The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-15

goe tree at the bottom of the valley
about half way between the lines. The
interview that followed lasted an hour.
The situation was placed frankly be-
| fore Gen. Toral, and he was offered
| the alternative of being sent home with
| his garrison, or leaving Santiago prov
| ince the only condition imposed being
| that he should not destroy the existing
| Notifications, and should leave his arms
| behind.
This last provision the Spanish gen.
| eral, who does not speak English, ex-
| planned through his interpreter, was
| impossible. The laws of Spain gave a
| general no discretion. He might aban-
| don a place when he found it untena-
| BILE, but he could not leave his arms
| behind without subjecting himself to
| the penalty of being courtmartialed
and shot. His government, he said,
had granted him permission to evacu-
| ate Santiago, that was all. Further
| than that, he was powerless to go.
When informed that our reinforce
ments were coming up; that he was
completely surrounded, and that new
batteries were being posted, Gen. To-
READY TO DIE.
Il am but subordinate" said he,
and l obey my government. If 1t is
necessary, we can die at our posts"
Gen. Toral is man of sixty years
of age, with strong, rugged face and
fine, soldierly bearing His brave
words inspired feeling of respect and
admiration in the hearts of his adversa-
ries. Nevertheless, the Spanish gen.
erals anxiety 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 Mad
rid, although he obviously shook his
head when he spoke Of the probable
response.
In the course Of an interview, Gen.
Toral said the bombardment of Sun
day and Monday had done little dam
age. He admitted that shells from
the guns Of the fleet had DESTROYED
four houses. but he asserted that only
half dozen soldiers from the garri-
son had been injured. He also volun-
teered the information, when Gen.
Miles gallantly inquired after Gen.
Linares' condition. that the latter
probably would have to undergo the
amputation of his left arm at the
shoulder Gen. Miles, at the interview,
did not attempt to assume the direc-
ton OF the negotiations, but as general
OF the United States army vouched
Tor the conditions Gen. Shafter offered.
Upon the return Of our commanders
to the American lines an important
consultation was held at Gen. Wheel
er's headquarters. Generals Garcia
and Castillo, with their staffs, had rid
den around from the extreme right to
see Gen. Miles. 1t was notable
group, gathered under the protecting
awning of Gen. Wheeler's tent Gen.
Miles, In blue fatigue uniform, with
the double star on his shoulders and
his campaign hat encircled by a single
strand Of gold braid, looking the ideal
soldier, sat upon an empty ammuni-
t1on box, and formed the center Of the
party. On the right of Gen. Miles sat
Gen. Shafter, and on his left was Gen.
Garcia, in mud-spotted white uniform,
with heavy riding boots and jingling
spurs The Cuban general wore
large feather-adorned Panama hat,
and at his side was a silver-mounted
machete. Gen. Garcia has a strong,
swarthy face, with deep bullet scar
in his forehead.
In a general way he Is not unlike
Cuban. Gen. Wheeler, with grizzled
beard, small Of stature, and in brown
campaign uniform, faced the three Of
ficers mentioned, while about them sat
the aide-de-camps of the four generals
mentioned
HOBSON WAS THERE.
Lieut. Hobson, the hero Of the Merri-
mac, who had come to Gen. Miles with
messages from Rear Admiral Samp-
son, was also present. The situation
was discussed with the aid of pro.
fusion of maps, and at it's conclusion
luncheon was uncovered. 1t consisted
OF beans, hard tack and coffee After
this meal, Gen. Shafter, Gen. Miles and
Gen. Garcia rode off to inspect the po-
sition on the right flank They all
agreed that Gen. Toral was securely
wedged in, and that escape was impos-
sible, but owing to delays and the pos
sihle incidental loss of life, which was
certain to result from an attempt to
SoAAy lhC lCNH ny assault, the Danger
to our troops from fever and disease
and, above all, the fact that the Span
ish fleet was destroyed, which had been
the real object of the campaign. it
seemed to be the general intention to
allow Gen. Toral to evacuate Santiago.
This would give us a naval and mill
tary basis, permit the starving refugees
to return to their own homes, and
would permit of the immediate en-
barkation of the bulk of our troops for
Porto Rico.
Rain now falls in torrents. In fact.
our base of supplies is actually threat
ened by the mountain streams. Two
bridges have been washed away this
evening, after a downfall in which one
and one-half inches of rain fell. The
Aguadores river is impossible. the
water, shoulder deep, is running like a.
small Niagara. A mule ambulance
which attempted to cross the river was
carried 200 yards down stream, filed
With refugees, to Caney, where the pas
sengers were rescued with difficulty.
T IN