The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-17
Settling SURRENDER.
Story Of the Meeting Of the
Commissioners.
TORAL SPARS FOR TINE.
Gen. Wheeler Finally Gets Paper
Signed,

Spanish Com missioners Insisted That
Details Supposed to Have Been
Settled should he Referred to
Madrid for Approval-Gen. TOral
Insists That His Army BE Allowed
to Go Home With Honor - Gen.
wheeler Finally Drives the Span
ish Commissioners Into n Corner
and They Sign the Terms of Sur
render.
Copyright 1898, by the Associated Press.
At Gen. Wheeler's Headquarters. Before
Santiago July To- 10 a. m, via Kingston,
July 16, 7:25 a. m.-The preliminary basis
for the capitulation of the Spanish forces
in Eastern Cuba was agreed to and sign
ed under a picturesque oleba tree. half
way between the lines shortly after mid
night.
Our commissioners were invited to enter
the city by those representing Gen Toral,
but the invitation was declined and the
conference was held under the spreading
cieba, just such a tree as that under
which Columbus assisted at the celebra-
ton of mass on his first landing In Cuba,
near Havana.
At the very outset o hitch occurred ow-
ing to a misunderstanding of what was
said at the personal interview between
Gen. Shafter and Gen. Toral at noon.
At that time our Interpreter, translating
the language of Gen. Toral, had given
Gems. Shafter, Miles and Wheeler distinct
ly to understand that Capt. Gen. Blanco
had consented that tli4 commissioners
should have plenary powers to negotiate
the terms Of surrender, such terms as they
agreed upon to be binding upon both par
ties.
Something was said about a notfica-
ton to the Madrid government, but Gen
Shafter insisted that the capltulatlon had
been actually agreed TO and that no fur
ther consent of the Madrid government
was required
When the commissioners met shortly
after o'clock in the afternoon, those on
behalf Of Gen. Toral (Gen. Escarlo, Lieut.
Col. Tartan and Robert Mason. the Brit
ish vice consuD combatted at once the
idea that the capitulation had in fact actu-
ally taken place. The consent of Madrid
they insisted, was still necessary; hut,
at the same time, they claimed strongly
that it would be forthcoming, as Capt.
Gen. Blanco had authorized it and the
home government would do the same.
Gen. Toral, who was personally present
and who in fact, directed the negota-
tions on his own behalf said ne had never
been overruled by the captain general.
Still, he added, until Madrid had sane
toned it, Santiago had not capitulated.
All this was extremely unsatisfactory
to our commi issioners who clung tena-
ciously to the understanding Gen. Shafter
had received earlier in the day. Finally
with the question of whether or not the
Spanish forces had actually surrendered
still open, the commissioners proceeded TO
the consideration Of the preliminaries.
Capt. Miey had drawn up thirteen artl-
cles of a general nature aud these were
submitted to Gen. Toral personally. He
made a strong appeal that the word cap
ituiation' be used instead of the harsher
term surrender" and that his army be
allowed to march out. the officers with
their side arms, and the men with their
small arms. He said the arms could after
ward be sent 10 Spain, either on the same
ships with the troops or on some other
ships.
Gen. Toral further remarked that he ex-
pected our commissioners, as representa-
would not seek to humliate his army or
make 1t appear that ne was Yanquished.
As brave men, his soldiers desired to go
home with honor They had simply yield
ed to superior force and they would prefer
dying to going home without their honor.
Our commissioners could not resist this
appeal. but they said it lay beyond the
terms laid down by our government, and
they could only recommend the matter TO
Washington.
At 4 o'clock Gen. Toral returned to the
city to consult with Gen, Linares, who
had been enormously reported dead.
Gen. Toral and the Spanish commission
ers returned at $3.50, saying they desired a
still further change in the phraseoiogy OF
the articles, and suggested a postponement
of the negotiations until morning.
This Gen. Whee,er firmly declined.
Thereupon a recess was taken until $3.50.
The commissioners returned at that hour
and the articles were again gone over In
detail
Various changes of verbiage, which tend
ed only to soften the sound of terms with
out affecting the sense, were proposed by
the Spanlards, and our commissioners
adopted practically all of them.
Shortly after midnight Gen. Wheeler
suggested that the good faith of the Span
ish commissioners be tested. All the arti-
cles were reread and each commissioner
in turn was asked IL they were satisfac-
tory.
When they replied In the affirmative,
Gen. Wheeler asked them to afix their
signatures. This they appeared reluctant
to dof but they could not web refuse.
When all had signed, the commissioners
separated to meet again at $3.50 IN the
morning.
The present municipal authorities are to
continue In control of the city until the
Spanish troops are embarked
The Spanish troops from other points are
to be embarked at the nearest ports
Refugees are to return to their homes. i
but not until the SANCTION of Madrid IS
received, and the same applies to the re-