The herald., 1898-07-15
DEADLY SIEGE

CONTINUED from Page One.)
pected to DO his dependence. The size Of
the expedition will depend upon Gen. Miles
wishes, although It is believed that $4,000
men will be sufficient for the purpose. At
San Juan the navy will be Of greater as
sistance than 1t was at Santiago, owing
to the possibility Of approaching the town
moro closely without risking contact with
mines.
Gen. Brooke Is now on his way to WASH
ington by direction of Secretary Alger 90
that he will be in q position to state his
views direct to the department. The ex-
perience gained in dispatching Skaters
expedition. 1t 10 expected. will aid the offic-
ials in their determination to make short
work Of the Porto Rican affair.
Plenty Of Transports
There will be plenty OF transports avail
able for the expedition. as the government
has devised other means Of removing the
Spaniards captured at Santiago to Spain
than by carrying them on these transports.
That the navy is ready to do Its share at
short notice goes without saying. Porto
Rico is not expected to offer very formida-
BILE resistance. 1t Is believed that the moral
will be to discourage the defenders Of San
Juan. There Is. however, always the pros
pect that peace may ensue before hostili-
ties have progressed against Spain's east
ernmost West India island. Rumors were
afloat this afternoon to the effect that the
Spanish government at last had made over
lures in that direction. but that their basis
probably was the current belief that one
m fho Ina al a ha
sufficient to compel the Spanish government
to sue for peace. and that this reverse was
furnished by the surrender Of Torars army
Tho navy department has not been affected
by these rumors to the extent Of relaxing
any OF its precautions or abandoning any Of
its plans, for Secretary Long stated un-
equivocally today that Commodore Wat
sons eastern squadron would certainly 60
to Spain as soon as 1t could sail.
The Surrendered Territory
The territory surrendered to us by General
Toral makes about $4,000 square miles The
Spanish soldiers to be sent to Spain are
estimated at 10000 men. Major Hopkins,
the military aide to Secretary Alger. this
afternoon spread before him a huge map
of Cuba, showing tho surrendered zone
turned over to the American troops. The
line begins at Acerradoros, about fifteen
miles west Of Santiago harbor, and then
runs due north about twenty-five miles to
Palmo Soriano. Had the line continued due
north It would have passed west Of Holguin,
thus taking the Spanish garrison Of that
point. Evidently General Toral wished to
avoid the inclusion Of Holguin solthe line
turns abruptly to the northeast Of Palmo,
and then runs to the coast town Of Del
Casa on the coast. The extreme length Of
this surrendered tract Is about no miles
and tho extreme width about 30 miles. 1t Is
q rugged, mountainous country, with very
few towns Of any SIZE Santiago, with its
fine harbor, is the main port, while Guam
tanamo is second in importance.
A Wild and Rocky Region
H. ]. Allen Of Kansas City, who had just
come from Santiago, was with Secretary
Alger during the afternoon, and gave him
some interesting details as to the charac-
ter Of the country now surrendered to our
troops. He said the country was so wild
and rocky that 1t afforded practically no
camping ground for considerable number
Of troops, and in his opinion there was not
a point in this sweep of country suitable
as q base Of operations for an army. Ex-
cept the Spanish force at Santiago. number
Ing about 10000 men, Mr. Allen says there
are no Spanish troops within the sur
rendered zone, as It has been overrun by
Garcia's forces. The Spanish garrisons 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 last Saturday. At
that time, he says, there were two sus-
pcious cases thought to be yellow fever in
the hospital at Siboney.
The American Fleet
The navy department had not heard up
to the close Of office hours to what extent
the American fleet was participating in the
Spanish surrender. With Santiago in our
hands the way will be clear for Admiral
Simpsons fleet to enter the harbor and pro-
coed up to the wharves, as soon as the tor
pedoes and mines at the harbor entrance
are removed. The Notifications Of Moro
castle, Socapa, Cayosmith and others are
included in the surrendered zone. The pos
session Of these fine fortresses. particularly
MORO castle, will afford valuable garrison
points for a large number of men.
The terms under which these strongholds
are acquired is 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 good could be accomplished by
such q move, as 1t might subject some Of our
sailors to the contagion existing within the
city.
Fever-Stricken Soldiers
Great attention will now be given to the