Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-09-08

ago Under verbal instructions Of the presi-
dent, General Miles was directed to go wher-
ever he deemed his presence was required,
and that he should give such directions as in
his opinion were best for the army and the
government.
These were the circumstances under which
General Miles left Washington.
Arriving at Santiago, July H. not a. pri-
vate individual nor as a visitor Amy pretcnse
that he went there disrobed of his authority
or official capacity is too childish to be consid-
cred by sensible men. From the moment he
arrived at Santiago he was responsible for
what might occur de arrived there with
the Yale, Columbia and Rita loaded with
infantry and three ships loaded with artillery,
besides those already disembarked. He de-
signed to diseabark the troops and artillery
named on the west side of Santiago, as was
understood before leaving Washington, and
before he went ashore he made the necessary
arrangements accordingly, He then pro-
ceeded to the front, and after consulting with
General Shafter, note was semitic the Span
ish commander by General Shafter saying
that the commanding general of the United
States army had arrived in his camp with
strong achievements and would meet him
between the lines at any hour agreeable to
him.
The reply OF the Spanish commander was
that he would meet him at IL o'clock next
morning. The meeting was held, and after
some conversation between General Shafter
and General Toral, General Miles frankly in
formed the Spanish general that he had left
Washington six days before and that it was
then the determination of the government
that this portion Of the Spanish army must
be captured or destroyed. He also informed
the Spanish general that his reinforcements
had arrived with him, that some of these
forces had afseady disembarked and the re-
mainder would be disembarked on the west
side of the Eareor, and that it was useless for
him to contend against the inevitable. These
transports could also be plainly seen by the
Spanish from Moro castle and other points.
General Toral replied that SO long as he had
rations and ammunition he had to fight IN
order to maintain the honor of the Spanish
army.
In response to that he was informed that he
had already maintained the honor of the
Spanish army and that further efforts would
be useless, and would result in the wanton
sacrifice of human life He then said that be
was waiting TO hear from his government,
and was informed by General Miles that
had already talten much time for that p.
pose, and would be given until daylight of -
following morning, ii being then 3 o'clock. -
submit his final answer. He begged for longer
time, and earnestly requested until II o'clock
next day. This was finally granted by Cen
eral Miles the meeting dissolved and the
officers separated. On returning from this
conference a dispatch was received by Gem
eral Miles from Washington. IS follows:
tW WASHINGTON, July 10. 1898.
MAJOR GENERAL MTLEs-You may accept
surrender by granting parole to officers and
men, the officers retaining their side arms,
the officers and men after parole to be per-
mitted TO return to Spain, the United States
assisting. If not accepted, then assault, unless
in your Judgment assault would fail.
Consult with Sampson and pursue such course
as to the assault as you jointly agree upon.
Matter should be settled promptly.
r.. a. ALGER. Secretary of War;
This, the statement says. does not look as if
General Miles was there visitor. He was
charged with responsibility Of ordering an as
sault upon the entertainments and fortifca-
tions of an army, which, if successful, would
have cost at least 5000 lives or of withhold
ing the assault if in his Judgment such an as
sault would fail.
No greater discretion was ever given to any
general commanding an army, and what is
more, as will be Observed he was authorized
to accept the surrender, which in the interest
OF his subordinates he generously declined tc
do, and went away leaving all the honor to his
next in rank General Shafter.
On the morning succeeding the first inter
view, letter was received from General
Toral, of which the following is literal
translation:
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July IA.
''General-in-C Chief of the American forces:
eral-in-chief of the army of the island of Cuba,
telegraphs from Havana yesterday at p. IN.
the following
Believing the business of such Importance
as the capitalization of that place to be known
and decided upon by the government of his
majesty, give you notice that have sent the
conditions Of your telegram asking imme
date answer, and enabling you also to show
this to the general of the American army to
see II he will agree TO await the answer of the
government, which cannot be as soon as the
time which he has decided, as communication
by way of Bermuda is more slow than by
Key West In the meanwhile your honor and
the general of the American army may agree
upon capitalization on the basis of repatri
alton. Returning to Spain.]
i have the honor to transmit this to you
that in case you may consider the foregoing
satisfactory that he may designate persons in
representation of himself who, with those in
my name, may agree to clauses of the capitu-
lation upon the basis of returning to Spain
accepted already in the beginning by the
generalin- chief of this army. Awaiting re-
ply, am very respectfully, your servant,
Jose ToRAI4 ETC."
At the meeting on the following day, Gen
eral Toral stated that he was prepared to sur
render with the approval of the captain gen
eral of Cuba, but it would require a little time
to have his acts confirmed by the home gov
eminent; that in the meantime he was pre-
pared to appoint commissioners to arrange
the clauses of the capitalization. Not only this,
he offered to surrender the balance of his
command, which had not been under fire dur
ing the campaign. The remarkable offer was
on his motion and was in the nature of a sur
prise to the American generals present. How
ever, at the conference of the day previous,
General Miles had reminded him that he had
been rendered the most liberal terms ever Of
fered to an enemy; that his fleet was destroyed
and they were 5000 miles from home. Torals
offer could be accounted for in one of two
ways-either that the troops were wanted at
home to meet threatened revolution or that