Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-15
NEWS FROM FRONT
Conditions of Surrender Of Santiago
Still Matter of Conjecture --Imme-
diate Possession Demanded.
CAPlTULATION UNEXPECTED
Forces and Ships in Position to Make As
sault-Had Battle Occurred City
Would Have Been Totally
Destroyed.


Port Antonio. - Santiago was surren-
dered today. Menaced by American
forces on land and sea, disheartened by
past defeats and without hope of vic
tory, General Toral yielded his city to
save his people. What the terms OF
surrender were is not vet kEown They
may be made public when General
Miles returns from the front tonight,
and may be suppressed for days. On
board the flagship New York it is be-
lieved the surrendered Spanish officials
will be permitted to retain their side
arms, and the Spanish army will be
given safe convoy to Spain. Admiral
Sampson has not yet been informed of
the details of capitulation. The end
came swiftly and Unexpectedly. The
refusal of the Spanish to surrender had
been so emphatic and so recent, that
both the army and navy had forsaken
all idea of victory without further blood
shed and noon today had been set for
the final desperate assault upon the
stubborn defenses of the city. Whether
Moro castle and batteries above the
harbor will also surrender is, at o'clock
this afternoon, a matter of conjecture.
At that hour the Spanish flag still float
still clustered about the earthworks and
batteries. With the American army
controlling Santiago, however, further
resistance by the harbor defenses would
be absurd and their surrender undoubt-
edly will quickly follow General Shat
ter's occupation of the town, if indeed
the sea front Notifications and all 9th
ers are not included in the terms of the
city's capitulation.
Commissioners Arranging Terms of Sur
render.
Before Santiago, July IA, 1925 p. M,
via Playa del Este, July ia commits
sion of two Spaniards, one Englishman
and three Americans is arranging the
terms of surrender. Probably the Span
ish army will accept parole and be re-
turned to Spain. We insist on imme-
diate possession Of the city pending ar
rangements of the details and probably
will enter Santiago tonight. Our army
will remain outside of the city, but the
sick will be taken in and general hos
pital headquarters Immediately estab-
lished. The truce which was to end at
noon today was prolonged by flag sent
out from the Spanish lines at 9:30 this
morning. General Toral acting on Gen
eral Blanco's instruction to communicate
by cable with Madrid. offered to appoint
a Joint commission to arrange the terms
of capitulation. General Miles and Gen
eral Shafter decided to call for a per-
sonal interview with General Toral, his
message being ambiguous. They rode
out between the lines shortly before
noon and met General Toral, who said
he had received few minutes before
message from Captain General Blanco
to capitulate and to make the work of
the commissioners final General Toral
named Robert Mason, British consul,
General Tolon and his own (Toral's)
chief of staff. General Shafter and Gen
eral Miles named General Wheeler, Gen
eral Lawton and Lieutenant Miley, of
General Skaters staff. The commits
sion is now working on the terms of sur
render.
The news was received with en-
thusiasm in the American lines. The
American warships are expected to pass
under the guns of Ell Moro this evening
and will command the town from the
upper bay. 1t Is probable but a few
ships will remain here, orders having
been received for all heavy vessels to
join Commodore Watson's squadron for
the Spanish coast. There is a report as
yet unconfrmed that the surrender and
evacuation of the Spanish troops may
extend to the entire province of Santiago
de Cuba.
Capitulated in the Nick of Time.
Aguadores, July 14.-Admiral Samp-
son has not taken an active part in the
surrender negotiations, but has been
consulted by General Miles and General
Shafter and undoubtedly will be consd-
cred in the settlement of the final de-
tails. He declined to discuss the matter
further than to express joy that the TAX
ing of Santiago was accomplished with
out further bloodshed. The Iowa was
at once ordered to steam west to MORO
Castle, evidently being sent to watch the
movements OF the men manning the
shore batteries. General Toral surren-
dered in the nick of time, for had the
plans for today's battle been carried out
the City of Santiago would have been
torn to pieces before night. The fleet
had the exact range, and although the
city was about eight miles away and
hidden by hills, Commodore Schley said
shells could be dropped in the heart Of
the town every two minutes, for as long
q time as General Shafter thought neces-
sary. Aside from the work of the fleet
seven batteries of artillery were so
placed that three inch shells could have
been hurled into the town from all