Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-07-21
FALL OF SANTIAGO.
End of the First Chapter In the
Land Campaign.
MONENTOUS RECORD OF TWO WEEKS.

| MUMENlUUS kEIUkD Uf lWU WELho.
| Now for Porto Rico, of Which the Onicials
are Determined to Make Short Work
Extent of the Territory Sur
rendered by Gen. Toral.
WASHINGTON, July 15.-The first
chapter in the land campaign of the
United States against Spain closed
yesterday when the Spanish colors
gave place over Santiago to the Ameri-
can flag. Next will follow the tr rans-
portation of the Spanish troops back
to their native land and the capture of
the island of Porto Rico unless peace
soon intervenes. The siege of Santi-
ago had lasted two weeks, remarkable
in many respects and In none more
than the heavy per centage OF loss
through death, wounds or sickness of
the" soldiers and sailors engage on
both sides.
Looking Backward.
Looking back over the record OF
these two weeks, it is seen that great
ironclad squadron has been destroyed;
that nearly 1000 Spanish sailors have
been drowned or killed by shell and
flame, and that an untold number of
Spanish soldiers have died in the
trenches of Santiago. On the other
hand, about $50 American soldiers
have been killed and, in round num-
bers, 2,OO0 more have been sent to the
hospitals from wounds, fevers and
other ailments. Our fleet had re-
markable exemption from disaster in
the many engagements it has had with
the forts at the entrance OF the harbor
and with the Spanish squadron.
Now for Porto Rice.
Next is Porto Rico" said Secretary
Alger, after receiving news of Santi-
ago's formal surrender, land then, if
need be, Havana"
The secretary was in excellent spir-
it's. He has been more anxious than
he dared to show as to the condition of
our sick soldiers, and looked with ap-
prehension upon the possibility of a
prolongation of the struggle in the un-
healthy valley of Santiago.
VIII Go Forward Immediately.
The secretary said that the Porto
Rican expedition would go forward
Immediately. 1t will comprise new
men entirely. The warriors in the
trenches before Santiago have distin-
guished themselves, and it is not
deemed prudent to bring them in un-
necessary contact with new troops, in
view of the danger of spreading con-
tagIon. The sick soldiers will be
nursed back to health and brought to
the United States as soon as they can
be safely removed. Immune regiments
will be ordered to Santiago to garrison
the town, and, as stated in these dis
patches yesterday, two of these regi-
ments are already under orders to pro-
ceed.
VIII BE Commanded by Gen. Miles In
Person.
The Porto Rican expedition will be
commanded by Gen. Miles in person,
though Gen. Brooke, now in command
at camp Thomas is expected to be his
main dependence. The size of the ex-
pedition will depend upon Gen. Miles
| wishes although it is believed that 25,-
O0O men will be sufficient for the pur-
pose. At San Juan the navy will be of
greater assistance than it was at San
| tiago, owing to the possibility of ap-
preaching the town more closely with
out risking contact with mines.
VIII Profit by Experience.
| Gen. Brooke is now on his way to
| Washington by order of Secretary AL
ger, SO that he will be in position to
| make his views known to the depart
ment. The experience gained in dis
patching Skaters expedition, it Is ex-
| pected, will aid the officials in their
| determination to make short work of
the Porto Rican affair.
There VIII BE Plenty of Transports
| Available 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 q. very
formidable resistance 1t is believed
that the moral effect of yesterdays
| surrender at Santiago will be to
| discourage the defenders of San
Juan. There is, however, al
ways the prospect that peace
| may ensue before hostilities
have progressed against Spain's east
| ernmost West India island. Rumors
| were afloat this afternoon to the ef-
feet that the Spanish government had
| at last made overtures in that direc-
tion, but their basis probably was the
| current belief that one more reverse to
the Spanish arms would be sufficient
to compel the Spanish government to
sue for peace, and this reverse was
| furnished by the surrender of Torar s
army.
Not Relaxing Its Precautions.
The 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 Sec
retary Long stated unequivocally yes
| terday that Commodore Watson's east
| ern squadron would certainly go to
Spain as soon as it could sail.
The territory surrendered to us by
Gen. Toral makes about 5000 square
miles. The Spanish soldiers to be sent
to Spain are estimated at 10000 men.
Studying the Map of Our New Acquisition.
Maj. Hopkins, the military aide to
Secretary Alger, yesterday afternoon
had spread before him a huge map ol
Cuba showing the surrendered zone
turned over to the American troops
The line begins at Asseradores, about
Is miles west of Santiago harbor, and
then runs due north about 25 miles to
Palmo Soriana. Had the line con.
tinued due north 1t would have
passed west of Holguin, thus tax
| IT, - tho Cnapish garrison at that
point. Evidently Gen: Toral wished