The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-02
Gen. ShAFTfR'SLfTTfR
SENDS REPORT OF SANTIAGO
COMMISSION
CAPTURED SOME MODERN GUNS


Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The secretary
Of war has received the following letter
from General Shafter, transmitting the
commissioners report of the surrender OF
Spanish territory at Santiago:
CAMP BEFORE SANTIAGO DE CUBA,
July Is, 1851 take the liberty of sending
to you this morning copy Of the agreement
between the commissioners on my part and
the commissioners on the part of the gov
eminent of Spain for the surrender of
eastern Cuba. The schedule just submitted
Bhows there are little over $4,000 men and
officers-about 5000 more men than have
had myself-and I am very glad to say
that we have got all these men with very
little loss of life compared to what it would
have been had we had occasion to have
fought them. The city of Santiago Is SIM
ply a network of Notifications at every
street corner.
No idea of Its Strength
had no proper conception of its strength
until went into 1t, although l knew those
old stone towns were naturally strong. Ev-
erything is going admirably SO far as the
transfer is concerned and the Spanish
troops are behaving we'll, as they are per-
fectly delighted with the thought of getting
home.
send to you personally the telegram of
General Linares to his government, which
one Of the consuls gave me. 1t shows the
straits to which they were put and the feel
ings that animated them. He stated the
case exactly. 1 did have him so completely
surrounded that ii was impossible for him
to get away, and could wait and he could
not.
send out tomorrow morning to receive
something over 1000 men up in the interior
. short distance, about thirty miles, and in
two or three days will send to Guantanamo
to receive the 1000 that have surrendered
there. They should be shipped from Guam
tanamo bay direct to Spain. There are also
about 800 men each from Baracoa and
Sague de Tanamo on the north coast, who
will come into the port there for shipment
will send an officer aronud with Spanish
officer to take their arms and military sup
plies.
Some Beautiful Guns
We have got great deal more than had
any idea Of getting in the way of munitions
of war. In everything but food they were
well supplied. Have got a few beautiful
modern high power guns-about dozen.
My only fear is that we shall have sick
ness, and it is for that reason that have
wired you so earnestly about getting these
prisoners away so that we can go up to
the mountains with my command, at the
end of the railroad at San Luis. which is
said TO be very healthful 1t is at any rate
about 1900 feet above the sea level and has
communication byi rail- with Santiago.
On far ffar &c n In
pose because there is no one there except
immunes. Three cases only so far this year,
and the English consul tells me there was
very little last year.
Terrible Hardships
OF those who served throughout the civil
war all declare they never had anything
that could compare with it for hardships.
With only one set Of clothes, officers have
been until now rained on nearly every day,
carrying three days rations, like the men,
on their person, and suffering every priva-
tion that any man can. Added to all these
privat1ons, In addition, ali the horrors of
disease In an unknown land and very limited
accommodations should they be wounded.
The spirit shown by them and by the whole
army was simply grand. I can recall no
instance where a greater surrender has
been made than this. The final surrender
of General Toral and his generals to myself
and my generals was highly dramatic, as
was the hoisting Of the flag over the city
OF Santiago, one Of the Oldest cities on this
continent.
/ want to thank you and the president for
the words of cheer that have come to us,
and say that none of us have ever doubted
that every effort possible to make our lives
as secure and our situation as comfortable
Is possible would be done.