The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-15
Spanish Commander Saved
Destruction by Accepting
His Force Will Be Given Safe Convoy to Spain-vau
Of the Victory and the Blood Cost Of the
Capture Of the Stronghold.

Playa Del Este. Guantanamo Ba,
July 15.-Thursday morning, Genera
Toral. commanding the Spanish force
tn Santiago, sent a communication Il
General shafter. indicating his willing
ness to accept the terms OF surrende
proposed Tuesday. and asking tn
American commander to appoint com
missioners to meet the Spanish com
missioners to arrange to send the Span
ish troops back to Spain. This viii b,
prvnptly done.
The first chapter i'm the land cam
paign of the United States against Spain
was closed yesterday, when the Span
ish colors gave place over Santiago q
the American flag. Next will follow
the transportation OF the Spanish troops
back to their native land and the can.
ture of Porto Rico. unless peace soon
intervenes. The siege of Santiago has
lasted two weeks. being remarkable In
many respects. and in none more than
the heavy percentage or loss through
death. wounds, or sickness OF the SOL
diers and sailors engaged on both sides.
Looking back over the record of these
two weeks, II Is seen that a great iron
clao squadron has been destroyed, that
nearly 1000 Spanish sailors have been
drowned or killed by shell and flame.
and that an untold number of Spanish
soldiers have died in the trenches Of
Santiago. On the other hand about
$50 American soIdiers have been killed,
and in round numbers 1000 more have
been sent TO the hospitals from wounds,
fevers ana other ailments Our feet
has had a remarkable exemption from
disaster in the many engagements IL
has had with the forts at the entrance
OF the harbor and with the Spanish
squadron.
The surrender not only means the
fall Of Santiago. but the whole eastern
end of the Island falls into the hands
OF the United States without firing a
shot. together with all the Spanish
troops at Santiago. Guantanamo, CAIN
anera and sagua, composing the Fourth
corps of the Spanish army. The ter
ritory surrendered includes about one
third Of the province of Santiago. The
western line as described by General
Shafter begins at Asseradores, a point
on the southern Cuban coast about 25
miles west of the city Of Santiago, and
runs almost due north 90 miles to Dos
Pafmas, thence northeast to the city of
Sagua, on the northern coast 1t COM
prises something like 5000 square miles.
with population exceeding II, 900 when
the country is in Its normal state. 1t
includes the important cities OF Santa
go. Guantanamo. Sagua and Baracoa.
II Is exceedingly rich in minerals, sugar
and coffee. The large iron and copper
mines at Juragua, Baiquiri and vicinity
are owned by American companies. In
the Guantanamo district are extensive
sugar plantations. Baracoa carries on |
an extensive fruit trade with the |
United States
1t appears that on Monday General |
Shafter did not again demand the un-
conditional surrender which General
Torai had refused on Sunday. but he
offered, as an alternative proposition,
10 accept the capitulation of the enemy
and to transport the Spanish officers and
troops to Spain, they TO leave all their
arms behind and he to accent their pa
role. II was this proposition which
General Toral declined Tuesday.
Tuesday morning IL was decided to
1old personal interview with General
roral General Miles and his stan. ac-
,ompa sted by General Shafter and his
TAN. rode out to the front under a flag
I truce. A request for a personal in
ervfew with the Spanish commander
n-chief was made and acceded to. and
about O'Clock General Miles. Gem
raj Shafter. General Wheeler. General
ilmour. Colonel Morse, Captain Wiley
nd Colonel Maus rode up passed over
ur Entertainments and went down into
ae valley beyond. They were met by
eneral Toral and his chief Of staff. un-
er spreading mango tree. at the bot
'm OF the valley. about half way be-
veen the lines. The interview that fol-
wed lasted almost an hour. The situ-
lion was placed frankly before General
oral. and he was offered the aIterna-
We OF being sent home with his gar
son or leaving Santiago province, the
'ly condition imposed being that he
lould not destroy the existing fortif-
Itions and should leave his arms be-
nd. This latter condition the Spanish
'neral. who does not speak English. ex-
aimed through his interpreter was i'm
'ssible. He said the laws OF Spain
we general no discretion. He might
'andon place when he found IL un-
nabie. but he could not leave his arms
hind without subjecting himself 10
g penalty OF being court -martIaled
a shot. His government, he said. had
anted him permission 10 cvacuate
ntiago; that was all. Further than ,
~ he was powerless 10 20.
Without saying 50 I'm words. General ,
les said the tenor OF General Torars
marks betrayed his realization that he ,
I'D not hold out long when General :
after explained that our reinforce :
nts were coming ur. that ne u,s,o, /.