The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-03

SAL u MIA 4 DEOG DEL
should take extra precautions to pre-
vent the enemy's escape"
FAVORED EVACUATION.
Late that night, July s, these impor-
tant kilograms were exchanged:
'(Received Washington, July 8, 9 p.
mo- Honorable Secretary of War,
Army Corps, Near Santiago for
warded General Torars proposition to
evacuate the town this morning with
out consulting anyone. Since then l
have seen the general officers COM
handing divisions, who agree with me
that it should be accepted First, it re-
leases at once the harbor; second, it
permits the return of thousands of
women, children and old men who have
left the town, fearing bombardment,
and who are now suffering where they
are, though / am doing my best to
supply them with food Third, it saves
the great destruction of property which
bombardment would entail. most of
which belongs to Cubans and foreign
residents. Fourth, it at once relieves
the command, While it is in good health
for operation elsewhere. There are now
three cases of yellow fever at Siboney
in Michigan regiment, and if it gets
started no one knows where it will
stop. We will lose by this simply some
prisoners we do not want and the arms
they carry. 1 believe many of them
will desert and return to our lines. I
was told by a sentinel who deserted last
night that 200 men wanted to come, but
were afraid our men would fire upon
them.
(Signed) "W. R. SKATER,
General
DISAPPROVED AT WASHINGTON.
Washington, July 9, ills p. M, Ma
jor Shafter, Playa del Este, Cuba: In
reply to your telegram recommending
terms of evacuation as proposed by the
Spanish commander, after careful con-
sideration by the president aud secre-
tary of war, L am directed to say that
you have repeatedly been advised that
you would not be expected to make an
assault upon the enemy at Santiago
until you were prepared to do the work
thoroughly. When you are ready this
viii be done. Your telegram of this
morning said your position was i'm
pregnable, and that you believed the
enemy would yet surrender uncondi-
tionally. You have also assured us
that you could force their surrender by
cutting off the supplies. Under these
circumstances your message recon-
mending that Spanish troops be per-
mitted to evacuate and proceed with
out molestation to Holguin is a great
surprise, and is not approved. The re-
sponsibility of destruction and distress
to the inhabitants rests entirely with
the Spanish commander. The secretary
of war orders that when you are strong
enough to destroy the enemy and take
Santiago, that you do it. If you have
not force enough, it will be dispatched
to you at the earliest moment practi-
cable. Reinforcements are On the way,
of which you have already been adj
vised. In the meantime nothing is lost
by holding the position you now have,
and which you regard as impregnable.
Acknowledge receipt.
/ by order of the secretary of war.
/ (Signed) II. C. CORBIN,
"Adjutant General"
playa del Este (via HaytD, Gre
ceived Washington, July 10, 2:05 p. M:
! Adjutant General, Washington: Head
/ Quarters. Near Santiago de Cuba, July
| 10.-TelegTam of 9th regards to evac-
| uation of Spanish troops received. My
! position is impregnable against any at
/ tack the enemy may bring against me,
/ but have not yet enough troops to en-
| tirely surround the town. The Cuban
forces are not to be depended upon for
severe fighting. Instructions of the
war department will be carried out to
the letter.
(Signedj "SHAFTER,
Major General"
On the 10th Shafter telegraphs that his
offer had been declined and he should be
/ gin to lombard Santiago at 4 o'clock that
( day but the secretary authorized him to
/ promise to return the Spaniards TO Spain
il they surrendered Internationally. A
good deal of Geographic correspondence
! occurs at this point touching the terms
! of surrender. but the facts already have
/ been pretty thoroughly published. In the
4 midst of them is one from General Miles
from the camp near Santiago, July IL, in
which he advises with Shafter and the
| major generals that discretion be granted
/ as to terms of surrender. He referred to
| the Spanish offer to surrender Santiago
province force, batteries. munitions of
war etc, all except the men and small
arms.
General Miles says that under ordinary
circumstances he would not advise ac-
ceptance. but to avoid the assault and in
view of the fact that there were 100 cases
of yellow fever in the command, he con-
ours with Shafter.
ACCEPTANCE AUTHORIZED.
The response came as follows:
1 washington, July 13--Maior General
Miles, Camp Near Santiago, Playa del
Este, Cuba: You may accept surrender by
granting parole to officers and men, the
officers retaining their side arms. The
I officers and men, after parole, to be per-
mitted to return 10 Spain, the United
assault, unless, in your judgment, an as
sault would fail. Consult with Sampson
and pursue such course as to the assault
as you Jointly agree upon. Matters
should now be settled promptly ~
Secretary of War
(See dispatch to General Shafter, July
10)
on,July 10 Secretary Alger wrote 10 the
secretary of the navy requesting that he
order the fleet off Santiago to at once
force its way into the bay if possible. The
reasons set out are that the heavy rains
have made the roads nearly impossible
for supplies for the troops. have filled the
trenches and endangered the lives of the
men from the yellow fever; also the enc
mys works wre of such character as to
involve a terrible sacrifice of life were
an attempt made to assault them.
Secretary Long responded in a mere ac-
acknowledgement of receipt of the commu-
nication.
More correspondence by telegraph rela-
tive to the surrender is injected at this
point by the secretary, regarding General
i Miles announcement of the surrender or
July IA. with the understanding that the
Spanish troops would be returned tC
Spain, and announcing his arrangements
for the disposition of the sick soldiers.
: The secretary's next telegram was adj
dressed to General Shafter on the follow
ing day and read: Have you received
the absolute surrender of the enemy? We
are waiting the conditions with i-npa.
tience."
garded the surrender as absolute, ane
the matter would be settled by commits
+ sioners that day, the 18th.
! A SMALL MATTER.
There was a Geographic exchange re
garding the Spanish arms. The secretary
: said no proposition could be entertained
/ to permit them to carry off their arms