The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-03
ALGER'S REPORT.
Continued From Page .


are suffering where they are. though
am doing my best to supply them with
food third, il saves the great destruction
OF property which bombardment would
entail, most of which belongs to Cubans
and foreign residents; fourth, II At once
relieves the command, while it IS in good
health, for operations elsewhere. There
are now three cases of yellow fever at
Siboney, in Michigan regiment, and il i
gets started no one knows where it viii
stop We Will lose by this simply some
prisoners we do not want ana the arms
they carry. ] believe. many Of them viii
desert and return to our lines. ! was told
by sentinel who deserted last night that
200 men wanted TO come, bur were AFRAID
our men would Il fire upon gPl the them asnaro1
Washington, July 9, 1898, lll5 p. m.
Mai. Gen. Shafter, Playa del Este, Cuba:
In reply to your telegram recommending
terms of evacuation, as proposed py the
Spanish commander, after careful con-
sideration by the president and secretary
Of war / am directed to say that you
have been repeatedly advised that you
would not be expected TO make an as
sault upon the enemy at santiago until
you were prepared to DO the work thor
oughly: When you are ready this will be
done. Your telegram of this morning said
Your position was impregnable, and that
YOU believed the enemy would yet sur
render Internationally. You have also as
sured us that you could force their sur
render by cutting off the supplies. Under
these circumstances, your message rec
ommending that Spanish troops be per-
mitted TO evacuate and proceed without
molestaCion to Holguin, is a great sur
prise and is not approved. The RESPONSE
bility of destruction and distress to the
inhabitants rests entirely with the Span
ASH COMMANDER me secretary OF war or
ders that when you are strong enough it
will be dispatched to you at the earliest
moment practicable. Requirements are
on the way, of which you have already
been advised, In the meantime nothing is
lost by holding the position you have now,
and which you, regard as impregnable
By order Of the secretary of war sg
II. c, Corbin, Adiutant General
Playa del Este via Hayti. - (Received
Washington, July TO- 1898, go p. m lAd-
]utant General. Washington: HeadquaT-
tiers Near Santiago, Cuba, 10.-Telegram
of 9Th in regard to evacuation of Spanish
troops received. My position IS iInpreg-
nable against any attack the enemy can
bring against me, but I have not yet
enough troops to entirely surround the
town. The Cuban forces are not to be de-
pended upon for severe fighting Instruc-
tons of the war department win be car
shafter. Major General.
On the 10th, shafter telegraphs that
his offer having been declined should
begin to lombard Santiago at ! o'clock
that day, but the secretary authorized
him TO promise to return the Spaniard5
70 Spain II they surrendered unccndi-
uonally. A good deal of Geographic cor
from, touching the terms of the sur
render. In the midst of them is one
from Gen. Miles from the camp near
santiago, July 18th, in which he adj
vises, with Shafter and the major gen
eral, that discretion be granted as to
terms Of surrender. He referred to the
Spanish offer to surrender Santiago
province, force batteries, munitions Of
war etc, all except the men and
An+
der ordinary circumstances, he would
not ADVISE acceptance, but to avoid the
assault, and in view Of the fact that
there were 100 cases Of yellow fever
IN the command, he concurs with Shat
ter. The response came as follows:
Adjutant Generals Office, Washington.
July 8, 16SS.-Maj. Gen. Shafter. PLAYA del
este, Cuba; Secretary Of war directs me
4s2 morn you mat Gen. Niles left here at
lg 40 last night for Santiago but with in
structions not to in any manner super
sede you as commander of the forces in
able for duty,
H. C, Corbin, Adjt. Gen.
Washington, D. c., July 1S 1S9S.-Afat.
zen Miles, camp near Santiago, PLAYA
gel este, Cuba; You may accept sur
IendeT by granting parole to officers and
men, the officers retaining their side
arms. The officers and men after parole
70 pc permitted to return to Spain the
then assault, unless in your judgment an
Assault would fail. Consult with Sampson
ana pursue such course as to the assault
as you Jointly agree upon. Matter should
now be settled promptly.
h A Alger, Secretary of War.
On July 18th, Secretary Alger wrote
10 the secretary Of the navy, reque ting
that he order the feet off Santiago to
az once force its way into the bay. if
pct bic. The reasons set out are that
the heaNy rains have made the roads
lnpassable for supplies for the troops,
nave hlled the trenches and endangered
theiiVes Of the men from yellow fever.
Also the enemy's works were Of such a
cnaracter as to involve a terrible sacri-
nee OF lives were an attempt made to
assault them. Secretary Long respond
co In a. mere acknowledgment Of the
receipt of the communication.
More correspondence by telegraph re-
tatiye to the surrender is injected at
this point ny the secretary, including
General Miles announcement of the
surrender on July IA, with the under'-
standing that the Spanish troops would
be returned to Spain, and announcing
his arrangements for the disposition OF
the sick soldiers. The secretary's next
telegram was addressed to General
Shafter on the following day, and read:
4 Have you received the absolute sur
render of the enemy? We are waiting
she conditions with impatience." ..a-
Skaters response was that Miles
regarded the surrender as absolute,
and the matter would be settled .by
commissioners that day-the 10Th. is
aG
Next, the correspondence shows the
history of the Porto Rico campaign
July 13 the secretary telegraphed Miles
at Siboney what he had determined up-
on, as he wished to direct transports.