Evening star., 1898-07-16

The War With spain.

The War with spain.
The city of Santiago, together with the
fourth Spanish army corps and the ex-
treme eastern end of Cuba, including an
area of about $500 square nailes, was sur
rendered to the Americans by Toral. acting
commander of the Spanish forces, after
prolonged parieying: commissioners from
both sides Immediately began the negotia-
ton of the exact terms and the plans for
deporting the captured army to Spain, as
agreed in the general terms OF the capltula-
ton; 1t was then ascertained that the Span
ish commander had not acted in entire good
faith and the situation was complicated by
his additional demand that the Spanish
army be permitted to carry Its arms to
Spain; this was refused by the American
authorities and orders were sent from
Washington to Generals Miles and Shafter
in the field. to resist this demand and to
attack Santiago If the original terms were
not Immediately accepted. Yellow ever
appeared among the American troops dur
ing the week and steps were at once taken
to isolate the cases and to stamp out the
disease; this emergency hastened the nego-
tations for surrender and led to the grant
ing of more favorable terms to Spain than
were at first proposed. No important active
operations were conducted; in slight sktr-
mish one American officer and one private
soldier were killed; Gen. Shafter extended
his line to complete the investment of the
city: the District of Columbia troops, re-
SeHlis ldNU6O. were TuSneQ 10 the lTODl ana
assigned an important and dangerous posi-
tion the right of the line. to assist in re-
sisting an attempt of the enemy TO escape
from the city by the north and west The
sailing of the flying squadron, designed to
carry the war to Spain, under the COM
mand OF Commodore Watson, was post
poned because of the need of the available
golfers in connection with the operation of
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet off Santiago. Ad-
vices were received from Admiral Dewey
at Manila that he had taken possession Of
Grsnde Island. giving him control of Subig
bay; this operation disclosed the meddling
tactics of the German squadron; word was
received that the German cruiser Irene
had interfered with the operations of the
insurgents at Grande Island and Dewey
dispatched two small cruisers to that point;
when they appeared the Irene slipped her
cables and retired quickly; the Spanish
garrison at the island thereupon surrender
ed to the Americans; the disclosure of this
episode caused much unpleasant feeling in
both Germany and the United States. The
situation in Madrid pointed strongly toward
the early opening of peace negotiat tfons;
the designations of the Sagasta ministry
were placed in the hands of the queen re-
gent; after the fall of Santiago, but before
the Spanish public was informed of the
fact, the crown decreed the suspension of
the constitutional rights of individuals,
thus in effect placing the kingdom under
martial law; at the same time the entire
official salary list was suspended for the
purpose of swelling the war purse; Premier
Sagasta was quoted stating that the
time for peace overtures seemed to be at
hand. The military operations outside OF
Santiago and the Philippines were insig-
nficant: the auxiliary cruiser Dixie cap
tured three prizes, attempting to run the
blockade into Manzanillo from Jamaica
with food supplies; expeditions were land
ed on the Cuban coast with supplies for
Gen. Gomezs army; the auxiliary cruisers
st. Louis and Harvard arrived at Ports
mouth, n. H. with Spanish prisoners, the
former carrying the officers captured with
the Spanish fleet; on the latter much sick
ness had broken out among the prisoners
and several deaths occurred; the enlisted
men and subordinate officers were made
comfortable at Portsmouth in temporary
barracks and the higher officers, including
Admiral Ceryera, were sent to Annapolis,
to be quartered in the officers barracks at
the Naval Academy. The Spanish squad
ron under command of Admiral Camara,
recently sent through the Suez canal, turn
ed back toward Spain under peremptory
orders occas;oned by the announcement
that Watson's squadron would sail east
ward for an aggressive move. 1t was said
to have been reported by the naval board
of survey in the case that of the four Span
ish cruisers sunk off Santiago only the
Maria Teresa was in condition to be saved
and utilized. Senor du Bose and Lieut..
Carranza, late attaches of the Spanish le-
cation in Washington. were ordered by the
colonial government to leave Canada, ana
in consequence sailed on a cattle steamer
after formally protesting against this ac-
ton.