New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-16
THE FALL OF SANTIAGO.
HOW TORAL CAME TO TERMS
AT THE LAST MOMENT.

REFUGEES ANXIOUS TO RETURN TO CITY
ONLY FEW TROOPS TO ENTER.
With the United States Troops Before Santiago
de Cuba, July IA. via Kingston, Jamaica July
15.-The reverse to the Spanish arms in Eastern
Cuba is complete. Santiago has fallen. and with
It all the eastern end Of the island. General
Toral, the Spanish commander, agreed to the
general terms Of the surrender at a personal in
terview with General Shsfter this afternoon. at
which General Miles was present
The victorious American Army, after a
pagn Of three weeks OF almost unprecedented
hardship for both officers and men. accepts tho
news with heartfelt relief
The victory is greater than appeared at first.
All the Spanish troops in the Fourth Corps Of
the military division OF Santiago Pro, nce from
a line drawn north from Acerraderos eighteen
miles west OF Santiago. through Los PalmaS
Palmas soriano. Aloantaza. to Sagua de Ia
namo, on the north coast, and eastward to Cape
Maysi. surrendered and the territory is
abandoned Between $1,000 and 10000 Span
ish prisoners are taken, about ten Thousand of
whom are in Santiago The remainder are at
Guantanamo. and others are garrisoned in the
towns OF Eastern Cuba. All these troops are to
be embarked and sent back to Spain under
parole.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL SHAFTER
General shafte- bears his honors modestly.
To a correspondent OF The Associated Press he
said:
THE enemy has surrendered all the territory
and troops east Of Santiago. The terms were
dictated frcm Washington. It has been a hard
campaign, one Of the hardest ever saw. The
difficulties to contend with were very great
Never during our Civil War were more prob
lens solved. The character OF the country and
the reads made It seem almost impossible TO
advance in the face Of the enemy. The trans
portation problem hard but all the diff
cultes have been successfully surmounted. Our
troops have behaved gallantly. They fought
like heroes. and I am proud 10 have COM
manded them. During all the hardships they
have suffered they have shown resolution and
spirit They deserved TO conquer
THE resistance Of the enemy has been ex-
ceedingly stubborn General Toral has proved
himself foeman worthy Of any mans steel
The negotiations which eliminated in the
surrender OF General Toral have been dragging
on for ten days, with the intermsson Of Sun
day and Monday. when our batteries and fleet
bombarded the enemy's position. Throughout
these periods Of truce General Toral has
shrewdy played for time. always declining TO
surrender unconditionay and falling back
when hard pressed upon the statement that he
was simply subordinate and powerless to agres
70 the proposals without the sanction Of his
superrors except under penalty Of being court
martialled.
TORAL WAS OBEYING ORDERS
AT the same time he seemed to intimate that,
personally. he thought 1t useless to hold out
any longer But he and his garrison were SOL
diers he said, and could die. if necessary, obey
ing orders"
1t was at the personal interview held by Gen.
eral Shafter with General Toral yesterday that
mander understand that temporizing must cease
and that before noon to-day categorical az
hrnaton to his sffer must be received or the
bombardment Of the city would begin in ear
nest
In the mean time all the plans had been
perfected. The delay had been utilized to good
advantage. The lines had been extended until
Santiago was nearly surrounded. and the light
batteries had been so posted as TO be able to
do more effective work.
In addition. arrangements had been made TO
land troops at Cabanas west Of the entrance Of
the harbor OF Santiago. The Spanish batteries
opposite Moro Castle were to be bombarded
and stormed. their guns were then to be turned
upon the city. and General Lawton's division
az the same time was to fall on the enemys
left flank under the cover OF artillery fire. We
could then have enhaded their lines and have
driven them into the city.
EFFORT TO GAIN MORE TINE.
General Toral must have realized that hs
was trapped. and that to hold out longer must
mean useless sacrifice Of his men. sst As saaAs