The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-15

General Wheeler's Headquarters, be-
fore Santiago de Cuba, July Is a p. m.)
via Kingston, Jamaica, July 14.-Q:3O
p. m.)-White flags still flutter over the
opposing lines. The truce has been eX-
tended until tomorrow noon to permit
negotiations looking to the surrender of
Santiago. General Toral, the Spanish
commander, realizes the hopeleSsneSS OF
further resistance and the American
commanding general, Shafter is in
clned to reduce the harshness of the
terms which he at first proposed to inn
pose upon the enemy.
1t appears that on Monday General
Shafter did not again demand the uncon-
dtional surrender which General Toral
had refused on Sunday, but offered, as
an alternative proposition, to accept cap
itulation of the enemy and to transport
the Spanish officers and troops to Spain.
they to leave all their arms behind and
he to accept their parole. 1t was this
proposition which General Toral de-
clined yesterday.
This morning, it was decided to hold
il personal interview with General Toral.
General Miles and his staff. who got
no further than General Shafter's head
quarters last night, accompanied by Gen
eral Shafter and his staff, rode out to
the front shortly before : o'clock under
Il flag of truce.
\ request for a personal interview
with the Spanish commander in chief
was made and acceded to, and at abour
8 O'Clock General Miles. General Shaf-
ter. General Wheeler. General Gilmore.
Colonel Morse, Captain Wiley and Col
onel Maus rode up, passed over our en-
trenchments and went down into the
valley beyond. They were met by Cen
eral TOral and his chief of staff, under
a spreading mango tree. at the bottom
of the valley about half way between
the lines. The interview that followed
lasted an hour. The situation was
placed frankly before General Toral.
and he was offered the alternative of
being sent home with his garrison or
leaving Santiago province. The only cOn-
dition imposed being that he should not
destroy the existing Notifications and
should leave his arms behind This lat
ter condition the Spanish general, who
does not speak English, explained
through his interpreter was impossible.
He said the laws of Spain gave Il gen
cral no discretion. He might abandon
Il place when he found it untenabe. but
he could not leave his arms behind with
out subjecting himself to the penalties
of being court martialed and shot His
government. he said, had granted him
permission to evacuate Santiago. That
was all. Further than that he was pow
erleSS to go.
Without saying so An words. General
Miles said the tenor of General TOral's
remarks all betrayed his realization
that he could not hold ont long. When
General Shafter explained that our rein
forcements were coming mp, that he was
completely surrounded and that new bat
teries were being posted, General TOral
simply shrugged his shoulders.
Il am but Il subordinate he said.
"and | obey my government If it is |
necessary we can die at our posts"
General Toral is man of sixty years
of age. with strong rugged face and
fine soldierly hearing. His brave words !
inspired feeling of respect and ,admi |
ration in the hearts of his adversaries. |
Nevertheless. the Spanish generals anX-
iety to avoid further sacrifice of life in |
his command was manifest. and he did
not hesitate to ask for time to cOmmu-
nicate the situation to Madrid. although |
ne uuUlouSlS SllOOk HIS Hedu Wnen he
spoke of the probable response.
In the course of an interview General
Toral said the bOmbardment of Sunday
and Monday had done little damage HeI
admitted that shells from the guns of
the fleet had destroyed four houses, but
he asserted that only half dozen sol
diers of the garrison had been injured
He also volunteered the information
when General Miles gallantly inquired
after General Linares' wound that the
latter would probably necessitate the
of his left arm at the should
er.
General Miles. at the interview. did
not attempt to assume the direction of
the negotiations, but as General of the
United States army, he youched for the
conditions General Shafter offered.
Upon the return of our commanders to
the American lines. an important con
sultation was held at General Wheeler's
headquarters.
Generals Garcia and Castillo with
their staffs, had ridden around from the