The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-11

menas getting into Santiago. which the
Cuban genera. readily promised. regarding
Gen Miles request As orders.
Operation. Against Santiago.
Coming to the OPERATIONS aga:ns. Santi-
ago. The report tells briefly of the landing
of the United States troops. and quotes
Skaters teiegraph.c accoun, of the battle
Of FL Caney. He says:
And on the next day the following dis
patch was received:
Playa del Este. July g.
Camp Near Seville. Cuha-l
We have the town well invested on the
nortn and east. but with a very thin line.
Upon approaching il We ind Il Of such A
character and the defenses so strong II
with my present force. and | am seriously
considering Withdrawing about I'VE miles
and taking up another position on the high
ground between San Juan and Si5oney.
with cur left al Sardertno, so as 20 get our
supplies 10 large extent by me railroad.
which we can use. having the engines and
cars at Siboney.
The report quotes tie remainder Of this
dispatch, describing the loss of the army
and the appeal 10 Admiral Sampson 10
force the harbor entrance. all of which has
already been published IN Gen. Skaters
reports.
Gen Miles own telegram OF congratula-
ton is also given. winding up as follows:
Il expect 10 be with you within one week
with strong re.nforcements-
Gen. Skaters response was that he was
master OF the situation and could hold the
enemy for. any length of time. and added:
Il am delighted to know that you are
coming, that YOU may see for yourself the
obstacles which this army had 20 over
come. My only regret IS the great number
Of gallant souls who have given their lives
for our country's cause.
Preparations TO Force the HarbOr.
Then follows Skaters dispatch TO Adjt.
Gen. Corbin. on July 4. saying Santiago
could be taken in few hours II Sampson
would force an entrance. If the army
alone was 10 do it. he would require 5000
troops. Gen. Miles says that ca receipt of
these communications it was decided that
he should Immediately go TO Santiago with
reinforcements.
He purposed landing on the west side OF
the harbor. to open the entrance or take
the Spanish in the rear. Arriving of San
tiago. Admiral Sampson came on board tho
Yale and cordially acQuiesced in the plan.
Next he went ashore and opened commu-
nication with Shafter. who said he had
enough troops on the east side. Orders
were given TO land achievements.
Continuing. Gen. Miles says that after
consulting next morning personally with
Gen. Shafter. the latter sent a communion
ton 10 Gen. Toral, saying the commanding
general OF the American army had arrived
in his camp with reinforcements, and
that We desired TO meet him between the
lines al any time agreeable to him.
He replied that he would see us a. II
o'clock the following day.
The yellow fever had broken out among
the United States troops, and Gen. Miles
abled 10 Washington suggesting that il
was a case where discretionary authority
should be granted"
He tells how he (Miles), with his staff
Gen. Shafter and others, met Toral. and
he Miles told the latter that his govern
ment was determined TO capture or destroy
the Spanish force II ii took $1,000 men;
that he himself had sufficient reinforce
Inents TO do it, and that he offered him
liberal terms naming them, and giving
Toral until daylight to decide. Upon To-
rails appeal. Gen. Miles extended this time
limit until j. o'clock noon.
Authorized to Accept Surrender.
The report continues:
After thoroughly examining the entire
portion OF the siding along the trenches
from right 10 left returned 10 Gen Shat
ter's headquarters. Before reaching that
point / received the following cablegram
evening before:
washington .IIIy
ITO Mai Gen. Miles: You may accept
surrender by granting parole to officers and
men, the officers retaining their side arms
The officers and men after parole 10 re-
turn TO Spain. the United States assisting
If rot accepted. then assault unless in Your
judgment an assault would fail. Consult
with Sampson and pursue such course as
70 the assault as YOU Jointly agree upon.
Matter should be settled promptly
r. A. ALGER. Secretary OF War.
This left the matter entirely at my dis
cretjon--to accept surrender. order an as
sault or withhold the same"
Due Credit Given to shafter.
Gen. Miles then requested Sampson 10
he ready to cover the landing Of the troops
next day and Instructed Gen. Henry ac-
cordiuely. Everything was in readiness. IN
plain sight OF the Spanish commander
when the latter addressed a letter TO the
general in-chief Of the American forces in
closing Hlanco's authorization 70 agree on
ca ptulation on the basis Of repatriation Of
the Spanish troops asking that the answer
Of the Madrid government be- awaited. To-
raj himself suggested the designation OF
commissioners 10 agree upon the capitula-
jion. NJ the following meeting Torsl asked
that before final action was taken the Mad
rid government should approve, though he
vas sure they would not fail 10 indorse his
action. Gen. Miles was satisfied OF MS sim
Cs-ity ard stated that I'VE would accep;
this surrender" telegraphing Secretary Al
ger as follows,
Gen. Toral formally surrendered the
troops Of his army corps and division o.
Santiago On the terms and understanding
that his troops would be- returned 80 Spain
Gen Sha:ter Will appoint commits -.0ners To
draw up the cond lions of arrangement for
o2rr< .ng out the terms % surrender TINS
IS very gratifying and Gen. Shafter aad tn.
officers and men % his command are emit
;led 20 great credit Cor their tenacity AMI
fart'tufe iU overcoming almost impa $50. DE
fortitalc ln overcoming tiToS. irsuFnouut-
BILE obstacles which they have encoun-
tered