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neral Blanco considered that the joint operations of the American Army and Navy had rendered the reduction of Santiago only a question of time； but they differed as to the course to be pursued。 In the end； General Blanco； who was in supreme command； decided； after an exchange of views with the Spanish Government and a consultation with the Captain of the German cruiser Geier； then at Havana； to order the Spanish squadron to attempt an escape from Santiago harbor。 Cervera's sailors had hitherto been employed in the defense of the city； but with the arrival of the reinforcements under Escario he found it possible to reman his fleet。 An attempt to escape in the dark seemed impossible because of the unremitting glare of the searchlights of the American vessels。 Cervera determined upon the desperate expedient of steaming out in broad daylight and making for Cienfuegos。
The blockade systematically planned by Admiral Sampson was conducted with a high degree of efficiency。 Each American ship had its definite place and its particular duty。 When vessels were obliged to coal at Guantanamo； forty miles distant； the next in line covered the cruising interval。 The American combined squadron was about double Cervera's in strength； his ships； however； were supposed to have the advantage in speed； and it was conceivable that； by turning sharply to the one side or the other； they might elude the blockading force。 On the very day that Cervera made his desperate dash out of the harbor； as it happened； the New York； Admiral Sampson's flagship； was out of line； taking the Admiral to a conference with General Shafter at Siboney； a few miles to the eastward。 The absence of the flagship； however； in no way weakened the blockade； for； if Cervera turned westward he would find the squadron of Schley and the other vessels designated to prevent his escape in that direction； while if he turned eastward he would almost at once be engaged with the New York； which would then be in an advantageous position ahead of the chase。
At half…past nine on the morning of the 3d of July； the first vessel of the Spanish fleet emerged from Santiago Harbor。 By 10：10 A。M。 all the Spanish ships were outside of the harbor mouth。 Commodore Schley； on the Brooklyn； hoisted the signal to 〃close up；〃 apparently on the understanding that Sampson's signal on leaving for Siboney to 〃Disregard motions of the commander…in…chief〃 had delegated the command to him。 Though this question of command later involved a bitter dispute； it was at the time of little moment； for clouds of smoke obscured the signals so frequently that no complicated maneuver could have been guided by them； and； as far as concerted action was concerned； the whole squadron was under exactly similar contingent orders from Admiral Sampson。 As a matter of fact； the thing to do was so obvious that the subsequent dispute really raged on the point of who actually gave an order； the sense of which every one of the commanders would have executed without order。 If； therefore； the layman feels some annoyance at such a controversy over naval red tape； he may have the consolation of knowing that all concerned； admirals and captains； did the right and sensible thing at the time。 If there be an exception； it was the curious maneuver of Schley； the commander of the Brooklyn； who turned a complete circle away from the enemy after the battle had begun。 This action of his was certainly not due to a desire to escape； for the Brooklyn quickly turned again into the fight。 A controversy； too； has raged over this maneuver。 Was it undertaken because the Brooklyn was about to be rammed by the Vizcaya； or because Schley thought that his position blocked the fire of the other American vessels？ It is not unlikely that the commander of the Spanish ship hoped to ram the Brooklyn； which was； because of her speed； a most redoubtable foe。 But unless this maneuver saved the Brooklyn； it had little result except to scare the Texas； upon whom she suddenly bore down out of a dense cloud of smoke。
Steering westward； the Spanish ships attempted to pass the battle line； but the American vessels kept pace with them。 For a short time the engagement was very severe； for practically all vessels of both fleets took part； and the Spanish harbor batteries added their fire。 At 10：15 A。M。 the Maria Teresa； Admiral Cervera's flagship； on fire and badly shattered by heavy shells； turned toward the beach。 Five minutes later the Oquendo； after something of a duel with the Texas； also turned inshore。 The Brooklyn was in the lead of the Americans； closely followed by the Oregon； which developed a wonderful burst of speed in excess of that called for in her contract。 These two ships kept up the chase of the Vizcaya and the Cristobal Colon； while the slower vessels of the fleet attended to the two Spanish destroyers； Furor and Pluton。 At 11：15 A。M。 the Vizcaya； riddled by fire from the Brooklyn and Oregon； gave up the fight。
By this time； Sampson in the New York was rapidly approaching the fight； and now ordered the majority of the vessels back to their stations。 The Colon； fleeing westward and far ahead of the American ships； was pursued by the Brooklyn； the Oregon； the Texas； the New York； and the armed yacht Vixen。 It was a stern chase； although the American vessels had some advantage by cutting across a slight concave indentation of the coast； while the Colon steamed close inshore。 At 1：15 P。M。 a shot from the Oregon struck ahead of the Colon； and it was evident that she was covered by the American guns。 At 1：30 P。M。 she gave over her flight and made for shore some forty…five miles west of Santiago。 The victory was won。 It has often been the good fortune of Americans to secure their greatest victories on patriotic anniversaries and thereby to enhance the psychological effect。 Admiral Sampson was able to announce to the American people； as a Fourth of July present； the destruction of the Spanish fleet with the loss of but one of his men and but slight damage to his ships。
On the hills above Santiago the American Army had now only the land forces of the Spaniards to contend with。 Shafter's demand for unconditional surrender met with a refusal； and there ensued a week of military quiet。 During this time General Shafter conducted a correspondence with the War Department； in judging which it is charitable to remember that the American commander weighed three hundred pounds； that he was sweltering under a hot sun； and that he was sixty…three years old； and sick。 Too humane to bombard Santiago while Hobson and his men were still in Spanish hands； he could not forgive Sampson for not having forced the narrow and well…mined channel at the risk of his fleet。 The War Department； sharing Shafter's indignation； prepared to attempt the entrance with one of its own transports protected by baled hay； as had been done on the Mississippi during the Civil War。 Shafter continued to be alarmed at the situation。 Without reenforcements he could not attack； and he proposed to allow the Spaniards to evacuate。 The War Department forbade this alternative and； on the 10th of July； he began the bombardment of Santiago。
The Secretary of War then hit upon the really happy though quite unmilitary device of offering； in return for unconditional surrender； to transport the Spanish troops； at once and without parole； back to their own country。 Secretary Alger was no unskillful politician； and he was right in believing that this device； though unconventional； would make a strong appeal to an army three years away from home and with dwindling hopes of ever seeing Spain again。 On the 15th of July a capitulation was agreed upon； and the terms of surrender included not only the troops in Santiago but all those in that military districtabout twenty…four thousand men； with cannon； rifles； ammunition； rations； and other military supplies。 Shafter's recommendation that the troops be allowed to carry their arms back to Spain with them was properly refused by the War Department。 Arrangements were made for Spanish ships paid by the United States to take the men immediately to Spain。 This extraordinary operation was begun on the 8th of August； while the war was still in progress； and was accomplished before peace was established。
The Santiago campaign； like the Mexican War； was fought chiefly by regulars。 The Rough Riders and the Seventy…first New York Regiment were the only volunteer units to take a heavy share。 Yet the absence of effective staff management was so marked that； as compared with the professional accuracy shown by the navy； the whole campaign on land appears as an amateur undertaking。 But the individual character of both volunteers and regulars was high。 The American victory was fundamentally due to the fighting spirit of the men and to the individual initiative of the line and field officers。
In the meantime the health of the American Army was causing grave concern to its more observant leaders。 Six weeks of Cuban climate had taken out of the army all that exuberant energy which it had brought with it from the north。 The army had accomplished its purpose only at the complete sacrifice of its fighting strength。 Had the Spanish commander possessed more nerve and held out a little longer； he m