The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-08
GEN. MILES REACHES GOTHAM.
Continued from First rage.

well as IN Porto Rico. These reinforce
ments were pushed rapidly forward and
one of them arrived in advance of the
commanding general, and were put in po-
siuon in the trenches around Santiago.
Under verbal instructions of the Presi-
dent, Gen. Miles was directed to go wher-
ever he deemed his presence was requil-
ed, aud that he should give such direc-
tons as in his opinion were best for the
army and government
These were the circumstances under
which Gen. Miles left Washington, arriv-
ing at Santiago on July Il, not as a pri-
vale individual nor as a visitor. Any pre-
tense that he went there disrobed Of his
authority or official capacity is too child
ish 10 be considered by sensible men. From
the moment he arrived at Santiago he was
responsible for what might occur. He ar
rived there with the Yale. Columbia and
Rita, loaded with infantry and three ships
loaded with artillery, beside those already
disembarked. He designed to dsembark
the troops and artillery named on the west
side of Santiago as was understood before
leaving Washington, and before he went
ashore he make the necessary arrange
ments accordingly. He then proceeded to
the 'front.' and after consulting with Gen.
Shafter a note was sent to the Spanish
commander by Gen. Shafter saying that
the commanding general of the United
states army had arrived IN ans
company with strong reinforcements
and would meet him between the
Zines at any hour agreeable to him. The
reply of the Spanish commander was that
he would meet him at y o'clock next morn
ing. The meeting was held, and after
some converse ton between Gen. Shafter
and Gen. Tora Gen Miles frankly in
formed the Spanish general that he had
left Washington six days before and that
it was then the determination of he gov
ernment that this portion of the Spanish
army must be captured or destroyed. He
also informed the Spanish general that
his reinfOrCements had arrived with him,
that some of these forces had already dis
embarked and the remainder would be dis
embarked on the west side of the harbor
and that 1t was useless for him 10 con-
tend against the inevitable.
These transports could also be plainly
seen by the Spanish from MORO Castle
and other points. Gen. Toral replied thai
SO long he had rations and ammunition
he had to fight in order to maintain the
honor of the Spanish army. In response
to that he was Informed that he had al
ready maintained the honor of the Span
ish army and that further efforts would
be useless and would result in the wanton
sacrifice of human life. He then said he
was waiting to hear from his government
and was Informed by Gen. Miles that he
had already taken much time for that pur-
pose, and would be given until daylight
O'Clock, to submit his final answer.
''He begged for longer time and earnest
ly requested until Y o'clock next day.
This was finally granted by Gen. Miles,
the meeting dissolved and the officers sep
arated. On returning from this conference
a dispatch was received by Gen. Miles
from Washington, as follows:
Washington, d. c., July 10, 1S9S-Maj.
Gen. Miles: You may accept surrender by
granting of parole to officers and men, the
officers retaining their side arms, the Off
GERS and men after parole to be permitted
to return to Spain, the United States as
ssting. If not acceptable then assault.
unless in your judgment an assault would
fail Consult with Sampson and pursue
such course as to the assault as you
jointly agree upon. Matters should be set
tied promptly. r. A. Alger, Secretary of
War
This, the statement says, does not look
as If Gen. Miles was there as visitor.
He was charged with the responsibility
of ordering an assault upon the entrench-
ments and Notifications of an
army which, if successful, would
have cost at least 5000, or of
Withholding the assault If in his judg-
ment such assault would fail. No greater
discretion was ever given to any general
commanding an army, and what is more
1t will be observed, he was authorized to
accept the surrender, which in the inter-
est of the suDordinates, he generously de-
clined to do, and went away, leaving all
the honor to his next in rank, Gen. Shat
ter.
ION the morning succeeding the first in
terview, a letter was received from Gen
Toral, of which the following is a literal
translation:
Santiago de Cuba, July IA, 189S.-Gen-
eral-in-Chief of the American Forces
Honored Sir: His excellency, the general
in-chief of the army of the Island of Cuba
telegraphs from Havana yesterday at Z
p. m. the following: Believing the bust
ness of such importance as the capitula-
ton of that place to be known and de
Cided upon by the government of his ma
jesty, 1 give you notice that 1 have sent
the conditions of your telegram asking an
impediate answer and enabling you also
to show this to the general of the Ameri-
can army to see If he Will agree to await
the answer of the government which can
not be as soon as the time which he has
decided, as communication by way of Ber-
muda is more slow than by way of Key
West. In the meanwhile your honor and
the general of the American army may
agree upon capitulation on the basis of
repatriation returning TO SPAIN.
q" I have the honor to transmit to you
that in case you may consider the fore
going satisfactory that he may designate
persons in representation of himself. who
with those IN my name agree 10 clauses
of the capitulation upon the basis of re-
turning to Spain, accepted already in the
beginning by the general-in-chief of this
army. Awaiting a reply, L am, very re-
spectfully, your servant,
81 Jose Toral, Etc"
At the meeting on the following day Gen
Toral stated that he was prepared to sur
render with the approval of the captain
general of Cuba, but it would require a
little time to have his acts confirmed 10y
his home government; that in the mean-
time he was prepared to appoint commits
sioners to arrange the clause of capltuia-
ton Not only this, he offered to sur
render the balance of his command, which
had not been under fire during the cam
paign The, remarkable offer was on his
motion and was in the nature of a surprise
to the American generals present.
However, at the conference of the day
previous, Gen. Miles had reminded him
that he had been rendered the most liberal
t-rr,oe over offered to an enemy. that d ie