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


pei the Spanish government to sue for
peace. and this reverse was furnished by
the surrender Of Toral's army. The
Navy Department has not been affected
by these rumors to the extent of relax
ing any of its precautions or abandoning
any of its plans. for Secretary Long
stated unequivocally to-day that Com
modore Watson's Eastern squadron
would certainly go to Spain as soon rs
it could sail The Spanish soldiers to
be sent to Spain are estimated at 10000
men. The area surrendered to the
United States is about 5000 square
miles.
THE TERRITORY CAPTURED.
Major Hopkins, the military aide to
Secretary Algcr this afternoon had
spread before him Il map of Cuba, show
ing the surrendered zone turned over
, to the American troops. The line be-
gins at Asseradero about fifteen miles
west of Santiago harbor. and then runs
due north about % miles to Palmo
Soriana. Had the line continued
north. it would have passed west of
Holgun. thus taking in the Spanish gar
rison at that point Evidently General
Toral wishes TO avoid the inclusion of
Holguin. so the line turns abruptly to
the northeast at Palma, and runs TO
the coast town of Boca del Sagua. on the
coast The extreme length of this sur
rendered tract is about 10 miles. and
the extreme width about 30 miles. taper
ing to Il less width and making in all
about 5000 square miles. 1t is n rug
ged, mountainous country, with very
few towns of any size. Santiago
with its fine harbor, is the main
point. while Guantanamo is second III
| Importance III. ]. Allen. o: Kansas
City. who had just come from Santiago,
was with Secretary Alger during the
after On and gave him some interesting
details as to the character of the coun-
. try now surrendered to our troops. He
said the country was so wild and rocky
that it afforded practically no camping
ground for considerable body of
troops and in his opinion there was not a
point in this sweep of country suitable
as base of operations for an army. Ex
cept the Spanish force at Santiago num-
bering about 10000 men Mr.. Allen says
there are no Spanish troops within the
surrendered zone, as il has been overrun
by Garcia's forces. The Spanish garri-
sons are at Manzanillo and Holguin, to
the west of the surrendered zone. Mr..
Allen says these Spanish garrisons do
not exceed 5000 men. This he says is
General Garcia's estimate. Mr.. Allen
left Santiago only last Saturday. At
that time he says there were two sus-
picious cases, thought to be yellow fe-
yer. in the hospital at Siboney.
FINE FORTRESSES GAINED.
The Navy Department had not heard
fh. a. Of 70 hat
extent the American fleet was partici-
pating in the Spanish surrender. With
Santiago in our hands the way will be
clear for Admiral Simpsons fleet to en-
ter the harbor and proceed up to the
wharves. as soon as the torpedoes and
mines at the harbor entrance are re-
moved. The Notifications of MORO
Castle, Socapa, Cayo Smith and others
are included in the surrendered zone.
The possession of these fine fortresses,
particularly MORO Castle, will afford
| valuable garrison points for large num-
| ber of men. The terms under which
! these are surrendered are not yet
| known in detail, but it Is regarded as
| likely that their big guns pass with the
surrender. While the fleet will soon be
| free to move up to Santiago city, some
doubt is entertained in naval circles
whether any good could be accom-
plished by such move. as it might sub
ject some of our sailors to the conta-
gion existing within the city.
Great attention will now be given to
the care Of our sick and fever stricken
soldiers on the island. In the opinion
of the army surgeons. the sick can be
best treated by removal to the high
ground back Of the southern coast, where
the heat is less severe. and where recov-
cry could proceed without the fear of
communicating disease to the
reast of the army. Secreta-
ry Alger is anxious to bring the
entire army back as soon as it can be
done with safety to the men themselves.
and without jeopardizing the other troops
in Florida. and to the general public.
The active preparations made to deal
with the emergency are such that it is
felt the question Of disease can be copcd
with successfully, now that the military
situation has been simplified.
HAVE ENOUGH TRANSPORTS.
In the matter of transports the De-
partment is fully prepared for the next