Evening star., 1898-11-11

to Santiago with the reinforcements already
en- route, and that were being moved as
rapidly possible. Before leaving Wash
lngton it was my purpose to land sufficient
forces on the west side of the harbor of
Santiago to either open the entrance to our
neet or entilade the enemy's line and take
their position in reverse. I left Washington
on the evening of July Z, arrived at Column
bla at > pm. on the Sth: thence took a spe-
clal train to Charleston, reaching there in
time to go on board the fast steamer Yale.
already loaded with l 800 troops and with
the steamer Columbia accompanying, ar
rived opposite the entrance of Santiago
harbor on the morning of July IL The fleet
, under command of Admiral SAMPSON was
then bombarding the Spanish position Be
lore reaching Santiago | prepared the fol-
lowing note to Admiral Sampson and for
warded it to him by Captain Wise COM
mander OF the Yale. Immediately upon our
arrival. Admiral Sampson was then on
board the flagship New York, in close prox-
unity to the entrance of Santiago harbor,
and in full view of Moro Castle
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ON BOARD Z. S. S. YALE,
OFF S1BONEY, Cuba, July IL, 1898.
Admiral Sampson
Commanding United States Fleet.
Sir: l desire to land troops from the
fale. Columbia and Duchesse to the west
or the bay of Santiago harbor, and follow
it up with additional troops moving east
against the Spanish troops defending San
designate the most available point for dis
embarkfng the troops, and render all the
assistance practicable to the troops as they
move east. Very respectfully,
NELSON A. MILES
Major General, Commanding.
Admiral Sampson Immediately came on
board the Yale. l explained to him the pur-
pose of my presence and told him that |
desired the cooperation of the navy in the
plan above stated He cordially acquiesced
in the plan, and offered every assistance of
ms fleet to cover the debarkation of the
troops and also to entilade the Spanish po-
sition with the guns of the ships. When
this arrangement had been concluded |
went on shore and opened communication
with General Shafter. / asked him if he
had sufhclent troops on the east side of the
harbor OF Santiago to maintain his position,
and he replied that he had / then gave
directions for General Garretson to disem-
park all the troops on the Yale Columbia
and other transports that were there or
expected to arrive, viz the Duchesse and
Rita, whenever he should receive orders.
Negotiations Begun.
ON the following morning l rode from
Siboney to the headquarters of General
Shafter. After consulting with him, he sent
a communication to General Toral saying
that the commanding general of the Ameri-
can army had arrived in his camp with re-
enforcement, and that we desired to meet
MIN between the lines at any time agree
able to him. He replied that he would see
us at II o'clock the following day. That
evening L became apprtsed of the fact that
negotiations regarding a surrender had
been pending between the commanding gen.
eral and the Spanish commander, but
definite conclusions had been reached. Be-
lore leaving Washington l was aware of
the fact that yellow fever had developed
among our troops and by this time learned
that it had spread SO much that there were
over a hundred cases, and the medical Off
GERS were undecided as to the extent 1t
might cripple the command. This was the
most serious feature of the situation, and
impressed HE with the Importance of the
fact that prompt action should be taken,
and / so informed the authorities by cable,
suggesting that it was a case where dis
cretionary authority should be granted
At the appointed time, accompanied by
Brig. Gen. J. c. Gilmore and Lieut.. Col.
Marion p. Maus of my staff, Maj. Gen.
Shafter, two of his staff officers, and Mai.
Gen. Wheeler, and Lieut.. Wheeler, aid-de-
camp, L met the Spanish general, Toral,
with two of his staff officers and an in
terpreter After some conversation between
Gen. Toral and Gen. Shafter, ] informed
Gen. Toral distinctly that l had left Wash
ington six days before; that it was then
the determination Of the government that
this portion of the Spanish forces must
either be destroyed or captured; that /
was there with sufficient reinforcements
TO accomplish that object and that if this
was not the case any number of troops
would be brought there as fast as steamers
could bring them if it took $4,000 men. /
told him that we offered him liberal terms,
namely, to return his troops to Spain, and
l also pointed out the fact that this was
the only way in which his forces could re-
turn, they being on an island 5000 miles
away from their own country with no
means of succor. He said that under the
Spanish law he was not permitted to sur
render as long he had ammunition and
food and that he must maintain the honor
of the Spanish arms My reply was that ne
had already accomplished that; that he must
now surrender take the consequences,
and that l would give him until daylight
the next morning to decide He appealed
for longer time, saying it was impossible
for him to communicate with his superiors
and upon his request L granted him until
II O'Clock noon
After thoroughly examining the entire
right to left, / returned to Gen. Skaters
headquarters. Before reaching that poini
l received the following cablegram from
Washington in reply to mine of the even
ing before:
Washington D. c., July 13 1898.
(Received 2:f5 p.m)
Major General Miles:
You may accept surrender by granting
parole to officers and men, the officers re-
men after parole to return to Spain, the
United States assisting. If not accepted
then assault. unless in your judgment an
assault would fail. Consult with Sampson
and pursue such course as to the assault
as you jointly agree upon. Matter should
be settled promptly. r. A. ALGER,
Secretary of War
This left the matter entirely to my dis