The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-16
Insisted That His Army Should Be Permitted
to Retain Their Arms.
Authorities at Washington Refused to Make Any Con-
cesson Beyond That Of Sending Spanish Troops
to Spain--More Talk Of Peace Negotiations.

Washington. July le-There was a
long and anxious wait Friday to hear
further news from the commissioners
who had been charged to make the ar
rangements for the surrender of the
Spanish army. For Is hours no word
came from either General Shafter or
General Miles. although there was the
keenest desire on the part of the pres-
icent and his cabinet advisers to learn
what he& been done, and particularly
to know whether the actual surrender
OF Santiago and the Spanish army had
been carried out. When the cabinet
met there was positively nothing from
the front which would serve as a guide
Tor the deliberations. 1t was Thought
the cable had been interrupted, but on
inquiry of General Greedy, chief signal
oincer, he gave assurance tha the cable
was intact.
Thereupon Secretary Alger sent dis
patch asking for the situation up to the
latest moment. and particularly inquir-
Ing as to how far the surrender had
proceeded. No answer came while the
cabinet was In session. In the mean
time General Greedy had cabled, and
he was the first Official to hear from the
front. A dispatch from Lieutenant
Jones. military censor at Playa del
Este, reported that the message from
the secretary Of war to General Shafter
was only six minutes in passing from
Washington to Playa. The message
received by General Greedy came at
1928 p m. and indicated that negotia-
tious were yet in progress. but as the
dispatch was submitted to the president
no details were given out.
Toward the middle OF the afternoon
dispatches from General Miles and Gem
eral Shafter began to arrive in re-
sponse to Secretary Alger's rather i'm
perative request. They were not given
out In full, but such portions az were
made public showed that the negotia-
tions were still in progress and that the
6paniards had raised some rather un-
expected questions. Most important
OF these was an insistence that the
Spanish troops should retain their arms
when they returned to Spain. There
was entire Willingness on the part OF
General Toral to turn over the arms to
General Shafter at the time OF the sur
render, but with this was to be the
understanding that the arms were to be
returned to the Spanish troops when
Spanish soil was reached. This was a
condition which had not been antici-
pated. The authorities here did not
regard II as serious, or as likely to over
come final settlement. as 1T was at
tributed to the Spaniards sensitiveness
10 In iv,u IN, ha In
ing down their arms. At the same
time 1t was a point on which neither
side appeared to be ready to yield. Gen.
Skaters first telegram read:
"Toral agreed yesterday positively to
surrender all the forces under his COM
mand in eastern Cuba. Upon distinct
understanding that they were to be sent
to Spain by the United States. this sur
render was authorized by General Blan-
CO. The commissioners to arrange de-
tails were appointed-Wheeler. Lawton
and Miley on the part of the United
States. Points were Immediately
raised by Spanish commissioners. The
discussion lasted until 10 o'clock last
night. My commissioners think the
matter will be settled today, and met at
$3.50 o'clock this morning. There are
about IL. 600 troops In the city and about
as many more in the surrounding dis
trict; $4,000 in all will be transported.
General Miles was present and said the
surrender was as absolute and COM
plete as possible. II cannot be possible
that there will be failure In completing
arrangements Water famine in the
city is imminent. Have supply cut:
this was told Lieutenant Miley by Eng
lish commissioner"
General Shafter summed up the sit
uation later by saying: 1T cannot
be possible that there will be failure in
completing arrangements. No ques-
tion whatever has been raised as TO the
surrender itself. Not only has Gen
eral Toral agreed to IL, but this arrange
mcnt has been ratified by General
Blanco at Havana and by the Spanish
authorities at Madrid"
After an extended conference with the
president last night. at which three
other members Of the cabinet were pres
snt, Secretary AIger said: THE sit
uation is Just this: The Spaniards
Ut Santiago are prepared to surrender.
but they want 10 carry their arms. We
nave determined to grant no such con-
cession. except the generosity OF this
government To transport theurro Spain"
The secretary was asked II II was not
the expectation that when II was known
that no other terms would be granted
the surrender would not take place. ana
replied that such was the case. In any
event no other concession would he Of
fered by this government. Secretary
Algsr did not say how much time would
he allowed The enemy to reach a con.
ciusion. but II IS known that the ad-
ministration will make II very short and
submit 20 no further parley with Cen
eral Toral. The next move Is TO sur
render upon the terms of the United
States government or Immediately at
tack the Spa r,ish forcas bv army and