The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-14
If Terms of Surrender Are Rejected
the Army and Navy Are to Attack
the City at the Same Time.
MESSAGES FROM THE FRONT
DISPATCHES RECEIVED FROM MAJ.
GEMS. SHAFTER AND MILES.
Bulletins and Memoranda from Samp-
son-InvasiOn of Porto Rico to Fell
low Capture of Santiago.

WASHINGTON, July 1S.-While the long
expected fall of Santiago did not take place
to-day, it is evident that the crisis has been
reached. Within then twenty-four hours
it will either surrender or receive such
baptism of fire as seldom falls to the lot
of a besieged town. IF he refuses, l will
open on him at IL o'clock noon tomorrow
with every gun l have, and will have the
assistance OF the navy, which is ready to
lombard with thirteen-inch Shells"
That is the programme laid down by Gen.
Shafter, and is to be carried out to the let
ter. General Shafter is still commanding,
according to the War Department officials,
and although dispatches have been received
from Major General Miles signed major
general, commanding" it is said that he
has not displaced General Shafter in direct
charge Of the operations. The public, in
one of these kilograms from General Miles,
was given the first notice that our govern
ment had offered in the course of negotia
tions with General Toral. to send the Span
ish forces in Santiago back to Spain.
A few days ago it was stated that the
President would insist on unconditional sur
render. but it appears the condition had
been modified, as indicated by General
Miles. This was done from a desire to
avoid useless bloodshed, for General Torals
army, removed to Spain. would be power
less to prevent our further operations in
Cuba, and would serve as good a purpose
as would be the destruction of the Spanish
army. To allow the Spanish general to
withdraw to the interior and fall back on
Havana. on the other hand. would put us
under the obligation of overcoming that ad-
ditional force when it comes to the siege
of Havana.
Our government also was moved to make
the proposal to remove the Spanish forces
to Spain through a strong desire to close up
the operations at Santiago at the earliest
possible moment. This desire has been ma
terialy strengthened by the appearance of
yellow fever within the American lines. 1t
was at first supposed that the men were
falling ill with malaria and climatic fever,
so the cases were reported as simply sus-
picious. Now, however, comes the final ad-
mission that they are genuine yellow fever
cases. Their appearance has determined the
authorities on more active prosecution of
the campaign. Orders either have or soon
will go forward to General Shafter to dis
cuss no more with the Spanish commander
the terms of surrender, but to proceed to
assault the town with all the force at his
pires. 1t is expected by Shafter that the
navy will cooperate and while Secretary
Long has received no direct advices on that
point from Admiral Sampson, he fully
credits this expectation. Reluctant as the
War Department is to sacrifice the many
lives that might be lost in assault, it is
deemed to be the better policy to make it
than to allow the men to rot away with
nd nfb
period that would be required to perfect
the reduction of the city by steady invest
ment An expectation is still entertained
here, however, that this assault will be un-
necessary through Toral surrendering be-
fore it begins. 1t was perhaps the spread
of this belief, caused by knowledge of the
more energetic steps in prospect. that
tended to remove largely the feeling of de-
preston manifested at the opening of the
day on the circulation of rumors of the ap-
pearance of yellow fever in the American
camps.
Regarding the future of Santiago. nothing
has been officially stated, but it is signifi-
cant that orders were issued from the de-
partment this afternoon to prepare the
First and Second regiments of volunteer
immunes for immediate departure for the
front This would seem to be indicative of
purpose on the part of the government to
garrison Santiago with these fever-proof
men after its capitulation, thus permitting
the removal of the regular troops to more
healthy points
The disposition Of the prisoners of war
held by General Shafter is a matter to
which the President and Secretary Alger
have been giving considerable attention.
The putting of them aboard several of the
transports and sending them to Spain has
been discussed. To forward them to their
native land would remove the possibility
of the men again taking up arms against
the United States. and would relieve Gen:
Shafter of burden which he should not be
compelled to carry. Already he has enough
refugees on his hands to absorb all the ra-
tions which he can at this time spare The
probability seems that the question of the
disposition of the prisoners may be deferred
temporarily until the fate of Santiago has
been decided.