The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-11

ter's telegraphic account of the battle
| of FL Caney. He SAYS: And ON the
next day the following dispatch was re-
ceived: Playa del Este. July 2. camp
near Seville. Cuba.-To the Secretary
of War, washington: We have the
town well invested on the north and
east. with very thin line. Upon ap-
preaching IL we find IL Of such a char
| acter and the defenses so strong Il will
be impossible to carry IL by storm with
my present force. and I am seriously
considering Withdrawing about five
miles and taking up new position on
| the high ground between the San Juan
river and Siboney. with out left at
Sardinero. so as 10 get our supplies to
a large extent by means of the railroad
which we can use, having engines and
cars at Siboney.
The report quotes the remainder OF
this dispatch. describing the loss of the
army and the appeal To Admiral Samp-
son to force the harbor entrance. all
of which has already been published in
General Skaters reports.
General Miles own telegram of con-
graduation is also given, winding up
as follows: IT expect to be with you
within one week with strong reinforce
ments."
General Skaters response was that
he was master OF the situation. could
hold the enemy for any length of time.
and added: II am delighted to know
that you are coming. that you may see
for yourself the obstacles which this
army had to overcome. My only regret
Is the great number of gallant souls
who have given their lives for our
country's cause"
Then follows Skaters dispatch to
Adiutant General Corbin Of July 4. say
ing Santiago could he taken I'm a few
hours, IL Sampson would force an en-
trance. II the army alone was to do II.
he would require 5000 troops. General
Miles says that on receipt OF these COM
munications II was decided that he
should Immediately go to Santiago with
reinforcements.
He purposed landing on the west side
of the harbor. to open the entrance or
take the Spanish in the rear. Arriving
off Santiago, Admial Sampson came
aboard the Yale and cordially ac-
auiesced In the plan. Next he went
ashore and opened communication with
Shafter. who said he had enough troops
on the east side. orders were given TO
land reinforcements.
Continuing. General Miles says that
after consulting next morning person.
ally with General Shafter. the latter
sent communication to General To-
raj saying the commanding general of
the American army had arrived in his
camp with reinforcements. "and that
we desired to meet him between the
lines at any time agreeable to him."
II replied that he would see us at IL
o'clock the following day. That even
ing I became apprised of the fact that
negot' ations regarding a surrender had
been pending between the commanding
general and the Spanish commander.
but no definite conclusions had been
had. I've yellow fever had broken
out amor the United States troops
and Gene! II Miles cabled to Washing
ton. sugg.,-ting that IL was case
where dis etionary authority should be
granted"
He tells how he General Miles) with
his staff. General Shafter and others
met Toral and he tM,les) told the lat
ter that his government was determin-
ed to capture or destroy the Spanish !
force. II IL took $4,000 men; that he, |
himself, had sufficient reinforcements |
TO do IL and that he offered him liberal |
terms. naming them. and giving To- |
raj until daylight to decide. Upon To- |
rails appeal. General Miles extended |
this time limit until ~ o'clock noon.
The report continues: After thor |
oughly examining the entire portion Jf |
the siding along the trenches from the |
right to left I returned 10 General |
Skaters headquarters. Before reach |
ing that point I received the following /
cablegram from Washington in reply 1
to mine Of the evening before: |
4" Washington. ID. c., July. 1895 Cre-
ceived 2:45 p. m). Major General
Miles: You may accept surrender by /
parole to officers and men, the /
officers retaining their side arms. The
officers and men, after parole. to re-
turn TO Spain the United States assist
ing. IL not accepted. then assault. un-
less. in your judgment, an assault
Cot 4ssf. |
pursue such a course as to the assault
as you Jointly agree upon. Terms
should be settled promptly
This left the matter entirely at my
1iscret1Cn-tO accept surrender, order |
an assault or withhold the same"
General Miles then requested Samp-
son TO be ready to cover the landing |
of the troops the next day. and instruct
d General Henry accordingly. Every
thing was in readiness. in plain sight
Df the Spanish commander. when the
after addressed a letter to the general
IN n-chief Of the American forces 'inclos-
ng Blanco's authorization to agree on
,apitulation on the basis OF repatria-
ION Of the Spanish troops. asking that
he answer Of the Madrid government
De awaited. Toral himself suggested
he designation OF commissioners 10
agree upon the capitulation. At the fol-
owing meeting. Toral asked that be-
ore final action was taken. the Madrid
government should approve. though he
vas sure they would not fail TO indorse
lis acton. General Miles was satisfied
With his sincerity and stated that 1--WE
would accept the surrender" telegraph
ng Secretary Alger as follows: Gen
raj Toral formally surrendered the
roops of his army corps and division
" Santiago on the terms ana under
that his troops would be re-
urned to Spain. General Shafter viii
ppoint commissioners to draw up the
conditions OF arrangement for carry
ng out the terms Of surrender. This is
cry gratifying and General Shafter
md the officers and men OF his COM
nand are entitled TO great credit for
heir tenacity and fortitude in over
oming the almost impossible obstacles
fh,ch they have encountered"
He also Informed Shafter that ne ,
Duld appoint the commissioners. as ne
hows by an attached order and gave
rders for the separation OF the fever