Santiago, our chief
work in Cuba will be the reduction of
Havana and other ports in that vicinity,
and in the light of our recent achieve
ments there can be no doubt of the speedy
accomplishment Of that result.
Both our land and naval forces have dis
played the highest degree of bravery and
efficiency in the Santiago campaign. but
the world will undoubtedly be more i'm
pressed by the work of Admiral SIMPSONS
squadron in completely destroying the
Spanish fleet than by the services of our
army. This remarkable achievement on
tho part Of Sampson, following so soon az
ter Dcwcy's unparalleled victory, fixes
the status of our modern navy in the very
front rank of the navios Of the world. The
nations now know that we can still pro-
ducc the best fighters as well as the most
effective warships; and among the naval
heroes Of the world n high place will
hcnceforth be given to Dewey aud Samp-
son.
Barbarous Methods of Warfare.