The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-07-15

made overtures in that direction, but
that their basis probably was the cur
rent belief that one more reverse to
the Spanish army would be sufficient
to compel the Spanish Government to
sue for peace, and that the reverse was
furnished by the surrender of ToraFs
army. The Navy Department has not
been affected by these rumors TO the
extent of relaxing any of its precau-
tons or abandoning any of it's plans,
for Secretary Long stated unequivocal
~ to-day that Commodore Watson's
Eastern squadron would certainly go
to Spain as soon as it could sail.
The territory surrendered to us by
General Toral makes $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 had
spread before him huge map of Cuba,
showing the surrendered zone turned
over to the American troops. The line
begins at Acerraderos, about fifteen
miles west of Santiago harbor, and
then runs due north about twenty-five
miles 10 Palmo Zoriano. Had the line
continued north it would have passed
west of Holguin, thus taking the Span
ish garrison Of that point. Evidently
General Toral wished TO avoid the in
clusion of Holguin. so the 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 10 miles
ha nil
1t is a rugged, mountainous country,
with few towns of any size. Santiago,
with its fine harbor, is the main point,
while Guantanamo is second in impor-
lance.
Fl. ]. Allen of Kansas City. who had
just come from Santiago, was with Sec
rotary Alger during the afternoon and
gave him some interesting details as
to the character Of the country now sur
rendered to our troops. He said the
country was so wild and rocky that it
afforded practically no camping ground
for a considerable number of troops.
and, in his opinion, there was not
point in this sweep of country suitable
as a base of operations for an army
Except the Spanish force at Santiago
numbering about 10000 men, Mr.. Al
| len says there are no Spanish troops
within the surrendered 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 esti-
mate. Mr.. Allen left Santiago last Sat
urday. AT that time he says there We're
TWO suspicious cases thought to be yell
low fever in the hospital at Siboney.
The Navy Department had not heard
UP TO the close of Office hours to what
| extent the American fleet was partici-
| patlng In the Spanish surrender With
| Santiago in our hands, the way will be
clear for Admiral SIMPSONS fleet to
Fenter the harbor and proceed up to the
WharVes as soon as the torpedoes and
! mines at the harbor entrance are re-
| moved The Notifications of Moro
castle, Socapa, Cayo Smith and others
are included in the surrendered zone
| Inc possession 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 are 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 cir
cles whether any good could be accom-
| plished by such a move, as it might
subject some of our sailors to the con-
tagion existing within the city.
Great attention vii now be given TO
| the of sick NJ
| soldiers on the island In the opinion
/ Of the army surgeons, the sick can be
| best treated by removal to the high
| ground back of the southern coast
where the heat is less severe and where
| recovery could proceed without the fear
of communicating disease to the rest of
the army Secretary Alger is anxious
| to bring the entire army back as soon
| as it can be done with safety to the
men themselves and without jeopardy
| 10 the other troops in Florida and to the
general public. The active prepara-
| tons made to deal with the emergency
are such that it is felt that the question
or disease can be COPIED with success
fully now that the military situation
has been simplified.
In the matter of transports the de-
pdi llIISLl is Iully prepared for the next
| move. The acquisition recently of a
number Of transatlantic liners capable
| OF carrying several times as many men
as the smaller transports has put it on
an excellent footing, and it was an
nounced to-day that no more ships
| We're being bought for the Atlantic
| Coast. Many of the transports which
carried soldiers to Cuba are now being
| used for other purposes, chief among
which is that of bringing the sick and
| wounded to the United States. The
| ships available by the department are
| distributed about as follows: Twenty
| five at Santiago twelve at Tampa three
at Charleston, four at New York, four
| at Key West, and others on the route
| to and from different points.
| The plan of the War Department for
| returning the surrendered army of Cen
| eral Toral to Spain will not necessitate
| the use of American vessels. 1t is the
| purpose of the department to ask Cor
proposals from all steamship companies
| which desire to compete for the trans