Evening star., 1898-07-13
THE CITY MUST FALL
But the Army Waits for Big Guns
Before Attacking.
SHAPTER'S PROPOSALS REFUSED
ToraI and His Spaniards Prefer to
Die by the Sword.
THE DISTRICT TROOPS

the negotiations DeaceIHi surrender
of Santiago de Cuba ended in utter failure
today, and the city must fall by the sword.
Gen. Toral, the Spanish commander, has
finally and definitely refused Gen. Skaters
proposal for an unconditional sur1 1ender
and the American army now only awaits
the word of its general to begin the final
struggle.
Just when the attack will be made de-
pends upon the time which will ensue be-
fore Gen. Randolph can land his batteries
at the front, as 1t is definitely settled that
forward movement will not begin until
the army is fully backed up by the big
guns, the absence of which cost many
lives during the previous engagements
Gen. Randolphs movement began early
this morning, but tonight out Of the ten
batteries one of four guns had succeeded
in making its way over the almost impas-
sable trail to the trenches at the front.
This, with the four batteries already there,
is not considered by the American COM
mander as sufficient. and probably twenty
four hours more will elapse before the
general engagement begins.
Gen. Skaters second and last proposal
to surrender was sent into Santiago at
noon yesterday. l. went in the form of
terse note. in which the general pointed
out the hopelessness of the Spanish posi-
ton. surrounded by the American troops
and cut off from reinforcements.
Unconditional surrender, 1t was declared
were the only terms to be considered and
only prompt acceptance of these terms
could save the Spanish forces and innocent
citizens from awful slaughter.
Firing Not Resumed.
The firing which has been going on at in
tervalS since Sunday, off
stopped when the flag of truce started for
the Spanish lines and has not been resumed
since.
No attention was paid to Gen. Skaters
communication until shortly after o'clock
this morning, when reply came under
nag of truce. Gen. Toral as brief as
his foe, saying in effect that if the Amer
leans wanted Santiago they could come and
get 1t. He declared unconditional surren-
der to be entirely beyond reason and possi-
bility and expressed himself as ready to
meet an attack at any time the invading
army saw fit to make one
Gen. Shafter accepted the answer as final,
and, although no firing was ordered. he i'm
mediately began preparations Tor the COM
ing struggle, Gen. Randolph's ten light
batteries were ordered rushed from thu
landing place at Juragua and a change in
the lines was made Gen Lawton's entire
division was moved to the northward a
mile and a half, his extreme right being
placed at Cazz Cs liner on the border of the
harbcr. This movement places the Ameri-
can forces in a semi-crcle entirely sur
rounding Santiago and cutting off the re-
treat of the Spanards, except by water. as
our Hanks rest at the waters edge
The District Volunteers.
The late arrivals of volunteers were
moved from Juragua and the 1st Illinois,
the Sth Ohio and the regiment from the
District of Columbia wer4 located in the
trenches vacated by Lawton's men.
Hines Battery was swung around to tho
north, closely connecting with Lawton's
forces, and now occupies a bluff from which
it can fire directly into the heart of the
city. This is a most important move, as it
enables the American forces to shell the
city without injuring the hospitals and
public buildings, which are fyinp the Rod
cross flags, the present position being such
that shells can be thrown over all the
buildings thus protected from assault
The little town of Camenes was eyacu-
ated by the Spanish troops yesterday and
Is now occupied by the Cuban troops with
d lew companies of regulars.
scarcely wounded man remains at the
hospital headquarters here. Almost all the
sufferers have been either sent north on the
returning transports, or have been sent on
BOARD the hospital ship Relief, which lies
OF shore. 1t is most fortunate that the
transfer was made before the rains set in.
as it is difficult to provide shelter from the
storms. A number of men sick with fever
measles and other ailments are still here.
Malarial fever continues to give the physt-
Clans trouble, but far only one death
has resulted
Mr.. Nicholas Fish will leave for the north
tomorrow with the bodies of Hamilton
flsh' Jr, and Capt. Capron. who were kill
ed with the rough riders in battle
Cut the Water Main.
The men of Gen. Lawton's division yes-
tsrday cut a large water main which is
believed to be the source of the water
supply of Santiago de Cuba The main
entered the city from the northeast, and is
the largest one yet found. A stream Of
pure water as large as a mans body has
poured from the pipe since it was cut, and
has proved valuable to the Americans.
A few deserters who came out of San
tiago today reported that the city's water
| supply is scant and of very bad quality
The reports OF wholesale desertions from
the Spanish forces are untrue. A few
deserters reach the American lines almost
daily, but there have not been hundred
deserters from the Spaniards in all.
A little Spanish gunboat was discovered
| In the harbor today lying at the Philadel-
phia Iron Compahys wharf. under the
! shadow of three large merchant vessels.
She is too small to do any damage. In
case of an attack upon the part of the feet
1t is probable that some Of the troops from
the Yale will be lanced west of Moro Cas-
| tie to join Gen. Lawtons division. A land
| ing could easily be effected near Cabanas,
| five miles west of the harbor entrance
| Gen. shafter teiegraphed to Washington
today in regard to the extreme privations
suffered by the $4,000 Santiago refugees
now at Ell Caney, and he received a reply
directing him not to assume the respon-
sibility of their maintenance, but to give
| them such food he can spare from the
| soldiers stores Already 2,500 rations
have been given them. but they are ex-
hausted, as well as the provisions sent by