Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-21

and Gen. Lawton's division at the same |
time was to fall on the encmy's left flank |
under cover OF artillery fire.
Gen. Toral must have realized that he
was trapped and that to hold out longer
must mean a useless sacrifice of his men
but he made one last effort to gain more
time this morning. While nominally
yielding to the terms Gen. Shafter pro-
posed before the attack he sent a com
municatlon to Gen. Shafter inclosng a
copy of IL telegram from Capt. Gen.
Blanco, explaining that the surrender OF
such an important position as Santiago
and tho abandonment of Eastern Cuba
would require the direct sanction of the
MaSrid government, and requesting more
time to hear from Madrid At the same
time Capt. Gen. Blanco authorized Gen.
Toral. II 1t was agreeable to the Ameri-
can general, to appoint commissioner
on each side to arrange the terms of ca
p!tulation of the forces under his COM
mand on tho condition of their parole
and transportation to Spain, pending the
sanction OF Madrid. He also communica-
ted tho names of the commissioners he
had selected, named Mr. Robert Mason.
the British vice consul; Gen. Torals chief
Of stan, Col. Fontaine; and Gen. Esoaro-
jaos.
This communication was so ambiguous
that 1t might all be upset by the refusal
of Madrid to sanction the terms agreed
ter resolved to have all the ambiguity re-
moved before proceeding further At IL
o'clock he mounted his horse and togeth-
er with Gen. Miles and the STATS he rode
TO the front. At Gen. Wheeler's headquar-
tors Gen. Shafter, Gen. Miles, Col Mause
and an interpreter left their retinue and
passed on over our trenches, with a flag
of truce to the mango trees and under
which the interview was held yesterday.
They were soon Joined by Gen. Toral, his
chief of staff and the two other commits
sioners appointed by him.
Gen Miles took no part in the negotia-
tlons. He has been careful since his ar
rival here not to assume the direction OF
affairs, or to detract In the least from the
glory of Gen. Skaters achievements.
Gen. Shafter insisted at the outset that
the commissioner to be appointed should
have paramount authority to make and
conclude the terms of surrender, in ac-
cordancc with the general conditions of
our demands. After parleying Gen.
| Toral acceeded to this. explaining that
since lbs last communication he had re-
ceived direct authority from Captain-Gen-
eral Blanco TO do So This being the main
point, the interview was soon concluded.
Before parting Gen. Shafter complimented
Gen. Toral highly upon the gallantry of
his resistance
Upon the return to Gen. Wheeler's head
quarters the news of our complete victory
was communicated to Gen. Lawton and to
Gen. Dent and to the brigade commanders.
scene of general rejoicin followed
| Gen. Shafter held u regular levee before
he dismounted and was congratulated and
complimented by all. He Immediately APP
pointed Gen. Wheeler. Gen. Lawton and
Capt Miles to be commissioners on his be-
half to treat with those appointed by Gen.
Toral.
He then issued orders to permit our
| tr0Onl To n trenches "a hsn-
Ilutely forbidding any one soldier or civil
ian from going into the Spanish lines. The
refugees are to be permitted to return to
| heir homes but neither our troops nor the
| Cuban auxiiaries are to be permitted to
enter the city at present. The order as to
the Cubans Is very specific. They have
shown disposition to loot everything and
any place, But they are not to have the
privilege of Cutting their appetiteS for
plumber in Santiago.
| A guard is to be maintained about the
| city and the camps of our soldiers are to
be removed just to the front or to the
rear of our lines as in individual cases is
| most practicable. The change OF the
| camp sites will undoubtedly improve the
| health of the troops. The whole purpose
| NJ the American commander now is to
| protect the health and especially from
| the dread contagon. 1t Is claimed that
| there is no fever IN SantiaA, but the city
is full of filth and stencil and II our
| mon are allowed to go in 1t will undoubt-
| cdly become pest hole
| AMERICANS REJOICE.
The boys in the trenches were ignorant
NJ the outcome of the negotiations. After
a heavy luncheon OF coffee hard tack and
corned beef Gen, Shafter appointed Col.
Aston and Capt. McKittrick to convey the
welcome tldings along the lines, Some OF
the officers favored celebrating the victory
but Gen. Shafter vetoed the proposition.
He said there was no occasion to humili-
ate the enemy. who had fought bravely.
| Not even cheering was to be permitted,
but before Col. Aston and Capt. McKit-
trick could warn the soldiers the latter
broke out into wild hurrahs. Some
danced about, threw their hats into the
air, Rugged each other and congra tulated
themselves upon the prospect of getting
out OF Cuba in few days.
Gen. shaf.er instructed the commission
ers that the inside harbor entrance be i'm
mediately opened to allow Clara Barton Of
the Red Cross society, and the supply
ships to enter and that the railroad from
SIboney be opened for a similar purpose.
We are to supply the Spanish prisoners
with food pending their concentration and
embarkation Gen. Toral requested this,
saying that there was very little food.
1t Is probable that the Spanish steamers
transportation of the surrendered soldiers
to Spain. The Spanish troops abandoned
the entertainments early this afternoon
and went into the city.
Our commissioners accompanied by an
Interpreter entered the Spanish lines
shortly after O'Clock and had not return
ed when the correspondent left with this
despatch.
GEN. MILES SPEAKS.
Gen. Miles and his staff arrived at Sib-
oney from the front this evening and went
aboard the Ccncha. On the wharf Gen
Miles said:
Santiago has surrendered on our terms
after vainly trying for long time to get
better ones. The result is highly crafty
ing The Spanish prisoners will be trans
ported ia Spain by US. The surrender
carries with 1t not only the city of Santi-
ago but the entire Santiago military dis
trct being the eastern portion of Cuba.
west to line drawn from Aserradores on
coast Manzanillo and Holguin are not
included.
The posi- ssion of the surrendered dis
trct will be yielded at once and a COM
m lssion of six, three from each side. will
meet this afternoon to arrange the details
of the transfer. The American troops will
be left where they are for time until they
are needed for service elsewhere.
II do not wish to say what point will be
attacked next ] may COME ashore again
here but hardly think So"
MORE PRISONERS AT PORTSMOUTH
Tho Harvard Arr!yes with IOOa Snan.