The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-16


sanction of Madrid. He also communi-
GATED the names of the commissioners he
had selected, namely, Mr.. Robert Mason,
the British vice consul; General ToraPs
chief of staff, Col. Fontaine and General
Escarajao.
This communication was so ambiguous
that it might all be upset by the refusal
OF Madrid to sanction the terms agreed
to by the commissioners and General
Shafter resolved to have oil the ambiguity
removed before proceeding further. At
eleven o'clock he mounted his horse and
together with General Miles and the
stats, he rode to the front. At General
Wheeler's headquarters General Shafter,
General Miles, Col. Maus and an inter-
prefer left their retinue and passed on
over our trenches, with flag of truce to
the mango tree under which the inter-
view was held yesterday. There were
soon joined by General Toral, his chief of
staff andEthe two other commissioners ap-
pointed by him. General Miles took no
part in the negotiations. He has been
careful since his arrival here not to as.
sumo the direction of affairs or to detraot
in the least from the glory of General
Skaters achievement.
General Shafter insisted at the outset
that the commissioners to be appointed
should have paramount authority to
make and conclude the terms of sur
render, in accordance with the general
conditions of our demands.
After parleying, General Toral acceded
to this, explaining that since his last
communication he had received direct au-
thority from Captain General Blanco to
do SO. This being the main point, the
interview was soon concluded.
Before parting General Shafter compli-
mented General Toral highly upon the
skill and gallantry of his resistance.
Upon the return TO Gen. Wheeler's
headquarters, the news of our complete
victory was communicated to General
Lawton and to General Kent and to the
brigade commanders. A scene of general
rejoicing followed.
General Shafter held regular levee be-
fore he dismounted and was congratulated
and complimented by all. He immedi-
ately appointed General VIII seler, General
Lawton and Captain Miley to be commits
sioners on his behalf to treat with those
appointed by.General Tora,. He then.is-
sued orders to permit our troops to retire
from the trenches, but absolutely forbid
ding any one, soldier or civilian from 90.
ing into the Spanish lines.
The refugees are to be permitted to re-
turn to their homes, but neither our
troops nor the Cuban auxiliaries are to be
permitted to enter the city at present.
The order as to the Cubans is yery
speciflc.a They have shown disposition
TO loot everything and any place. But
they are not to have the privilege of glut.
ting 5heir appetites for plumber in Santi-
LOO arI 10
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 ia
most practicable. The changel of the
camp sites will undoubtedly improve the
health of the troops. The whole purpose
Of the American commander now is to
protect tbs health Of the army, especially
from the dreaded contagion.
1t Is claimed there is no fever in Santi-
ago, but the city is full of filth and
stencil, and if our men are allowed to 90
n, it will undoubtedly become a pest
hole.
The boys in the trenches were Ignorant
If the outcome of the nego tiations until a
heavy luncheon of coffee, hard tack and
,orned beef was served.
Then General Shafter appointed Col.
Aston and Captain McKittriok to convey
The welcome tidings along the lines.
Some of the officers favored celebrating
5he victory with bands and a noisy
but General Shafter vetoed
the proposition. He said there was no
occasion to humiliate the enemy, who
had fought bravely. Not even cheering
was to be permitted, but before Col. Astor
and Captain McKittrick could warn the
soldiers the latter broke out into wild
hurrahs, some danced about, threw their
hats into the air, Rugged each other and
themselves upon the pros
poets of getting out of Cuba in few