Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-17
GEN. TORAL HAGELED OVER TERMS
UNTIL THE LAST.
HE WOULD AGREE TO NOTHING
INSISTED on REFERRING EVERY,
THING TO MADRID.
His Commissioners Finally Signed tho
Articles of CapitulatiGn shortly
After Midnight Thur,say- -:
Some Terms of the
Surrender. -

Copyright. isss. by thetAssociated PressJ
AT GENERAL wHEELER'S HEAD
QUARTERS, BEFORE SANTIAGO DE
CUBA, July Is. 10 a. m.-The preliminary
basis for the capitulatiou of the Spanish
forces in Eastern Cupa was agreed to and
signed under a picturesque cieba tree, half
way between the lines, shortly after mid
night. Our commissioners were invited I'd
enter the city by those representing Gen.
eral Toral, but the invitation was declined.
and the conference was neld under the
spreading cieba, Just such a tree as that
under which Columbus assisted at the, cell
ebration OF mass on~hiss first landing in
Cuba near Havana.
At the; very outset. 1 hitch occurred,
owing to a Misunderstanding of what was
said at the personal Interview between
General Shafter and General Tcral at noon.
At that time our interpreter. transiating
the language of General Toral, had given
Generals Smarter, Miles and Wheeler =
tinctly to understand that Captain General
Bfanco had consented that the commits
sioners should have plenary powers to pc
gotiate the terms of surrender, such terms
as they agreed upon to be binding upon
both parties. Something was said about a
notification to the Madrid government, but
tfon had been actually agreed to and that
no further consent of the Madrid govern
ment was required
When the commissioners met shortly aft
er o'clock in the afternoon, those in be-
half of General Toral General Escario.
Lieutenant Colonel Fortnaa and Robert
Mason, the British vice: CONSUL combated
ss:oHoe the idea that the capituIation had
in fact. actually taken place. The consent
of Madrid, they insisted, vas still necessary;
but, at the same time, they claimed strong
ly that it would be forthcoming, as Captain
General Blarco had advised it, and the
home government would do the same thing.
General Torai, who was present, and who,
in fact. directed the negotiations on his
own behalf said he had never been over
ruled by the captain general.
SuIL he added, untl Madrid had sane
TONED it,. Santiago had not capitulated.
All this was extremely unsatisfactory to
: our commissioners. who eluns tenaciously
tc the understanding General Shafter had
received earlier. in the day. 80
Finally. with the question Of whether or
not the Spanish forces had tactliaEy surren-
! eered still open. the commissioners pro-
.ceeded to- the consideration of prefmina-
fies. .4s'tsr 80
- Captain Miley had drawn UP tiIirtHen arti-
cIes of a general nature. and these were
submitted to General ToraI personally. He
made strong appeal that the word "capit-
plation" be used instead OF the harsher
. term. surrender and that his army be
allowed to march out. the officers with thei-
side arms and fhe. men with their; small
arms. He said the arms could afterwards
be sent TO Spain, either on the same ships
with the troops or on some other ships.
General ToraI further remarked that he
expected our Commissioners; as representa-
tives' Of a brave. chivaIrous people. would
not seek to hnmiliate his army or make ii
appear that he was vanquished. As brave
men,. his soldiers desired to go home with
8 honor. They had simply yielded to su-
perior force, and they would prefer dying
TO going home Without their honor
appeal, but they said it lay beyond the
terms laid down by our government, And
they could only recommend the matter 20
Washington.
AT o'clock General Toral returned to
the city to consult with General Linares.
General Toral and the Spanish commits
sioners returned at $50, saying they desired
still further change in the phraseolo.,y
OF the articles, and suggested a postpone
. ment of negotiations until morning. This
General, Wheeler firmly declined There
upon a recess was taken until $50. The
commissioners returned at that hour and
the articles were again gone over In detail.
Various changes OF verbiage, which tended
cnty to soften the sound without affecting
the sense. were proposed by the Spaniards
and our commissioners accepted practically
all OF them.
Shortly after midnight, General Wheeler
suggested that. the .good faith of thestspan-
iards be tested All the articles were re-
Read, and each commissioner in turn was
asked If they were satisfactory. When they
replied In the affirmative, General Wheeler
asked them 10 affix their signatures. This
they appeared TO be reluctant to do, but
they could not well refuse. When all had
signed, the commissioners separated to
meet again at $50 o'clock in the morning,
The present municipal authorities are to
continue in control Of the city until the
Spanish troops are embarked
The Spanish troops from other points
are to be embarked at the nearest ports. :
Refugees are to return TO their homes
pst not until the sanction of Madrid IL
deceived, and the same applies to the re-
eoval OF the obstrSctions at the mouth OF
the harbor.
Pending this. however, Miss Clara Bar
| Aep and the Red Cross agents, with sup
pties. are to b. allowed TO enter the City
over the line Of the Juraslla RAILROAD
The wafer main, which was cut, In to be
repaired to-day. - -. - -
Cubans are to be allowed TO enter the
city.
All The artillery and the batteries at the