Doubts Vanish

Washington, July 19.- The Porto Rtcan expedition has started on its mission to capture that island. Washington, July 19.- General Miles, leading the Porto Rican expedition, left Siboney, Cuba, on the Yale with four batteries of artillery and a fevv seasoned troops. Two brigades now at Charleston are embarking on transporta to take them to Porto Rico. All the forcé at Tampa, 13,000 strong, embracing artillery, will be put aboard ship as rapidly as transports can be got there and sent to re-enforce cur other troops. Washington, July 18.- The war department at 9:20 a. m. posted the folowing bulletin: "Before Santiago- Spanish surrendered. Particulars later. "SHAFTER." Later in the day the war department posted the folio wing: Playa del Este, July 16.- The following letter has just been received: "Santiago de Cuba, July 16.- To His Excellency, Commander-in-Chief American forces.- Excellent Sir: I am now authorized by my government to capitúlate. I have the honor to so apprise you and requesting that you desígnate tiour and place where my representatives shall appear to compare with those of your excellency to effect the articles of capitulation on the basis oí vhat has been agreed upon to this date n due time. I wish to manifest my desire to know the resolutions of the Jnited States government respecting the return of army, so as to note on the capitulation; also the great courtesy of your great graces and return for heir great generosity and impulse for :he Spanish soldiers, and allow them to return to the peninsula with the honors the American army do them the lonor to acknowledge as dutifully descended. "JO SE TORAL, "Com. General, Fourth Army Corps. 'To General Shafter, Commanding American forces." "Santiago de Cuba, July 17. - Adjutant General U. S. A., Washington: I have the honor to announce that the American flag has been this instant, 12 o'clock noon, hoisted over the house of the civil government in the city of Santiago. An immense concourse of people present. A squadron of cavalry and a regiment of infantry presenting arms and band playing national airs. Light battery flred salute twenty-one guns. Perfect order is being maintained by municipal government. Distress is very great, but little sickness in town. Scarcely any yellow fever. A small gunboat and about 200 seamen left by Cervera have surrendered to me. Obstructions are being removed from mouth of harbor. Upon coming into the city I discovered a perfect entanglement of defenses. Pighting as the Spaniards did the first day, it would have cost 5,000 lives to have taken it. Battalions of Spanish troops have been depositing arms since daylight in armory over which I have guard. General Toral formally surrendered the plaza and all stores at 9 a. m. "W .R. SHAFTER, "Major General." Washington, July 19.- The sweeping extent of the victory at Santiago and the complete success of the first military expedition to íoreign territory since the conquest of Mexico was never fully appreciated until Sunday. General Shafter's message, dispatched at noon from the heart the fallen eity, announced that the American flagr was flying over the municipal buildings, with a squadron of American cavalry and a regiment of lnfantry presenting arms, while a band played the American national airs and a light battery was firing the national salute of twenty-one guns. This dispatch was recei%red at 4:30 in the afternoon. At last the tense strain of anxiety which had depressed the authorities, who were unable to banlsh some lingering doubt that Spanish treachery might be disclosed at any stage of the vexatlous delay, was relieved. Even the few who had not been able to suppress grave doubts as to the wisdom of certain 9O-called "conditions" which had been granted to the Spanish commander changed their minds when they read of' General Shafter's impresslve conviction that 5,000 good American lives would have been the eost of carryin the city by assault. It appears that General Toral s ïnslstance upon the insertion of aeveral pleasant-sounding expressions in the formal terms of "capitu'ation" contemplated no practical disadvantage to the Americans, and that General Shafter, by the exercise of diplomacy, actually acKieved Santiago's "uncondit:onal surrender." In additlon he secured nearly half of the largest province of Cuba, with all lts ports and garrisons, against which he was not required to strike a blow. Every word in his d'spatch added to the exultation of the administration. The comprehensiveness of his report removed all doubts. The last remnant of the naval force in the harbor had come lnto his possession. The mine field, which had sp effectively kept out the American squadron, was rapidly being taken up. The Spanlsh troops were promptly laying down their arms, and General Toral and all his forces were prisoners. Above all in the minds of most of the officials was Shafter's reference to the astonishingly healthy condition of the place and the comparative absence of the dreaded yellow scourge. Shafter Master of the Situation. All solicitude for General Shafter's ability to meet any contingency that might hereafter appear at Santiago ha disappeared, and confidence now exists that he is master of the situation and that under his direction the improvement of all conditions will be swift. ITnder the circumstances, considering that the government at Madrid was fully consulted and gave its unqualifled approval to the surrender, the belief is growing that the end of the war is plainly in sight, and it woufd surprise no one if a direct request came at any moment for an armistice to permit a discussion of propositions for a treaty to end the war. Although the garrisons at Guantanamo, Baracoa and other points in the surrendered territory have not yet been mentioned specifically in General Shafter's dispatch, it is believed they will promptly deliver themselves at Santiago.