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.