The Portland daily press., 1898-07-15
GENERALS MEET.
General Miles COnfers With Gen,
TOral.

General Wheeler's Headquarters, Before
Santiago de Cuba, July Is, 4 p. m. via
Kingston, Jamaica, July IA, 1.50 p. H.
1t appears that on Monday General
Shafter did not again demand the unoon-
ditional surrender which General Toral
had refused on Sunday, but he offered, as
an alternative proposition, to accept the
capitulation of the enemy. and to trans
port the Spanish officers and troops to
Spain, they to leave all their arms behind
and he to accept their parole. 1t was this
proposition which General Toral declined
yesterday.
This morning it was decided to hold a
personal interview with General Toral.
General Miles and his staff, who got
no further than General Skaters head
quarters last night, accompanied by Cen
eral Shafter and his staff, rode out to the
front shortly before eight O'Clock under
flag of truce. A request for q personal in
terview with the Spanish commander was
made and acceded to and at about nine
O'Clock General Miles, General Shafter,
General Wheeler, General Gilmour, Col
Morse, Captain Wiley and Col Maus rode
up, passed over our enurenchments and
went down into the valley beyond. They
were met by General Toral and his chief
of staff, under spreading mango tree, at
the bottom of the valley about half way
between the lines. The interview that
followed, lasted almost an hour. The
situation was placed frankly before
General Toral and he was offered the
alternative OF being sent home with his
garrison or leaving Santiago provin 90.
The only condition imposed being that he
should not destroy the existing fortifca-
tions and should leave his arms behind.
This latter condition, the Spanish general,
who does not speak English, explained
through his interpreter. was impossible.
He said the laws of Spain gave general
no discretion. He might abandon place
when he found it untenable, but he could
not Leave his arms behind without SUBJ
jecting himself to the penalty of being
court martialed and shot, His govern
ment, he said, had granted him per-
mission to evaouate Santiago. That was
all Further than that he was powerless
to go.
Without saying so in words, General
Miles said the tenor of General ToraFs re-
marks all betrayed his realization that he
could not hold out long. When General
Shafter explained that our reinforcements
were coming up, that he was completely
surrounded and that new batteries were
being posted, General Toral simply
shrugged his shoulders.
Il am but o su bordinate," he said,
''and I obey my government. If it is
necessary we can die at our posts"
General Toral is man of sixty years
of age, with strong, rugged face and
tine, soldierly tearing. His brave words
Inspired feeling of respect and admira.
tion in the hearts Of his adversaries.
Nevertheless, the Spanish generals ankle
ty to avoid further sacrifice of life in his
command was manifest and he did not
hesitate to ask for time to communicate
the situation to Madrid, although he
obviously shook his cad when he spoke
Of the probable resp onse.
During the course of an interview Gen.
eral Toral said the bonn bardment of Sun
day and Monday had done little damage.
He admitted the shells from the guns of
the fleet has destroyed four houses, but he
asserted that only half dozen soldiers of
the garrison had been injured. He also
volunteered the Information, when Gen.
eral Miles calamity inquired after General
Linares's condition, that the latter would
probably necessitate the amputation of his
left arm at the shoulder. General Miles
Rt the interview did not attempt to as
sumo the direction of the negotiations,
but as general of the United States army,
he youohed for the conditions General
Shafter offered.
Upon the return of our commanders to
the American lines an important CONSUL
tation was held at General Wheeler's
headquarters.
Generals Garcia and Castillo, with
their STATS, had ridden around from the
extreme right to see General Miles. 1t
was notable group gathered under the
protecting awning of General Wheelers
tent.
General Miles, in blue fatigue uniform,
with the double star On his shoulders and
his campaign hat enciroled by a single
strand of gold braid. looking the ideal
soldier, sat on an empty ammunition box
and formed the centre of the party.
On the right of General Miles sat Gen
earl Shafter and on his left was General
Garcia, in mud spotted white uniform.
with heavy riding boots and jingline
spurs. The Cuban general wore a large,
weather worn Panama hat and at his side
was silver mounted machete. General
Garcia has strong, swarthy face, with a
deep, bullet scar in his forehead. In a
general way he is not unlike a Cuban
edition OF General Miles,
General Wheeler, with grizzled beard,
small of stature. and in a brown cam
paign uniform. faced the three officers
mentioned, while about them sat the
aides de camp of the four generals.
Assistant Naval Constructor Hobson,
the hero of the Merrimac, who had come