Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-09-10
1.-THE enclosure Of Cervera's hset in the

1.-THE enclosure Of Cervera's feet in the
harbor Of Santiago changed tive condi-
tions and made II necessary ta' move a
military force to that point. General
Miles, while in Tampa organizing the
expedition, felt the importance of the
enterprise SO greatly that he requested
permission to accompany that expedi-
ton, or to Immediately organize another
to Join 1t. This permission was not
granted, so far as accompanying that
expedition was concerned, but authority
was granted to equip second for move
ment and operation against the enemy
in Cuba and Porto Rico However, be-
fore this expedition was equipped, calls
were made for additional forces to 60 to
Santiago. and they were Immediately
forwarded.
ION the Sd day OF July General Shafter
telegraphed that his losses had been
greatly underestimated; that he met
with stronger resistance than he had
anticipated, and that he was seriously
considering the advisability of falling
back to position Ave miles to the rear.
and that he had been unable to be up
during the heat for four days. Under
such circumstances General Miles tele-
graphed General Shafter that he would
be with him within week with strong
reinforcement, Of course taking the
troops expected for the second expedi-
ton which had been ordered by the pres
ident to operate against the enemy in
Cuba as well as in Porto Rico. These re-
Inducements were pushed rapidly fer
ward, and some of them arrived in ad-
vance of the commanding general and
were put in position in the trenches
around Santiago.
Under verbal instructions Of the pres
ident, General Miles was directed to go
wherever he deemed his presence was
required, and that he should give such
directions as in his opinion were best
for the army and for the government.
These were the circumstances under
which General Miles left Washington,
! arriving at Santiago July II, not as
, private individual, nor as a visitor. Any
pretense that he went there disrobed of
his authority or official capacity is too
childish to be considered by sensible
men. From the moment he arrived at
Santiago he was responsible for what
might occur. He arrived there with the
Yale, Columbia and Rita loaded with
infantry and three ships loaded with ar
tillery besides those already disem-
barked. He designed to dsembark the
troops and artillery named on the west
side of Santiago, as was understood be-
fore leaving Washington, and before he
went ashore he made the necessary ar
rangements accordingly.
He then proceeded to the front, and
after consulting with General Shafter,
note was sert to the Spanish COM
mander by General Shafter, saying that
the commanding general of the United
States army had arrived in his camp
/ with strong reinforcements and would
meet him between the lines a any hour
Hgre cable to him. The reply of the
Spanish commander was that he would
meet him at II o'clock the next morn
! ing. The meeting was held, and after
me conversation between General
Shafter and General Toral, General
Miles frankly informed the Spanish gen.
eral that he had left Washington six
days before, and that it was then the
determination of the government that
his portion of the Spanish army must be
captured or destroyed. He also Informed
the Spanish general that his reinforce
ments had already arrived with him;
that some of these forces had already
! disembarked and the remainder would
lie disembarked on the west side of the
harbOr, and that it was useless for him
to contend against the ineVita BILE. These
transports could also be plainly seen by
the Spanish from MORO castle and other
points. General Toral replied that so
long as he had ratiors 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 maintained the honor of the
Spanish army and that further efforts
would be useless and would result in the
wa1ton sacrifice of human life. He then
said that he was waiting to hear from
his government and was informed by
General Miles that he had already taken
much time for that purpose, and would
be given until daylight of the following
morning, 1t being then o'clock, to sub
NIT his final answer. He begged for
longer time and earnestly requested UNI
| Ill IL U ClOCh HeAt udy. i HIS was HIdly
granted by General Miles; the meeting
dissolved and the officers separated. On
returning from this conference, a dis
patch was received by General Miles
from Washington as follows:
major General Miles-You may ac-
cept surrender by granting parole to
officers and men, the officers retaining
their side arms; the officers and men
after parole to be permitted to return to
Spain, the United States assisting. If
not accepted, then assault, unless in your
judgment an assault would fail. Con-
suit with Sampson and pursue such
course as to the assault as you Jointly
agree upon. Matter should be settled
promptly.
n. A. Alger, Secretary of War;
This does not look as if General Miles
vas there as visitor. He was charged
with the responsibility of ordering an
assault upon the entertainments and
Notifications of an army, which, If sue
cessful, would have cost at least 5000
men, or of withholding the assault If, in
his judgment, such assault would fail.
No greater discretion was ever given to
any general commanding an army, and
what is more, as will be observed, he was
authorized to accept the surrender,
which, in the interest q his s-bordi-
mates. he generously declined to do, and
went away, leaving all the honor to his
next In rank. General halter.
cat the meeting on the following day
General Toral stated that he was pre-
pared to surrender with the approval of
the captain general Of Cuba, but it would
require a little time to have his acts
confirmed by the home government tina
in the meantime he was prepared to APP
point commissioners to arrange the
clauses of capitulation. Not only this
he offered to surrender the balance of
his command, which have not been UNI
der fire or engaged in the campaign
This remarkable offer was on his mo-
ton and was in the nature of surprise
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