The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-04
GLORIOUS NEWS.
American People Have just REASON
for Rejoicing.


for Rejoicing.
BY the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, July 4-Glorious
news from Cuba affords the American
people just reason for an enthusiastic
celebration of this, the nations nation
al day. Admiral Sampson has accom-
plished the work which he was direct
ed 10 perform when he left Key West
for the southern coast CT Cuba. He
was ordered TO find and destroy Ger
vera's fleet Several weeks ago Conn
n>odore Schley located the fleet in the
bay of Santiago. Yesterday afternoon
being bottled helpless in the harbor for
weeks, the fleet was destroyed. Moth
ing now remains of the Spanish squad
ron but shattered and burning hulks.
In addition to the splendid work &C
Complished by Admiral Sampson, Gen.
Shafter, in command of the land forces
before Santiago, had so far progressed
in the carrying out of his plans for
the reduction of the city, that at 1850
yesterday morning he demanded the
Immediately surrender of the Spanish
forces. At 4:30 yesterday afternoon.
Gen. Skaters demand had not been
complied with. so far az the war off,
cials here were able to ascertain. That
the demand will be emp led with. how
ever, Gen. Shaf5er fully believes, and
that the Stars and Stripes WILL on this
Fourth of July, be raised over the
former capital of Cuba, is regarded as
practically certain.
NEWS POSTED.
Shortly after u o'clock this morning
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Allen
left the White house hastily, and going
directly to the department posted the
bulletin announcing the destruction of
the fleet.
The information contained in the
statement was received early in the
evening, but it was not announced Of
fcially until several hours later. AS
result of its receipt, however a confer
ence of prominent officials was held at
the White house Immediately. Those
present at the conference besides the
president were Vice President Hobart,
Secretary Day, Secretary Long, Secre-
tary Alger, Postmaster General Smith,
Gen. Miles. Adjt. Gen. Corbin. Gen.
Guy V. Henry and Senator Hanna.
The information was discussed in all
its phases. The news sent by both
Gen. Shafter and Lieut.. Col. Allen was
received with intense satisfaction. 1t
was taken to indicate not only that Ad-
miral Sampson had accomplished mag
nifcently the task for which he had
been selected, but it also clearly proved
that Gen. Shafter was in much
stronger position than the war officials
had been led to believe he held.
One of the officials who attended the
conference said, after the news had
been officially announced, that it very
materially modified the seriousness of
the situation. The destruction of the
fleet which was given to the public re-
moves by far the most serious obsta-
Gle to the occupation of Santiago by
the American land forces.
FLEET DESTROYED.
During the almost continuous con-
flict of Friday and Saturday reports
show that the Spanish feet did awful
execution by Smelling the American
troops. 1t is regarded as unlikely that
with the fleet lying in the bay Gen
Skaters forces would have been able
safely to occupy Santiago. After the
reduction and capture of the outer de-
lenses of the city by Gen. Shafter it
became necessary that Admiral Ger
vera's fleet be eliminated from the
equation. Its elimination was exc
cuted by Sampson.
Details of the destruction of Ger
vera's fleet have not been received at
this writing by either the war or navy
departments. Whether SIMPSONS
ships entered the harbor and there at
tackled and annihilated the Spanish
squadron or whether Cervera made a
desperate dash past the sunken Mer-
rimac to the ocean beyond in the hope
that he might be able to save at least
a part of his fleet, has not been Off
cially ascertained.
Adjt Gen. COrbin voiced the FEELINGS
of everyone of the officials when he
said:
L don't care how the fleet was de-
stroyed. 1t was destroyed; that is
enough for me. 1t is great news for
the Fourth of July"