Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-08

resistance than he anticipated: that he
was seriously considering the adyisability
OF railing back TO position five miles 10
.he rear, and that he had been unable 10
oe up during the heat OF the day for four
uays' Under such circumstances General
Miles telegraphed General Shafter that
ne would be with him within a week with
! sTonB rcinforcements. OF course taking
| the troops prepared for the second expe-
| uitlon, which had been ordered by the
! fresicent 10 operate against the enemy
| lh Cuba as well as in Porto Rico, These
| reinl0rccments were pushed rapidly for
"ard. and some of them arrived in adj
vance OF the commanding general and
were put In position In the trenches
| around Santiago Under verbal instruc-
| tons of the Presidents General Miles
was directed to go wherever he deemed
| MS presence was required, and that he
should give such directions as In his opin-
ION were best for the army and the gov
eminent
IN FULL AUTHORITY.
These were the circumstances under
which General Miles left Washington. ar
rlving at Santiago July 11th. not as a pri-
Vate individual, nor as a visitor. Any pre-
tense that he went there disrobed of his
authority or official capacity is too child
From the moment he arrived at Santiago
he was responsible for what might occur
lie arrived there with the Yale Column
bia. and Rita, loaded with infantry, and
three ships loaded with artillery, besides
those already disembarked. He designed
10 disembark the troops and artillery
named on the west side of Santiago, as
was understood before leaving Washing
ton, and before he went ashore he made
the necessary arrangements accordingly.
He then proceeded to the front. and
after consulting with General Shafter a
note was sent 10 the Spanish commander
by General Shafter. saying that the com
manding general of the United States
army had arrived in his camp with
strong reinforcements, and would meet
him between the lines at any hour agree
able 10 him. The reply of the Spanish
commander was that he would meet him |
at II o'clock the next morning. The meet |
ing was held, and after some cOnversa- |
ton between General Shafter and Gene |
raj TOral General Miles frankly inform |
ed the Spanish general that he had left |
Washington six days before. and that II |
was then the determination of the gov
ernment that this portion Of the Spanish |
army must be captured or destroyed. He |
also informed the Spanish general that |
that some Of these forces had already
and the remainder would
be disembarked on the west side of the
harbor. and that it was useless for him
To contend against the inevitable. These
transports could also be plainly seen by
the Spanish from MORO Castle and other
points.
TREATING WITH TORAL.
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 already
the honor of the Spanish
army, and that further efforts would be
useless. and would result in the wantOn
sacrifice of human life. lie then said
that he was waiting TO hear from MS
government. and was informed by General
Miles that he had already taken much
line for that purpose. and would be given
until daylight of the following morning.
[ being then o'clock, to submit his final
answer. He begged for longer time, ana
earnestly requested until u o'clock next
lay. This was finally granted by General |
Niles. The meeting dissolved and the
,fiicers separated. on returning from |
his conference a dispatch was received
" General Miles from Washington as fol- ,
0ws:
" Washington, ID. c.. July l3. lS9S.-Ma-
or-General Miles: You may accept sur
ender by granting parole to officers and :
zen, the officers retaining their side arms;
he officers and men after parole to be
ermitted to return to Spain. the United
tates assisting. If not accepted. then /
ssault, unless in your judgment an as }
ault with fail. Consult with Sampson. l
nd pursue such course as TO the assault d
$ you jointly agree upon. Matter should {
e settled promptly.
(Signed) R. a. ALGIGR
Secretary of War;"
GENEROSITY TO SHAFTER. o
This" the statement says, docs not fl
)ok as if General Miles was there as a a
isitor. He was charged with the re- a
of ordering an assault upon G.
ne entertainments and Notifications OF an
rmy, which, If successful would have p
ost at least $500 lives. or of withholding a
ne assault. if in his judgment such as W
iult would iail. No greater discretion W
as ever given 10 any general command Ii
* an army and, what is more. as Will HI
e observed, he was authorized TO accept b
le surrender which, in the interest OF &C
Is subOrdinates, he generously declined
do, and went away leaving all the
)nor to his next in rank, General Shat
con the morning succeeding the first in ~
rview a letter was received from Gene 10
Il TOral. of which the following Is q p,
erai translation: u
Santiago de Cuba, July A. 1S9S-Gen- o.
Of the American Forces: %
)nored Sir,-Hs EXcellency. the gene ~
of the army of the Island of 80
ba, telegraphed from Habana yester- !.
y at Z y. NJ, the following: Believing ~
at business of such Importance as the
pitulatiOn Of that place should be +,
own and decided upon by the govern -
mt of his Majesty, l give YOU notice vi vi
At l have sent the conditions Of your "
egram, asking an immediate answer. ~
d enabling you also TO show this 20 the q,
neral of the American army, to see if e.
will agree to await the answer of the ~
which canpot be as soon as iI tl
time he has decided on as the com " -.
by way of Bermuda is slower 80, 80.
an by way of Key West. In the mean o
ile your Honor and the general Of the
lerican army may agree upon capitu- -
ion upon the basis of repatriation re- -,
ming TO Spain)." ~,
Il have the honor to transmit this 20 ' '
I. so that in case you consider the 20 20
egoing satisfactory, he may designate 49,
sons in representation of himself. who. ;n,
n those in my name may agree upon n .iIs
uses in the capitulation. upon the terms 49,
returning TO Spain, accepted in the ~
inning by the general-in-chief of this 49,
ny. me