SURRENDER OR SHELL SANTIAGO

 

Maj. Gen. William Rufus Shafter.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, July 15, 1898.

SURRENDER OR SHELL.

Crisis Reached In the Army Affairs at Santiago.

ACTION NO LONGER DELAYED.

Two Previous Bombardments Clearly Demonstrated That the City Is Completely at Our Mercy and Can Soon Be Destroyed by Our Joint Land and Sea Forces—Spain Seeking to Open Peace Negotiations—Refugees From Santiago Are Starving—Review of the Events of the War.

   During the past week several war events have occurred, the most important centering around Santiago de Cuba. General Shafter delayed bombarding the city until the arrival of reinforcements. Then another demand was made on General Toral, who has been in command of the Spanish troops in Santiago since General Linares was wounded, for the surrender of the city. To this second demand General Toral replied offering to surrender the city if the Spanish forces be allowed to retain their arms, ammunition and flags, and leave the city in a regimental formation with honors of war to join General Luques’ troops at Holquin. This proposition was promptly refused by General Shafter and an ultimatum sent that hostilities would at once be resumed.

   The bombardment of the city then began according to the program arranged by General Shafter and Admiral Sampson. It was a combined attack by the battleships and the shore batteries, which hurled shot and shell into the city. The entire fleet of Admiral Sampson took part in the bombardment, the big guns of the war ships dropping shells in the city with terrible effect. The American gunners got the range with the aid of the signal corps stationed on the heights above the city where they could observe the effect of the shots. The havoc wrought by the exploding shells was frightful. One struck a schooner in the harbor, setting her ablaze and sinking her, another struck the mansion of a wealthy Don on the outskirts literally blowing it to pieces while the constant roar of the guns out at sea was followed by a succession of thunderous explosions in the city, which caused buildings to crumble and fall on every side.

   While the warships were tossing their huge messengers of death over the hills the batteries on the heights back of the city were equally busy in their work of death. From the crest of the hills came the hoarse roar of artillery and big siege guns and mortar batteries poured a destructive storm of shells into the doomed city. The Spanish batteries replied, sending a shower of light projectiles in the direction of the American ranks, but these were soon silenced by the smothering rain of shots from the hills and the sea.

   After several hours of bombardment General Shafter communicated by signal with Rear Admiral Sampson, requesting the latter to cease firing. Then the general sent General Wheeler into the Spanish lines under a flag of truce with a message to General Toral, the Spanish commander, reciting the fact that the American ships had given complete demonstration that they could throw shells into the city and destroy it at will, that the American troops had the city practically surrounded and that there were 18,000 Spanish and Cuban refugees starving to death at El Caney, and also pointing out that our army had no means of feeding them. General Shafter then demanded the unconditional surrender of the city, and coupled this demand with the statement that unless General Toral acceded, an assault upon the city both by land and sea forces would be renewed at once.

   Several hours elapsed before any reply was received from General Toral, and then he sent a message to General Shafter to the effect that the matter was of such great importance that he had been obliged to refer it to the Madrid government and that he would send his final answer as soon as he could receive instructions from Madrid. It was then late in the afternoon and General Shafter gave orders to all the troops to get as much rest as possible and be prepared to resume the attack at any moment.

   No other answer has been received from General Toral, and in the meantime all hostilities have ceased.

   General Toral finally sent General Shafter his reply refusing to surrender the city. General Shafter then announced that if the city was not surrendered within 24 hours he would begin the third and final bombardment, and not cease firing until the city had capitulated. The discovery of yellow fever in the American camp will hasten operations, the intention being to remove our troops as soon as possible.

   It is the general opinion among military authorities that with a few more hours’ shelling the city will capitulate without the necessity of an assault by the land forces.

 

SANTIAGO SURRENDERS!

   WASHINGTON, July 14.—SANTIAGO HAS SURRENDERED!

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Santiago and Peace.

   The surrender of Santiago is not far off. Its capitulation will be another signal victory for the United States and ought to mark the end of the war. Why not? The loss of this city, one of the most important in Cuba, and the capital of the eastern department of the island following close upon the destruction of Cervera’s fleet is well calculated to convince even the most intense of the Madrid optimists that it is all up with Spain, that the further prolongation of the war on her part would be an act of folly for which there could be palliation neither in reason nor in romance. Let her refuse to throw up her hands and sue for peace when Santiago has fallen into the hands of the enemy and she may be sure that the powers and the rest of the civilized world will indict her as being absolutely destitute of even rudimental discretion. The sooner she accept the inevitable, the better for her reputation for common sense, the better for her finances, already terribly crippled, the smaller the indemnity which she will be called upon to pay, and, most important of all, the less the sacrifice of human life.

   The capture of Santiago will, of course, unless hostilities are brought to an end, be succeeded by the capture of Havana and San Juan. Those two cities would hardly make a very stubborn resistance in view of the fate of Santiago. To be sure Admiral Cervera, who is now our prisoner, asserts that if the Americans attack Havana “they will meet with terrible resistance and will lose ships and men.” But the admiral's opinion represents, it is reasonable to assume, a perfunctory patriotic regard for the fighting qualities of his countrymen rather than anything else. But at all events, if the resistance which the Spanish forces at Havana offer is “terrible,” we may be sure that it will be brought to naught by a still more terrible display of force on our part. In the progress of the war thus far there is full warrant for holding this view. Why then in the name of reason and humanity should not Spain cry, “hold, enough!”

   She may be confident that surrendering she would meet with a generous foe.We Americans are capital fighters when our blood is up and a just cause nerves us on; but the United States is a nation which is enamored of peace and she will rejoice to see the present war brought to a close in a manner which is consistent with justice in a manner which preserves the essential fruits of the war. We have waged it for pacification not territory, not at the beck of a greedy ambition but in response to the dictation of imperative duty. Spain therefore need not hesitate to throw herself on our mercy, and as the New York World cogently remarks, “if Spanish statesmanship has any sense it will now sue for peace. If Spain has any friends among the civilized nations they will counsel and if necessary compel her to this timely course.”

 

It Should Have Passed.

   Among the measures of general interest which went into the waste paper basket when congress adjourned was the one providing for the return to the Southern states of the Confederate flags which had been captured by our Northern armies. It is to be regretted, we think, that this bill, the outcome of a spirit of enlightened patriotism, was not put through. Its passage would have been gratifying to the South, which would have seen in it a tangible and emphatic proof of the fact that there is no longer any Mason and Dixon line, and that the two sections of our country which fought against each other a quarter of a century ago, are now one in the bonds of a unity founded upon the recognition on the part of each that the other is a good and faithful servant in these trying days of the common welfare. The advocates of the bill were many, its opponents few. The members of the Grand Army of the Republic, as a whole, commended it as the legitimate outcome of a broad gauge patriotism, as one of the choice fruits of General Grant’s admonition, let us have peace. The New York Mail and Express is one of the leading newspapers of the country which desire to see the flags returned, and in the course of an article in support of its position, it makes these points:

   The South to-day has claims upon the country’s gratitude second to none. It was a Southern state that furnished the hero of Cardenas, and wept over the mangled body of young Bagley. It was a Southern state that gave us Hobson’s genius and undaunted courage. It was a youthful hero from a Southern state who first planted the Stars and Stripes on Cuban soil; and not alone is this feat to be credited to Victor Blue, for it was he who successfully penetrated to the camp of Gomez in the interest of our cause, and it was he who, at the imminent risk of his life, removed all doubt as to the number and position of Cervera’s warships in Santiago harbor. The gallant old Southern cavalryman, Wheeler, has advanced as a commander of our forces to the borders of Santiago City, and the equally gallant Lee awaits with impatience the opportunity to plant the flag in Porto Rico. And there are others.

   An effective argument against the return of the flags cannot be made. The best that can be done in that direction is too suggestive of a waving of the bloody shirt in all it implies of a rancorous sectionalism.

 

THE VILLAGE SOLONS.

But Little Business Was Transacted at Monday Night’s Session.

   The board of village trustees held their regular weekly meeting Monday night, but as Engineer Allen was unable to be in town the consideration of the specifications for the paving of Main-st. with asphalt was put over until Tuesday, when Mr. Allen expects to be here and will remain until the board adopts the specifications. Trustee O ’Leary of the First ward was the only absentee from Monday night’s meeting.

   The street commissioner was directed to repair and rebuild several sidewalks, the time designated in the notices having expired. Several property owners were also ordered to fix walks.

   Bills were ordered paid as follows:

   John Livingstone, repairs, $ .70

   Jas. F. Costello, salary and freight, 26.00

   Stanley & Paterson, supplies, 14.40

   A. L. Smith, labor on fire alarm system, 9.00

   W. B. Landreth, sidewalk grades, 16.00

   Trustee Sprague, the special committee on procuring a suitable case for the filing of papers, etc., reported the securing of the case, and was discharged.

   Henry Daley of Orwell, Oswego county, whose team fell into a ditch dug for the laying of gas mains on Main-st. on the evening of July 1, had been to President Stilson and informed him that the village might leave $25 at the Farmers’ hotel Tuesday to reimburse him for the damages he claimed to have suffered by reason of the alleged negligence of the village. The board did not resolve to act in accordance with Mr. Daley’s request.

   A communication was read from Secretary M. V. Lane of the Cortland Fire department showing changes in the personnel of the various fire companies during the past year, and the report was approved by the board on motion of Trustee Nodecker.

   The report showed that in the past year four members had resigned, three [had] been dropped and six [had] been elected to membership in Water Witch Steamer & Hose Co.; Orris hose, one member dropped; Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co., five resigned and four elected; Emeralds, one resigned, two dropped and three elected; Hitchcocks, nine resigned, three dropped and six elected to membership.

   Clerk Crombie reported the completion of the contract with Engineer Henry C. Allen to have charge of the paving of Main-st., Mr. Allen having secured as bondsmen former Mayors Jacob Amos and William Cowie of Syracuse. These sureties were approved by the board.

   An adjournment was then taken until this evening at 7:30 o’clock.

 

AN OLD OLD PAPER.

Rejuvenated, Enlarged, Improved and Issued by the Curtis Publishing Co.

   The Saturday Evening Post of Philadelphia which was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1728, celebrated the beginning of its 121st year of publication by issuing a special Fourth of July edition. In 1897 the Curtis Publishing Co. publisher of the Ladies’ Home Journal, secured the ownership of this paper and enlarged and improved it. It now consists of sixteen handsomely printed and beautifully illustrated pages. The subjects touched upon are of an interesting miscellaneous character, the topics being timely and the articles prepared by the best writers. It is perhaps sufficient to say that the paper is prepared with the same care and upon the same lavish scale as The Ladies’ Home Journal, which typographically it somewhat resembles. Its price is $2.50 per year, but to introduce it to a still larger field of readers The Curtis Publishing Co. makes the following special offer. For $1 the publishers will send to any subscriber The Ladies’ Home Journal each month for the balance of the year 1898, and The Saturday Evening Post each week for the balance of the year 1898 beginning with the date of the receipt of the subscription. It will in consequence be an object for each prospective subscriber to forward his subscription as early as possible to secure a larger number of issues of each publication. Address, The Curtis Publishing Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The exterior of the First Baptist church is being painted a dark red color, which greatly improves its appearance.

   —About two hundred from Cortland and McGrawville availed themselves of the Odd Fellows’ excursion which left Cortland at 8 o’clock Thursday morning for Three Rivers.

   —About forty local members of the Clionian fraternity took their supper at the park Monday night and spent a very pleasant afternoon and early evening.

   —Miss Adell O. Clark pleasantly entertained a small company of friends at her home on Locust-ave. Tuesday night in honor of her guest, Mrs. Robert Inglis MacLellan of Johnson, Vt.

   —While coming from Dryden Wednesday morning Mr. Dwight Hull of Cortland picked a branch of apple blossoms from a tree by the roadside, upon which there were also grown apples of quite fair size.

   —It is a curious fact that on July 3, within one day of the anniversary of July 4, 1776, the battleship Oregon is said to have fired 1776 shells from her guns at the enemy in the fight off Santiago.

   —The village trustees have been in session at the office of Clerk W. C. Crombie Thursday afternoon arranging and completing the details for the specifications for paving Main-st. Advertising for bids will begin to-day, and continue two weeks, when the contract will be let.

   —At the meeting of Emerald Hose company Monday night, Thos. J. Murray was chosen delegate to the State Firemen's convention in Binghamton, and William P. Masterson, delegate to the Central New York convention which meets in Cortland Aug. 2, 3 and 4.

   —The Ithaca band is to take part in the band contest at the fireman’s convention to be held at Cortland the first week in August. There are two cash prizes, one of $100 and one of $50. Our musicians are rehearsing faithfully and it will take a crack organization to beat them.—Ithaca Journal.

   —Manager Nolan has just issued a revised list of the local telephoners. So many additions to the list have been made lately that the new card was needed and will be much appreciated. Every additional telephone makes all the rest more valuable to the others. Cortland is now pretty well covered with phones, thanks to Manager Nolan’s untiring energy and push.

   —Just 325 members of the Presbyterian church and Sunday-school Wednesday picnicked at Tully lake. The crowd was so great at the station at the ticket window where the tickets were being exchanged, that the train had to be held about ten minutes beyond its regular leaving time, greatly to the annoyance of the conductor. In addition to the 325 people who bought tickets and went on the train a number went on wheels and drove up.