THE LATE BATTLE.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 312, 9 July 1898, Page 3

THE LATE BATTLE.

AN AMERICAN COCHRANE. CUBAN ATROCITY. MUTINY OF SPANISH PRISONERS. THE.SITUATION IN MADRID. PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGKAI'II—COPYRIGHT). Washington, July 6. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL PANDO, with a force of 5000 Spanish troops, after desperate fighting and forced marches, Las succeeded in entering Santiago, thus increasing the number of defenders to 18,000. The Yale, Harvard, and Columbia, three of the American fastest cruising ships, have sailed with a brigade of troops for Santiago. Admiral Cervera explains that tie selected daylight for the attempt to escape from Santiago, believing he could succeed when the American vessels had steam at low pressure. Madrid, July 6. Reinforcements are being sent to Santiago, and will sail forthwith. Washington, July 7. It is considered here that Santiago is too strongly defended for the American troops to effectually storm it. The public consider that frpm a strategic point of view the city is useless, since the Spanish fleet is destroyed. ~'-•• Hopes are entertained of raising the Cbristobel Colon, and possibly other Spanish vessels will be refloated. The torpedo boat destroyer, Gloucester, formerly Pierpont Morgan's yacht Corsair, fought the Spanish torpedo boat destroyers, Furor and Pluton, in the pluckiest manner. Capt. Wainwright, her commander, disregarded the signals to retire. He • is regarded as the hero of the fight. Admiral Cervera's dash from the harbour of Santiago was a complete surprise to the American squadron. Admiral Sampson was away at the time conferring with General Shatter concerning future combined operations, and the fight was directed by Admiral Schley. # The American losses at Santiago are estimated at 2000. The army surgeons admit the losses to be at least 1700. The New York Journal reports that during the engagement at Santiago forty Spaniards, who surrendered to the Americans, were entrusted to the care of a detachment of Cubans, who treacherously beheaded the prisoners. Washington, July 7. Four hundred prisoners on the American cruiser Havard mutinied. The crew fired and killed six before order was restored. The non-commissioned officers, who have been taken prisoners, are being . sent to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on board the St. Lou is. President McKinley proposes to release Admiral Cervera and his officers ©n parole. The residents of Santiago are panic stricken and are leaving the city in great numbers, while hundreds are beseiging the Consulates for protection. General Lenares declares that he will burn the city of Santiago in preference to surrendering. He has arranged the exchange of Lieut. Hobson and his fellow prisoners for the Spanish prisoner! held by the Americans. Brigadier - General Young has stopped the rations to the Cubans for refusing hospital work and to open roads. Capt. Usher, of tho American boat Ericson, rescued 110 Spanish sailors bleeding from wounds and naked, from the Spanish cruiser Vizcaya when the latter was burning. (Received July 8, 9.20 a.m.). President McKinley has issued a proclamation, advising the nation to thank God for their successes, and to. pray for the protection of their troops. Madrid, July 7. Spain is spending on the war forty million pesetas daily. Great unrest prevails at Madrid, and the palace is strongly guarded. Changes in the Cabinet are expected. The news of the loss of Admiral Cervera's fleet, and the continued successes of the is producing a very bad impression here, and great unrest prevails in the city.