Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/99

WILLIAM McKINLEY 71 take it only with a serious loss of life ; he must have re-enforcements. The situation rested thus on the morning of July 3, but by night of the same day it had changed completely. On that morning Cer- vera, after peremptory orders from Gen. Blanco, ordered his fleet to sea from its sheltered position in the harbor. The blockading vessels closed in upon the Spanish ships immediately upon their appear ance, following them closely as they turned in flight to the west, and by evening had sunk or disabled every one of them, losing but 1 man killed and 10 wounded, as compared with a loss to the enemy of about 350 killed and 1,670 prisoners. On the morning of the 3d Gen. Shafter sent a flag of truce into Santiago, demanding immediate surrender on pain of bombardment. This was re fused, but at the request of the foreign consuls Shafter agreed to postpone bombardment until ten o clock on July 5. On the 5th, at a conference with Capt. Chadwick, representing Admiral Sampson, it was agreed that the army and navy should make a joint attack on the city at noon of the 9th. A truce was arranged until that date, when Gen. Shafter repeated his demand and the threat of bom bardment. Unconditional surrender was refused, which the president demanded. On the 10th and llth firing went on from the trenches and the ships, and by evening of the latter day all the Spanish artillery had been silenced. A