Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-23
TORAL's REASONS FOR SURRENDER
Judged Our Troops by Cuban stand
ards-Surprised mt Their Daring.


| Santiago Correspondence New York Her
(ald.)
General Linares and General Toral sine
the fall OF Santiago perslstently have de
clined to express their views OF the cam
paign which has just resulted In the ca
pitulation Of the city and the surrende
of their army.
several attempts have been made I,
Interview each OF the Spanish generals
but both have refused to talk for publ
cation. General Shafter issued stric
orders that their wish should be re
spected
am able, however, to send a correct
statement Of the Spanish situation here
just prior TO the surrender, showing the
reasons which prompted General Tora
10 capitulate. These facts I obtained
from the Spanish judge advocate general
Tor this military division. who was IA.
miliar with the situation among the
Spaniards throughout the campaign.
Il confess" said he, that we did not
expect Santiago could be taken. We
were misinformed regarding the strength
Of the American military forces. We
did not think General Shafter could send
a sufficient force against the city 10
capture 1t. We had been fighting so
long against the insurgents that we
scarcely realized what it meant to bat
tie against such brave men.
WERE CONFIDENT OF VICTORY.
''The greatest confidence existed among
our officers that the positions our troops
occupied at lei Caney and San Juan could
not be successfully assailed. Conse-
QlIGnflV when tho me-
ried both of those places by assault we
began TO realize that we would not be
able SUCCESSFULLY to defend the city
I'VE had practically no field artillery,
and our inability to repulse the Ameri-
cans either at San Juan or El Caney
gave rise to grave doubts as to whether
we could bold the second line OF the city's
defences In the face of the tremendous
fire which would come from your artil-
lery and trenches.
I'VE had been stimulated by the pro-
mise OF reinforcements, bu. we finally
learned that we could hope for no help
In that direction.
After that tho only question was to
obtain as honorable terms as possible.
For several days after the battles of
July LIST and I'd we might have evacu-
ated the city successfully. Such a propo-
sition was discussed extensively by Gem
eral, Linares and General Toral, but they
finally abandoned the project as cow
ardly.
TOO LATE TO RETREAT.
when IL developed later on that evac-
uation was the only course by which we
could hope to save the garrison, ii was
found that we were too late. The Amer
can lines by that time had been extend
hat AKaI.K
was cut Off
General Linares, although wounded In
the fighting before the city, violently
opposed the proposition 10 evacuate, as
he also did the proposition to capltulate.
But General Toral realized that We
must succumb TO the inevitable.
nave no doubt that General Toral brave
y would have continued the fight, but he
Knew that it would mean only a need
ess sacrifice OF thousands Of lives"
/ asked the Judge Acknowledgement
lbout the effect of the American bom-
,ardment of Santiago. He replied:
Little damage was done In the city
" the American artillery. Only a few
hells struck in the city proper. The
american artillery fire seemed to be d. |
ected at our batteries and trenches. |
Two large shells. which we supposed |
we're thrown by the feet. exploded In |
he heart OF the city and created great |
error among the non-combatants.
WOULD HAVE BEEN STARVED.
"rhe blockade caused no material |
of food in Santiago, but after |
ur land supply had been cut off the |
ity must have been starved into sur
ender within few weeks My family I
ad been living chiefly on rice for the /
asst week before equalization. Even /
General Linares and General Toral were
o better supplied. We occasionally had |
little meat but 1t was tough, and what
vegetables we could get were poor.
MANY horses shot in battle were eaten
y our soldiers. The longer We held |
ut the worse our situation became We
ould not have obtained as favorable
erms two weeks later. even II the city
ad not been carried by assault In the
leantime."
General Lnares and General Toral both
ltend 20 return 10 Spain as soon as pos
Ible. General Linares still is disabled
) his wound. and may not be in con-
ition to return for a month. General
oral, however, will go back on one or
he transports which will carry the de-
eated army 10 Spain. Neither general
as any HQfl luO t'fIHb. OIL
lrrender they must return with their
len.
This learn is entirely agreeable to
9TH generals. Each has had enough SER
ce In Cuba. and will be glad OF the OPP
ortunity 10 return TO Spain.
sPANIARDs WERE AMAZED.
Spanish officers In Santiago eyinced
.eat curiosity for further details about
le destruction OF Admiral Cervern's
.et When they were informed that
1t one American was killed In the en-
.gement they held up their hands In
nazement They thought that must
i've been impossible. as they had heard
ing for half an hour after the Span
b fleet dashed out OF the harbor.
From their conversation II Is apparent
at the Spaniards entertained the hope
at Cervera would defeat the American
.et and raise the blockade at Habana.
They were not officially informed OF
e destruction OF the feet until more
AN week after the event had taken
ace. News was spread among the
oops on the day Admiral Cervera sail
that his fleet had sunk several Amer
IN ships and had steamed away 10 the
When the real news came all
pc Of saving Santiago vanished.
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