Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-11
uatIv kenMebec 3ournaL
expeditions sent with arms and sup

plies to the Cuban insurgents.
He gives an account of the fitting out
of the expedition to Santiago COM
manded by Gen. Shafter and he quotes
a telegram dated June 5, to the secre-
tary of war in which he said: Il desire
to go with this command or to i'm
mediately organize another and go
with it to capture position number .
Gen. Miles gives the text of detailed
instructions to Gen. Shafter and in
uures regarding the transports and
the shipment of stores.
June Is, the secretary of war sum-
moned Gen. Miles from Tampa to
Washington. He submitted a Plan of
campaign, June "a, for operations fol-
lowing the anticipated fall of Santi-
ago. Gen. Miles then gives the order
he received to prepare the expedition
that went first to Santiago commanded
by Maj. Gen. Shafter, landed at Dali
quiri and Siboney, June %. % and "a.
The subsequent movements of the eX-
petition against the garrison of San
tiago have been described in the sew
eral communications and reports of
commanding officers there engaged."
Gen. Skaters cable messages to the
adjutant generals office concerning
operations before Santiago are gwen
July 4, Gen. Shafter wired from camp
near San Juan river, Playa del Este.
as follows:
IF Sampson will force entrance with
all his fleet to the upper bay of SAN
tiago we can take the place within
few hours. Under these conditions l
believe the town win surrender. If the
&c IN tho ralaap
900 troops speedily and it is not certain
that they can be landed as it is getting
stormy. Sure and speedy wayis through
the bay. Am now in position to do
my part"
ION receipt of these communica-
tons says Gen. Miles, lit was decided
that / should go Immediately to San
tiaSo with the achievements already
en- route and that were being moved as
rapidly as possible. l left Washington
on the evening of July 7, reached
Charleston in time to go on board the
fast steamer Yale, already loaded with
1900 troops, and, with the steamer Co.
lumbia accompanying; arrived opposite
the entrance of Santiago harbor on the
morning of July II"
Gen Miles arranged with Admiral
Sampson for cooperation and then went
ashore. The report continues:
ION the following morning l rode from
Siboney to the headquarters OF Gen.
Shafter. After consulting with him, he
sent communication to Cen. Toral, say
ing that the commanding general of the
American army had arrived in his camp
with reinforcements. and that we de
sired to meet him between the lines at
any time agreeable to him. He replied
that he would see us at u o'clock the
following day
"At the appointed time, accompanied
by Brig. Gen. J. c. Gilmore and Lieut..
Col. Marion f. 1aus of my staff, Major
Gen. Shafter two of his staff officers and
Major Gen. Wheeler and Lieut.. Wheeler,
aide-de- camp, I met the Spanish General
Toral with two of his staff officers and
an interpreter After some conversation
between Gen. iToral and Gen Shafter, ]
informed Gen. Toral disitinctively that
had left Washington six days before;
that it was then the determination of the
government that this portion OF the
Spanish forces must either be destroyed
captured; that / was there with sui1i-
Gent reinforcements to accomplish thar
any number of troops would he brought
there as fast as steamers could bring
them, If it took $4,000 men. ] told him
that we offered him liberal terms, name
ly, to return his troops to Spain; and
also pointed out the fact that this was
the only way in which his forces could
return, they being on an island 5000 miles
away from their own country with no
of L. chi no hp
Spanish law he was not perInitted to sur
render as long as he had ammunition and
food, and that he must maintain the
honor of the Spanish army My reply
was that he had already accomplished
that; that he must now surrender or take
the consequences, and that | would give
him until daylight the next morning to
decide. He appealed for longer time,
saying That ii was impossible for him TO
communicate with his superiors, and
upon his request | granted him until Il
o'clock noon. After thoroughly examin
ing the entire position and riding along
the trenches from left to right, l returned
to Gen. Skaters headquarters"
Gen. Miles describes the preparations
for disembarizing troops and gives an ac-
count of the continuing negotiations with
bSl lpTdI IOE EuETtHuSl. IIS cJttiilSil
commanders letters were addressed to
Gen. Miles.
On July H. Gen. Miles addressed this
order to Gen. Shafter: "sir-The Spanish
army having surrendered, the terms of
capituation will be carried into effect
with as little delay as practicable, on the
understanding that those troops Will be
returned to Spain at the expense CT the
United States"
Gable correspondence between Secretary
Alger and Gen. Miles in respect to the
departure of some of the troops and the
Porto Rican expedition, and coGnmunica-
tons between Gen. Miles and Gen. Shat
ter are given. Gen. Miles, through Gen.
Gilmore, addressed to Gen. Shafter Atriet
sanitary regulations. On July Is, Gen.
Miles says he received the following mes
sage from Gen. Shafter, dated Siboney
July II:
Letters and orders in reference to
movement Of camp received and will be
carried out. No one is more anxious than
myself TO get out of here 1t seems from,
your orders given me that you regard
my force as part Of your command