Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-13
FROM WASHINGTON.
TCorrespondence of the Alexandria GaSette.]
WASHINGTON, July Is.

Your telegram saying no modihcatlon
of orders allowed just received. Have
had an interview Of an hour and a-haif
with Gen. Toral and extended truce
until noon tomorrow. Told him that
his surrender only will be considered
and that he was without hope OF es-
cape and had no right to continue
the fight. think it made strong I'M
preston on him and hope for his sur
render. If he refuses, will open on
him at twelve, noon. tomorrow with
every gun have, and have the assist
ance of the pavy which is ready to bonn
bard the city with Is inch shells.
w. r. SHAFTER."
The following dispatch was received
from General Miles this afternoon:
"PLAYA DEL ESTE, July 13.
Secretary of War, Washington:
"At meeting between the lines at
which Generals Shafter and Wheeler
and Spanish General Toral were pres
ent the latter claimed that ne is
unable to act without authority OF
his government, but has re-,
ceived authority to withdraw and
surrender harbor ports, munitions
of war and eastern portion of Cuba. He
urgently requests until tomorrow noon
to receive answer from his government
regarding offer of our government
o send his forces to Spain, which was
granted. (Signed) MILES:
Secretary Alger telegraphed to Gen.
Miles that the request Of Gen. Toral for
permission to withdraw was declined.
There is no official knowledge at the
Navy Department that any controver-
sv between Admiral Sampson aud Com
modore Schley exists. On the contrary,
naval officers familiar with the official
regulations of the service, fail to see
how any differences could possible arise
between those officers whose duties are
explicitly defined, and the disposition
throughout the Navy Department is to
regard the newspaper reports OF friction
as highly magnied, ifindeed there is any
ground for them. 1t is stated authori-
tatively that Admiral Sampson was
powerless to relinquish command even
temporarily and that he has never for a
moment since he reached Santiago been
relieved of any responsibility for the
operations there. He alone may COM
municste directly with the Navy De-
pertinent, all communications from
other officers having TO pass through
him, ana under no circumstances can
Schley report to any other person than
sampson. The commander-in-chief OF
effect is charged with al responsibility
for making plans OF all battles in advance
and distributing these, with the orders
to meet any emergency, among all his
subordinate commanders for their gov
ernment. 1t was his duty, therefore, to
prepare for what actually did occur 81
Santiago July 8. In case Cervera had
escaped Schley would have been held
rigidly responsible, while Sampson
would have been relieved OF such re-
.pousibility on account OF the impera-
i've duty he was performing away from
o!s fleet while in conference with Gen
Saafter. Schley was not relieved by
sampson until the Colon struck her
co!or5 and the victory was complete.
Il is evident that Schley commanded
until he received Cervera's surrender in
person, and therefore no man is able to
take from him the credit of what he &C
ualy sehieyed. Admiral Sampson,
however, by virtue of his command,
must participate in the prize money and
al other honor5.
Surgeon General Van Reypen, Of
the navy, this morning made q state
ment regarding the death of DR.. John
Blair Gibbs, of the Marine Hospital
Corps, stationed at Guantanamo. DR.
Gibbs and several other surgeons and
hospital stewards were attempting to
move some Of the sick and wounded
from the camp to an excavation about
so feet distant in order that they might
ha better protected from the fusilade Of
bullets which were flying around near
the camp. lie bad proceeded about 10
feet of the distance when suddenly he
dropped TO the ground. Upon examiy
nation il was discovered that he had
been wounded by ball which passed
through the left temple region, passing
through the brain and coming out
through the right temple. He died half
an hour liter and was brought in camp
on the afternoon of June y. The &C.
ton took place at night.
IL is stated officially at the Navy De-
partment that the naval ambulance
ship Solace left Guantanamo yesterday
aud is due to arrive at Norfolk on Sat-
urday. She carries sick and wounded
as follows: Navy, 90; army IA; Spanish
naval prisoners, As. The army wound
ed will be taken care of at Fortress
Monroe and those Of the navy and the
Spanish prisoners at the Norfolk Naval
Hospital. There "a no contagious i'll.
ness of any kind among the naval tieet
or the marines at Guantanamo.
Nothing has been heard by the State
Department concerning the U. S. coal
a. st. Thomas, West Iudies, since the
Danish government has prohibited its
removal. The U. S. consul is seeking
to get the coal into the holds of Ameri-
can vessels and the result of his efforts
is being awaited with interest by both
the State and Navy departments.
The War Department has received
dispatch from General Miles but its
contents were for the mcat part with
held from publication. The informa.
ton is given, however, that the situa-
ton around Santiago is practically un-
changed. No fighting has been going
on since two o'clock Monday afternoon
when the white flag was raised over
the city. Santiago has not surrender
ed yet" said War Department off.
cial, "but they are still dickeriug."
Tho ror hoard occan,h1a1 or Tho