The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

ish troops were to be sent back to
spain by the United States.
The War Department posted the fol-
lowing this afternoon:
Playa, July 18, 189S.-Adjutant Cen
erai United States Army, Washington:
Headquarters, near Santiago, July 10
Inc conditions OF capitulation include
all the forces and war material in the
described territory. The United States
agrees, with as little delay as possible,
10 transport all Spanish troops in the
district to the kingdom of Spain. the
troops, as far as possible, to embark
at the port nearest the garrisons they
now occupy. Officers to retain their
side arms and officers and men to re-
tain their personal property. Spanish
commander Is authorized to take mill
tary archives belonging TO surrendered
district All Spanish forces known as
volunteers Moirilizadves and guerrillas
who wish to remain in Cuba may do so,
under parole, during the present war,
giving up their arms. Spanish forces
to march out Of Santiago with the
honors Of war, depositing the arms by
mutual agreement to await the disposi-
ton of the United States Government,
1t being understood that the United
States Commissioners will recommend
that the Spanish soldiers return to
Spain with the arms they so bravely
defended. This leaves the question IF
the return Of the arms entirely in the
hands Of the Government. invite at
tention to the fact that against several
thousand Of the surrendered (Gen-
eral Toral says about 10000, not shot
has been fired. The return to Spain of
the troops in this district will amount
to about $4,000, according to General
Toral. W. r. SHAFTER,
United States Volunteers"
The effect Of this dispatch was rather
disappointing to the authorities here,
as 1t was recognized that If General
Toral was to march out with the honors
of war-a salute to the Spanish flag,
bands playing and colors fiying-it
would not be, strictly speaking. an I'M
conditional surrender. There was also
some criticism of the statement that it
was understood that the American COM
missioners would recommend that the
Spanish soldiers be allowed to carry
their arms back to Spain with them.
General Skaters latest dispatch say
ing that the Spanish soldiers are to
give UP their arms and march out Of
Santiago as prisoners of war can only
be reconciled 18th these statements on
the assumption that he had another
conference with the Spanish officers
after writing his first dispatch and was
able to make more satisfactory terms
than at first.
It is possible the last dispatch still
contemplates the recommendation by
General Shafter that the Spanish troops
be allowed to take their arms back TO
Spai;. with them after they have ac-
tually turned them over to the Ameri-
can forces. If this is true, however. II
Is probable that the administration will
concur In General Skaters recommen-
dalton A member Of the cabinet told
me to night that under no circum-
stances would the Spanish troops be al
lowed to carry back to Spain a single
rifle but no official announcement will
be made on this subject until the Span
ish arms are actually In the possession
of General Shaftcr and 1t is known
whether or not he Is to make a recon-
mendation that they be returned.
1t is understood here that the reason
that General Toral was 80 anxious to
be permitted to carry his arms back to
Spain was that large number of the
troops to be surrendered by him had
not been in the conflict with arms, and