The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-12
OFFER TO

AS Toral Wished to March Out With
the Honors of War, it Was Rejected.
copyrighted 1898 by Associated Press.)
On board the Associated Press dis
patch boat Wanda, off %Juragua, Satur-
day. July ., { p. m., Via Port Antonio,
Jamaica. Sunday, July 10, 8 a.. H., and
Kingston, jamaica, 1910 4. m.-Ihe-
surrender Of Santiago was formally Of
fercd by the Spanish commander. General
Toral. to-day, but the conditions attach
ed caused Il prompt refusal of the offer
by General Shafter. The negotiations,
however. resulted i'll the extension of the
armistice until noon Sunday and white
flags Of truce still float over the oppoS-
Ing armies.
General ToTals proposal contemplated
the immediate surrender of the city, but
he insisted that his army be permitted
to march away under arms and with
colors and declared that he would
fight to the last ditch unless the condi-
tons were accepted.
General Shafter replied that nothing
but unconditional surrender would be
considered by him, but he consented to
cable the Spanish offer to Washington.
III the meantime extending the armisticc.
1t was shortly before noon to-day
when Il little group Of Spanish officers,
under = flag of truce, came out from
under the yellow wall of the bcSiegcd
city and slowly made its way toward
the American line. \ detail was sent
to meet them and they were escorted to
comfortable quarters. while, the letter
from General Toral was carried to Gen
cral Skaters tent, two miles from the
front. Ihc letter was couchcd III the
Jelly courteous terms, characteristic OF
such communications and was brief rs
possible. 1t bore the signature of Gen
cral Toral, who commands ut Santiago
since General LinarcS was wounded. and
stated that he was prepared to surrcn-
der the city provided his army would
be permitted to Capitulate with honor.
This. he explained, meant that the Span
ISL forces should be unmolested and so
in any direction they wished with arms
and flying their colors.
The letter concluded with the bold
statement that surrender under any 9th
CT terms was an imposibility and would
, not be considered.
General Shaftcr Immediately cabIci
the facts to the Washington authorities,
and sent to General Tora1 Il refusal of
his proposal, but added that he would
communicate with his government. and
would extend the informal armistice I'm
til Sunday at noon.
1t is deemed probable that the truce
may extend even beyond the tine dc
signatcd. as the offer Of General Toral
to surrender on any terms is regarded as
an indication that the Spanish
der has decided upon surrender upon the
best terms Obtainable.
The general condition of the health Of
the American troops IS excellent, but the
water supply is poor and Il namb"r Of
cases of malarial fever have developed.
NO deaths have resulted at this time,
however. and Ill nearly all the instances,
the fever has been broken up by Il libcr-
al use Of q%nininc. The hardships of the
campaign and the fears of possible at
tacks Of fever nave rid the army III the
io!d and ON the coast of practically non
colltlttantS, with the exception of Il few
newspaper correspondents, who have
been on the ground since the American
Warshlps appeared off Santiago and who
constitute the only force able to report
the progress of the war with the assist
ance of the dispatch boat service.
The second fleet of transports arrived
oil Juragua tins morning bearing 300
troops, including Il large detachment of
artillery. If the peace negotiations fail
these heavy guns will he a valuable adj
dition to the artillery now in the field,
and it is expected that they will be rush
ed forward to the front. The new troops
will be landed tomorrow and pushed
forward as rapidly as possible.
! The days of temporary peace are be-
ing utilized by both armies in strength
enine their defcnccs. TIL Americans
have strongly entrenched themselves.
and the artillery now at the front has
been placed in position behind earth
works: and will be able to cover tn,
advance of the troops much more cffcc-
lively than during the previous engage
mcnt.
The feeling is strong among officers
and men that Santiago will surrender
without further fighting.
The wounded in the hospital are being
well cared for and in almost every in
| stance are recovering rapidly.