The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-14

=
that the Spaniards had proposed a COM
mission to adjust the final terms OF sur
render. This is said to be no novelty IN
warfare, and especially IN such cases as
this, where complex considerations are
involved.
The proposition to remove the spanish
army in the Province of Santiago, divid-
ed as it is between several towns remote
from one another, to secure the removal
of dangerous obstructions in ports, and
to arrange the details of transportation
of this army. involves so many factors
that considerable time might very prop
erly be expended in adjusting them.
In some quarters it was declared thai
the Spanish proposition was simply an,
other scheme on the part of General Tora'
to gain time. he being fully aware of the
uncomfortable and dangerous position Of
the American troops. from sanitary
point of view. and realizing that every
days delay but added to their misery
However. if that is his purpose, he is not
likely to succeed in his object.
Secretary Alger declared most emphati-
cally that no further time would be
granted for a decision upon the man
proposition-surrend If by noon to-
dav the Snanish General had not declared
his willingness to do this the attack on
Santiago would be resumed. Tt is pre-
sumed that if Toral accepts the main prin-
ciple of surrender with the expectation
Of being transported to Spain with his
army. there will be no objection to the
appointment of commissioners to adjust
the details of the surrender.
An enormous number of transports
would be required to carry out our part
Of the obligation. Some idea of the size
of that fleet may he gathered from the
mere mention of the difficulties that
Shafter experienced in landing in Cuba his
first detachment of fifteen thousand men,
though he had at Tampa all the conven-
fences of a well equipped American port.
1t is roughly estimated that there are
in Santiago province, and it is presumed
that the terms of surrender will include
that whole province, no less than 10000
Spanish soldiers, and to transport those
men to Spain, allowing for the presence
on each of the transports of a suitable
guard from the American army, there
will be required no less that forty-fiye
large steaners-a number in excess OF
the entire feet ofStransportsi now avail
able in Southern waters.
Surgeon General sternberg stated today
that he had received no further reports
as to the health of the soldiers in camp
at Santiago. He regarded this as hope
full sign, taking 1t for granted that if
there had been a considerable extension
of yellow fever the fact would have been
to him.
While there were many rumors as to
the exact conditions at Santiago, it was
not until u o'clock that Adiutant Gener-
al Corbin returned from the White House.
He then gave out the brief bulletin stat
ing that General Toral had asked Nor a
commission to agree on terms of surrend-
er. and had himself named in his commits
sioners.
The bulletin did not give the text OF
General Skaters despatch. nor did it
give what everyone was anxiously wait
ing to know, whether the Spanish propo-
sition would be accepted or rejected, and
what effect our action would have on the
bornbardment which was to begin at noon
today.
The lack of definite information led tt
many wild reports. One was to the effect
that the Spanish proposition had beer
summarily rejected. and that it took only
a few minutes for the White House con
ference to determine on the rejection and
so notify General Shafter.
This report was contradicted by official:
in authority at the War Department
They said there had been no rejection
except so far as it related to any delay
or parley over the question of surrender.
The orders sent to General Shafter made
:. ~, :, - t,i,,, 41,a+ ;f +l,a cnan
ish commander was seeking to gain time
or wanted a commission to treat on the
question of surrender itself, then the
proposition was not to be considered, bu
if the Spanish General conceded surren
der. and desired the commission merely Il
agree upon the details and formalities o.
the surrender then the plan was accept
ed, as all this Government has contend
ed for has been a surrender, and it wa.
recognized that a commission would bt
appropriate to carry out the fornalitie:
of the Spanish laying down of arms. Th'
exact terms Of the instructions to Gen
eral Shafter were not disclosed, but th
foregoing was given as showing the gen
eral lines on which he was to proceed.
Adjutant General Corbin looked upol
the matter as settled and he said a
much Immediately upon his return from
his conference with the President at th
White House. In his opinion the onll
thing that remained was to agree upol
certain essential details such as wher