Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-07-14
EVENTS OF THE SIEGE.
Shafter's Last Demand Upon TOral to
Surrender the City.

Siboney, July II, Up. M, via King
ston, Jamaca July ia concerted
movement has been made by the United
States army and navy against the city of
Santiago de Cuba during the past twenty
four hours, which the American officers
here believe will result in the almost
immediate fall of the city.
The fleet lying off Aguadores, three
miles east of Moro Castle, began The
bombardment of Santiago on Sunday af-
ternoon and continued this morning.
Notwithstanding the fact that our ships
had to fire at an extreme elevation, and
Although the range was nearly five miles,
the aim was so accurate that many Of the
shells fell in the city and set fire to it in
four places. One shell struck st MichaePs
church, in which quantity of powder
and ammunition was stored, and blew 1t to
pieces.
During the bombardment from the sea
the army extended its lines and drew IN
closer to the city, 80 that at noon to-day
every road and trail leading out of the
CITY was guarded and escape of the
Spanish soldiers seemed impossible. The
only way they can get out of the city is to
ferry across the bay to the western side OF
the harbor, and even then they could not
get into the interior without encountering
American troops.
During the time the warships were bonn
harding Santiago this morning the bat
teries of artillery on the hills facing the
CITY shelled the Spanish intrenchments
and received but light response.
The American sharp-shooters also sent
in deadly fire, but the Spaniards fell
back TO their last intrenchments, Offering
brt little resistance. The Americans suf-
fered no loss.
At about noon today, General Shatter
communicated by signal with Rear Ad-
miral Sampson, requesting the latter to
Case firing. Then the general sent Gen
eral Wheeler into the Spanish lines under
q flag of truce, with o message to General
Toral, the Spanish commander, reciting
the fact that the American ships had given
complete demonstration that they could
throw shells into the city and destroy 1t at
will. that the American troops had the
citv practically surrounded, and that there
were IS 900 Spanish and Cuban refugees
starving tc death at El Caney, and also
nointinr out that our army had no means
of feeding them. General Shafter de-
manded the unconditional surrender o.
the city, and coupled this demand Wit,
the statement that unless General Tora
acceded, the assault upon the city, both
hv the land and sea force, would be re-
newed at once.
Several hours elapsed before any reply
was received from General Toral, anc
then he sent message to General Shat
Tor IN the effect that the matter was o.
such great Importance that he had beer
Obliged to refer it to the Madrid govern
nnpDt ana IDaG uG NOuAO SS"O '-S ~
answer as soon as he could receive instruc
tions from Madrid.
It was late in the afternoon, and Gen
eral shafter gave orders to all the troops
n get as much rest as possible and be pre-
nared to resume the attack any moment
No other answer had been received iron
General Toral up to 6 o'clock this evening
During the time the negotiations wer.
pending, Major General Miles arrived Oh
Aguadores, ,on board the Yale from Cnafles
tom Admiral Sampson went on Doar'
tbs Yale and held conference with zen
eral Miles; then the latter went 10 DIDO
nev. landed for short while anu nelu
telephone communication with Genera
sbafter, seven miles away. General Ane
will 90 to the front tomorrow Iuesday
morning.