Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-16
GENERAL ToRAL.

course of negotiations with General
Toral, had offered to send the Spanish
forces in Santiago back to Spain. A
few days ago it was stated that the
president would insist upon uncondi-
tional surrender, but 1t appears that
conditions had been modified as indi-
Gated by General Miles. This was done
from desire to avoid useless blood
shed, for General Torars army removed
to Spain would be harmless to prevent
our further operations in Cuba and
would serve as good a purpose as would
be the destruction of the Spanish army.
To allow the Spanish general to with
draw to the interior and fall back on
Havana on the other hand, would put
us under the obligation of overcoming
that additional force when 1t comes to
the siege of Havana.
Our government also is moved to
make this proposal to remove the Span
ish forces to Spain through strong de-
sire to close up the operations at San
tiago at the earliest possible moment.
This desire has been materially
strengthened by the appearance OF yell
low fever within the American lines.
II was at first supposed that the men
were falling i'll with malaria and cli-
matte fever, so the cases were reported
as simply suspicious. Now, however,
comes the final admission that they are
genuine yellow fever cases. Their APP
pearance has determined the author
tiles upon a more active prosecution of
the campaign. Orders either have or
soon will go forward to General Shat
ter to discuss no more with the Spanish
commander the terms of surrender, but
to proceed to assault the town with all
the force at his command as soon as
the present truce expires. 1t is expected
by Shafter that the navy will cooper
ate, and while Secretary Long has re-
ceived no direct advices 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 assault
it 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 required
10 perfect the reduction of the city by
steady investment.
The expectation is still entertained
here, however. that this assault win be
unnecessary through Toral surrender
ing before it begins. 1t was perhaps the
spread of this belief. caused by a
knowledge of the more energetic stems
in prospect that tended to remove
largely the feeling of depression mani
Tested at the opening of the day upon
the circulation Of rumors of the an
pearance of yellow fever in the Ameri-
can camps. Regarding the future of
Santiago, nothing has been officially
stated, but it is significant that orders
were issued from the department to
prepare the First and Second regiments
of volunteer immunes for immediate
departure for the front This would
seem to be indicative of purpose on
the part of the government to garrison
Santiago with these fever proof men
after it's capitulation. thus permitting
the removal of the regular troops to
more healthy points.
Turning to the far east 1t was re-
freshing to receive good news again
from Dewey. In fact it is beginning to
be remarked that that officer is usually
able to make felicitous reports The
administration is very much pleased
with the readiness shown by the adj
miral in meeting the grave issue pre-
sented to him at Suhic Bay and just
reported, as he did. Naval officers, too,