The Portland daily press., 1898-07-14

man ding, it is said that he has not dis.
placed General Shafter in direct charge OF
the operations.
The public, in one of these kilograms
from General Miles, was given the first
notice that our government, in the course
of negotiations with Ger eral Toral, had
offered to send the Spanish force in San.
tiago back to Spain. A few days ago it
was stated that the President would in
sist upon unconditional surrender, but it
appears that conditions had been modi-
fed as indicated by General Miles. This
was done from a desire to avoid useless
bloodshed, for General Toral's army re-
moved TO Spain would be harmless to pre-
| vent our further operations in Cuba and
would serve as good a purpose as would
the destruction of the Spanish army. To
allow the Spanish general to withdraw to
the interior and fall back on Havana on
the other hand would put us under the
obligation Of overcoming that additional
force when it comes to the siege Of
Havana.
Our government is also moved to make
this proposal TO remove the Spanish forces
to Spain through strong desire to close
up the operations at Santiago at the
earliest possible moment This desire has
bsen materially strengthened by the ap-
pearance Of yellow fever within the
American lines. 1t was at first opposed
that the men were falling ill with malaria
and climatic fauar ba no
ported as simply suspicious Now, how
ever, 1t is the final admission that they
are genuine yellow fever cases. Their ap-
pearance has determined the authorities
upon more active prosecution Of the
campaign. Orders either have been or
soon will be sent to General Shatter to
discuss no moro with the Spanish COM
mander the terms of surrender, but to
assault the town with all the forces at his
command as soon as the present truce ex-
pires. 1t Is expected by Shafter that the
navy will cooperate and while Secretary
Long has received no direct advlces on
that point from Admiral Sampson he
fully credits this expectation. Reluctant
as the war department is to sacrifice the
many lives that might be lost in an as
sault, 1t is deemed to be better policy to
make it than to allow the men to rot
away with fevers and other diseases
during the long period that would be re
quired to reduce the city by steady in
vestinent. An expectation is still enter
| tanned here, however, that this assault
will he unnecessary through Toral sur.
rendering before it begins. 1t was per-
haps the spread of this belief, caused by G
knowledge of the more energetic steps in
prospect that tended to remove largely
the feeling of depression manifested al
the opening of the day upon the circula-
ton of rumors of disappearance of yellow
fever in the American camps. Regarding
the future of Santiago, nothing has beer
officially stated, but it is significant that
orders were issued from the Departments
| this afternoon to prepare the first anc
second regiments of volun /, or immune.
for immediate departure for the front
This would seem to indioate purpose or
the part Of the government to garrison
Santiago with these fever-proof men afte,
its capitulation, thus permitting the ro
moyal OF the regular troops to NOR,
healthy points.
Turning to the far east. If was refresh
ing to receive today good news again from
Dewey. In fact it is beginning to be re
marked that that officer Is usually able t.
make felicitous reports. The administra