River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-07-21
LAID DOWN THEIR ARMS.
The Spanish Soldiers at Santiago
de Cuba Formally Submit to
the American Demands.
SANTIAGO is NOW UNDER OUR FLAG.
The stars and stripes Hoisted over
the Palace at Noon Sunday-Gen.
McKibbon Made Military Cover
nor-Arms of Toral's Troops to BE
Retained.

Santiago de Cuba, July 18.-Amid
impressive ceremonies the Spanish
troops laid down their arms between
the lines of the Spanish and American
forces at nine o'clock Sunday morn
ing. Gen. Shafter and the American
division and brigade commanders and
their stats were escorted by troop
of cavalry, and Gen. Toral and his staff
by 100 picked men. Trumpeters on
both sides saluted with tlourishes.
Gen. Shafter returned TO Gen. Toral
the latter's sword after it had been
handed to the American commander.
Our troops, lined up at the trenches,
were eye-witnesses of the ceremony.
Gen. Shafter and his escort, accom-
panied by Gen. Toral, rode through
the city, taking formal possession. The
city had been sacked before they ar
rived by the Spaniards. At the palace
elaborate ceremonies took place. Ex-
actlv at noon the American flag was
raised over the palace and was saluted
by 81 guns by Capt. Capron's bat
terry. At the same time all the regi-
mental bands in our lines played THE
Star Spangled Banner" after which
President McKinley's congratulatory
telegram was read to each regiment.
The Thirteenth and Ninth regiments
of infantry will remain in the city to
enforce order and exercise municipal
authority. The Spanish forces are to
encamp outside of our lines. Gen. Nc
Ribbon has been appointed temporary
military governor.
The ceremony over, Gen. Shafter and
his staff returned to the American
lines, leaving the city in the possession
of the municipal authorities, subject
to the control of Gen. McKibbon.
Madrid Sanctions Surrender.
The formal sanction by the Madrid
government of the terms of capitula
ton unrayeled the tangled skein of
demands and counter demands be-
tween the opposing commanders,
which threatened to end the negotia-
tions and compel a return to arms.
After numerous conferences had re-
suited in the agreement, already sane
toned by Gen. Blanco, Gen. Toral de-
cided that the approval of the Madrid
government was necessary before he
would leave the city. Gen. Shafter
maintained that no such approval was
necessary; that when Gen. Toral
agreed to surrender the province of
Santiago and Gen. Blanco sanctioned
it, the agreement of surrender be-
came an accomplished fact. He in
sisted that Gen. Toral had either sur
rendered Thursday or acted in bad
fos 1,,4
out the fact that Gen. Tolal men
toned that he only capitulated
subject to his governments approval,
and the six commissioners by whom
the articles were signed at 2:10
o'clock Saturday afternoon so ruled.
The Terms.
The whole matter was cleared up
Sunday morning, however, when Gen.
Toral received the necessary sanction
from Madrid. The agreement consists
of nine articles, as follows:
First All hostiIities shall cease pending
the agreement of final capitulation.
Second. That the capitulation includes
all the Spanish forces and the surrender of
all war material within the prescribed Inn
it's
Third. The transportation of the troops
to Spain at the earliest possible moment,
each force to be embarked at the nearest
port.
Fourth That the Spanish officers shall
retain their side arns and tho ENLISTED men
their personal property.
Fifth That after the final capltuation
the Spanish forces shall assist in the re-
moval of all distractions to navigation in
Santiago harbor
Sixth. That after the final capitulation
the commanding officers shall furnish
complete inventory Of all arms and mu-
nitlons of war and a roster of all the SOL
diers in the district
Seventh. That the Spanish general shall
be permitted to take the military archives
and records with him.
Eighth That all guerrillas and Spanish
irregulars shall be permitted to remain in
Cuba If they so elect, giving a parole that
they will not again take up arms against
the United States unless properly paroled.
Ninth That the Spanish forces shall be
permitted to march out with all the honors
of war, depositing their arms to be dis
posed of by the United States In the future,
the American commissioners to recommend
to their government that the arms Of the
soldiers be returned to those who so
bravely defended them"
VIII Not Return Arms.
Washington, July 18.-The arms
surrendered by the Spanish soldiers
at Santiago to Gen. Shafter will be
kept by the United States government.
This conclusion, reached late Sunday
afternoon by the president and Secre-
tary Alger, was made public by the lat
ter as he left his office after six o'clock
Sunday night for his home. "AIl those
who have arms will turn them over TO
this government. This is final These
were the secretary's words when asked
for information on the subject. And"
he added. in response to further in
quiries and to clear any doubt that
might exist on the subject "the rifles
will not be returned 10 Spain" This
decision, no doubt, already has been
communicated to Gen. Shafter.