Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-15
NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE SUR.
RENDER OF SANTIAGO.
In INTERESTING CONFERENCE.
Miles, shnfter, ana wheeler Take
P"rt-spnnish General Says He Has
Permission Only to Eyncuate the
City-More Than This He Can't DO,

| White flags still fiutter over the opposing
lines. The truce has been extended un-
III tomorrow noon, and negotiations
looking TO the surrender of Santiago are
proceeding. Both sides have yielded
| somewhat General Toral the Spanish
| commander, realizes the hopelessness OF
| further resistance, and the American COM
| handing general, Shafter. is inclined TO
reduce the harshness OF the terms
which he at first proposed to impose
upon the enemy.
1t appears that on Monday General
Shafter did not again demand the uncon-
| ditional surrender which General Toral
had refused on Sunday, but offered, as
an alternative proposition, 10 accept the
capitulaion of the enemy and to trans
port the Spanish officers and troops to
| Spain, they TO leave all their arms be-
hind and to accept their parole. 1t was
this proposition which General Toral de-
clined yesterday.
This morning II was decided to hold
q personal interview with General Toral.
General Miles and his staff, who got no
farther than General Skaters headquar-
tiers last night, accompanied by General
Shafter and his staff. rode out to the
front shortly before 8 o'clock, under
flag Of truce.
TORAL TOLD THE SITUATION.
request for personal interview with
the, Spanish cOmmander-in-chief was
made and acceded TO, and at about
o'clock General Miles, General Shafter,'
General Wheeler, General Gilmour, Colo
mel Morse, Captain Wiley and Colonel
Maus rode up, passed over our entrench-
ments, and went down into the valley be-
yond. They were met by General Toral
and his chief Of staff under spreading
mango tree, at the bottom of the valley,
about halfway between the lines. The
interview that followed lasted an hour.
The situation was placed frankly before
General TOral, and he was offered the
alternative of being sent home with his
garrison or leaving Santiago province,
the only condition imposed being that he
should not destroy the existing fortlfica-
tons. and should leave his arms behind.
This latter condition, the Spanish general,
who does not speak English, explained
through his Interpreter, was Impossible.
He said the laws of Spain gave a general
no discretion. He might abandon a
place when he found It untenable, but he
could not leave his arms behind without
subiecting himself to the penalty OF being
cOyrt-martialled and shot. His government
had granted him permission to evacuate
Santiago, he said, That was all. Fur
Their than that he was powerless to go.
Without SAYING so In words, General
Miles said the tenor Of General ToraPs
remarks all betrayed his realization that
he could not hold out long. When General
Shafter explained that our achievements
were coming up, that he was completely
surrounded and that new batteries were
being posted, General Toral simply shruG-
ged his shoulders. 81 am but a subordi-
nate" he said, "and I obey my govern
ment II it is necessary, we can die at
our posts"
TORAL INSPIRES RESPECT.
General Toral is a man GO years OF age
with strong, rugged face, and fine, SOL
dierly bearing His brave words inspired
a feeling of respect and admiration in the
hearts Of the adversaries. Nevertheless,
the Spanish generals anxiety TO avoid
further sacrifice Of life in his command
was manifest, and he did not hesitate 10
ask for time to communicate the situa-
ton TO Madrid, although he obviously
shook his head when he spoke of the
probable response. In the course of the
interview General TOral said the bonn
bardment Of Sunday and Monday had done
little damage. He admitted that shells
from the guns of the fleet had destroyed
four houses, but he asserted that only
half a dozen soldiers of the garrison had
been injured. He also volunteered the in
formation when General Miles calamity
inquired after General Linares's wound
that the injury would probably necessltate
the amputation Of his left arm at the
shoulder.
MILES DOESN'T TAKE CHARGE
General Miles, at an interview, did not
attempt 10 assume direction of the nego- !
tiations, but as general Of the United |
States army, ne vouched for the condi- |
lions General Shafter offered.
AMERICAN CONSULTATION.
Upon the return of our commanders TO |
the American lines, an important consul !
tation was held at General Wheelers |
headquarters. Generals Garcia and Cas-
tillo, with their STATS, had ridden around |
the extreme right to see General Miles. |
IL was a notable group gathered under |
the protecting awning Of General Wheel |
er's tent. General Miles, in blue fatigue |
uniform, with the double star on his |
shoulders and his campaign hat encircled |
by single strand Of gold braid, looking /
the ideal soldier sat on an empty ammu- |
milton box and formed the centre Of the |
party. on the right Of General Miles sat |
General Shafter, and on MS lett was ben- |
eral Garcia, in a mud-spotted white uni |
form. with heavy riding boots and Jinging |
spurs The Cuban general wore large |
weather-worn Panama hat, and at his |
side was "A silver mounted machete. Cen |
eral Garcia has strong, sWartny race,
with a deep bullet-scar in the forehead. |
in a general way he is not unlike Gu
ban edition OF General Miles. General |
Wheeler. with grizzled beard, small Of |
stature. and In d brown campaign uni
form. faced the officers mentioned, while
about them sat the aides-de-camp Of the
four generals.
HOBSON PRESENT
Assistant Naval Constructor Hobson,
the hero of the Merrimac, who had come
to headquarters with messages from Rear
Admiral Sampson was also present. The
situation was discussed with the aid OF a
profusion of maps, and al the conclusion
OF the conference luncheon was served
II consisted of beans, bareback, and COT
fee.
NO ESCAPE FOR SPANISH.
After this meal General Miles, Genera!
Shafter, and General Garcia, with their
STATS, rode off 10 inspect the position on
the right flank. They all agreed that
General Toral was securely wedged in,
and that escape was impossible, but that
owing to delays and the incidental loss
Of life which was certain TO result from
an attempt TO carry the town by assault,
the danger 10 our troops from fever and
disease, and, above all, the fact that the
Spanish fleet was destroyed, which had
been the real object Of the campaign, II
seemed IN ne the general disposition 10 |