The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-07-20
THE WAR WITH SPAIN,
FINAL SURRENDER OF SANTA GO.

City - $4,000 Prisoners of War With
Their Arms-Forts and Their Arma-
ments Surrendered-The Red Cross Ship
the First to Enter the Harbor.
The hsggling and vacillation Of the
Spanish commandant OF Santiago, Gen.
Toral, was brought to an end by the firm
adherence OF President Mckinley and Sec
Rotary Alger to the simple condition Of the
terms Of capitulation that the Spanish army
should be transported to Spain by the gov
eminent Of the United States. The hitch
has been over the insistence OF Gen. Toral
upon the further condition that the troops
should retain their arms. The doubt and
uncertainty that had been hanging over the
situation we're dispelled on Sunday by this
dispatch from Gen. Skater:
PLAYA, July 16.
ITO Adj,ttdnt- General at Washington:
Spanish surrendered Particulars later.
. SKATER"
Later this message was received from
Gen. Shafter:
"CAMP NEAR SANTIAGO, July 16.
ITO Adiutdnt General United States Army;
1.-THE surrender has been definitely set
tied and the arms will be turned over to-
morrow morning and the troops will be
marched out as prisoners of war. The
Spanish colors will be hauled down at nine
O'Clock and the American flag hoisted.
SKATER, Major-G General"
After everything appeared to have been
settled safely to this government, de-
spatch came from General Shafter, saying
in effect that while the enemy agreed to lay
down his arms, it was with the understand
ing that this government should decide
whether they should be returned. The
military authorities did not like any such
stipulation, and they were annoyed over
the statement from General Shsfter in the
same telegram that the American commits
sioners recommended that the Spaniards be
permitted to carry their arms with them to
Spain. This is the despatch:
HEADQUARTERS NEAR SANTIAGO, July 16.
"Adjutant. General, Washington;
"The conditions of capitulation include
all forces and war material in described
territory. The United States agrees, with
as little delay as possible, to transport all
Spanish troops in district to the kingdom of
Spain. The troops as far as possible to
embark as near a garrison as they now &C.
cupy. Officers retain their side arms and
officers and men retain their personal prop
erty. Spanish commander authorized to
take military archives belonging to surren
dered district. All Spanish forces known
as volunteers and guerrillas, who wish to
remain in Cuba, may do 80 under parole
during present war, giving up their arms.
,snL
with honors Of war, depositing their arms
at point mutually agreed upon, to await
'-->sition OF United States government, it
uisp.- ~" United States commits
being understood - the Spanish
sioners will recommend tnav -
soldiers return to Spain with the arms they
80 bravely defended. This leaves the
question of arms entirely in the hands of
the government. I invite attention to the
fact that several thousand surrendered, as
said by General Toral to be about $4,000,
against whom shot has not been fired.
The return to Spain OF the troops in this
district amounts to about $4,000, according
to General Toral.
"W. r. SKATER, Majo General"
The administration had decided, on the
suggestion OF Secretary Alger, to send the
prisoners back to Spain to get rid of the
trouble, expense and sanitary dangers of
taking care of them. The government was
not pleased with the recommendation that
the captives be allowed to retain their
arms, and this condition, or any condition
looking to a possible restoration OF their
arms was promptly overruled by the adj
ministration. When the arms are laid down
that will be the end Of the matter, and the
Spanish forces will know that their request
and the recommendation Of the commits
sioners have been denied when they sail
for Spain without their Mausers.
News of the surrender was received all
along the American lines with wild demon
strations Of Joy and satisfaction. The terms
OF the surrender were the following
The 20 900 refugees at Ell Caney and 81
honey to be sent back to the city.
An American infantry patrol to be posted
on the roads surrounding the city and in
the country between it and the American
cavalry.
Our hospital corps to give attention as
far az possible to the sick and wounded
Spanish soldiers in Santiago.
All the Spanish troops in the province
except 10000 men at Holguin, under COM
mand Of General Luque, to come into the
city and surrender.
The guns and defences Of the city to be
turned over to the Americans in good con-
dition.
The Americans to have full use Of the
Juragus railroad, which belongs to the
Spanish government.
The Spaniards to surrender their arms.
Ali the Spaniards to be conveyed to
Spain on board of American transports
with the least possible delay, and be per-
mitted to take portable church property
with them.
The Spsnisrds also agree to cooperate
with the Americans in destroying the
mines and torpedoes at the entrance to the
harbor and in the bay.
While he is satisfied that the surrender is
genuine, General Shafter will take no
chances. He directed General Garcia after
the signing of the agreement to look out for
any Spanish achievements.