Evening star., 1898-07-15
MILES MET TORAL
Their First Interview Between the
Lines of Both Armies.
THE SPANIhRD'S BRAVE WORDS
"If Necessary, We Can Die at
Our Posts" He Said.
THE MODESTY OF MILES

General wheeler's Headquarters, Before
Santiago de Cuba, July 12.-In the inter
view today between General Miles and
General Shafter and General Toral the
situation was placed finally before General
Toral, and he was offered the alternative
Of being sent home with his garrison or
leaving Santiago province. the only condi-
ton imposed being that he should not de-
stroy the existing fortihcations and should
leave his arms behind.
This latter condition the Spanish general,
who does not speak English. explained,
through his Interpreter, was impossible.
He said the laws of Spain gave a general
no discretion. He might abandon a place
when he found II untenable, but he could
not leave his arms behind without subject
ing himself to the penalty of being court
martialed and shot. His government, he
said, had granted him permission TO evacu-
ate Santiago. That was ALL Further than
that he was powerless to go.
Without saying so in words. General
Miles said the tenor of General Torars re-
marks all betrayed his realization that he
could not hold out long When General
Shafter explained that our reinforcements
were coming up. that he was completely
surrounded. and that new batteries were
being posted, General Toral simply shrug-
ged his shoulders.
Il am but a subordinate" said be, "and
/ obey my government. IL IL Is necessary,
we can die at our posts"
General Toral is a man of sixty years OF
age, with a strong, rugged face and fine
soldierly bearing. His brave words in
spired a feeling of respect and admiration
in the hearts of his adversaries. Neverthe-
less, the Spanish generals anxiety TO avoid
further sacrifice of life in his command was
manifest, and he did not hesitate 20 ask
for time to communicate the situation TO
Madrid, although he dubiously shook his
head when he spoke OF the probable re
sponse.
Miles, Modesty.
In the course of an interview General To-
raj said the bombardment of Sunday and
Monday had done little damage. He ad-
mitted that shells from the guns OF the
fleet had destroyed four houses. but he as
serted that only half a dozen soldiers of
the garrison had been injured. He also
volunteered the Information, when General
Miles gallantly inquired after General Ii
Mares condition, that the latter would
probably suffer the amputation OF his left
arm at the shoulder.
General Miles at the interview did not
attempt to assume the direction of the
negotiations, but as general of the United
States army he vouched for the conditions
General Shafter offered.
Upon the return of our commanders TO
the American lines an important consulta-
larterS.
Generals Garcia and Castillo. with their
staffs, had ridden around from the extreme
right to see General Miles. 1t was nota-
BILE group, gathered under the protecting
awning of General Wheeler's tent
General Miles, in blue fatigue uniform,
with the double star his shoulders and
his campaign hat encircled by q single
strand OF gold braid, looking the ideal sol
der, sat on empty ammunition box and
formed the center OF the party.
On fha rjrrhf nf ar1l los at
Shafter, and on his left was General Gar
cia, in mud-spotted white uniform. with
heavy riding boots and jingling spurs. The
Cuban general wore large Weather-worn
panama hat, and at his side was silver
mounted machete. General Garcia has
strong, swarthy face, with a deep bullet
scar in his forehead. In a general way he
is not unlike Cuban edition of General
Miles.
Hobson Was Present.
Gen. Wheeler, with grizzled beard, small
of stature and in brown campaign uni
form, faced the three officers mentioned
while about them sat the aids-de-camp OF
the four generals. Assistant Naval Con-
structor Hobson. the hero of the Merri-
mac who had come to headquarters with
messages from Rear Admiral Sampson,
was also present.
The situation was discussed with the
aid of q profusion of maps, and at the
conclusion of the conference, luncheon
was served. 1t consisted of beans, hard
tack and coffee. After this meal Gen.
Miles Gen. Shafter and Gen. Garcia, with
their staffs rode off to inspect the posi-
ton on the right flank. They all agreed
that Gen. Toral was securely wedged In
and that escape was impossible, but, owg
ing to delays and the possibly incidental
loss of life which was certain 10 result
from attempt to carry the town by
assault, the danger to our troops from
fever and disease, and above ALL the fact
the the Spanish feet was destroyed,
which has been the real object OF the
campaign, 1t seemed to be the general dis
Santiago This would give a military
and naval base, permit the starving ref
ugees TO return to their homes, and would
allow the immediate embarkation Of the
bulk of our army for the Porto Rico cam
paign.
drenching the soldiers, washing out the
roads and swelling the streams into tor
rents In fact our base of supplies is ac-
tually threatened by the mountain streams.
Two bridges have been carried away this
afternoon, after downfall in which an
inch and half of rain fell
A Disaster Threatened.
The Aguadores river is impassable. the
water, shoulder deep, is running like
small Niagara. A mule ambulance, filled
with refugees, which attempted to cross
the river. was carried 200 yards down the
stream to Caney, where the passengers
were rescued with difficulty.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt is one of those
who believe the army is threatened with
great disaster unless Gen. Toral and
his troops are allowed to depart. The
situation has been communicated to Wash
ington.
Two of Gen. Randolph's batteries reach
ed the front today and were posted in
the center Of Gen Lawton's division, on
the extreme right, where they command
the town beyond our lines and cover the
churches. hospitals and other public build
fngs flying the Red Cross flag, at the east
ern edge of the city.
Already the movements of the army for
the future, outlined. are based on the
fall of the city. The pans OF the generals
are not to allow our troops to enter the
city, except a garrison of immunes. which
will remain here, proof against the yell
low fever.
Until ready for embarkation on the
transports at the city's piers our men will
be camoed on the heights surrounding
Santiago, where the water is good. Strict
instructions have been issued to the SOL
diers to boil their drinking water, but,
owing 10 the poverty of their equipments,
this is almost impossible.