The times., 1898-09-15

was anxious to bring the siege TO an
end, but in common with most of the Of
ficers of the army, / did not think an as
sault would be justifiable, especially as
the enemy seemed TO be acting in good
faith in their preliminary propositions to
surrender
On July II wrote Gen. Toral as fol-
lows;
With the largely increased forces which have
come to me and the fact that have your line
of retreat securely in my hands, the time seems
fitting that ] should again demand of your excel
lency the surrender Of Santiago and of your ex-
cellency's army. am authorized 70 state that
should your excellency desire, the Government
of the United States will transport the entire
command Of your excellency to Spain.
Gen. Toral replied that he had commu-
nicated my proposition to his general-ln-
chief, Gen. Blanro-
Interview With Tornl.
July u l Informed the Spanish COM
mander that Maj. Gen. Miles. command
er-in-chief of the American army, had
Just arrived in my camp, and requested
him to grant us a personal interview on
the following day. He replied he would
be pleased TO meet us. The interview
took place on the 18th, and / informed
him his surrender only could be consid-
ered and that as he was without nope
Of escape he had no right to continue the
fight.
on the 14th another interview took
pace. during which Gen. Toral agreed to
surrender upon the basis of his army. the
Fourth Army Corps being returned to
Spain, the capitulation embracing all OF
eastern Cuba east of a line passing from
Asseraderos on the south to Sagua de
Tanamo on the north, via Palma, So
riano. 1t was agreed commissioners
should meet during the afternoon to def
nitely arrange the terms of surrender,
and / appointed Maj. Gems. Wheeler and
Lawton and Lieut.. Miley to represent the
United States.
The Spanish commissioners raised
MANY points and were especially desirous
of retaining their arms The discussion
lasted until late at night and was re-
newed at $3.50 O'clock next morning. The
terms of surrender finally agreed upon
included about 12,000 Spanish troops In
the city ands as many more In the sur
rendered district
IT was arranged the formal surrender
should take place between the lines on
the morning of July IL, each army pc
ing represented by 100 armed men. AT
the time appointed / appeared at the
place agreed upon, with my general Off
~NN~''~
Cavalry. under Capt. Brett. Gen Toral
also arrived with number of his officers
and 100 infantry We met midway be-
tween the representatives of our two ar
mics and the Spanish commander Tor
mally consummated the surrender OF the
CITY and the "a. 600 troops in Santiago and
the surrendered district.
After this ceremony l entered the city
with my staff and escort and at Il
O'Clock noon the American flag was
raised over the governors palace with
appropriate ceremonies.
The Ninth Infantry immediately took
nossession of the city and perfect order
was maintained. The surrender included
a small gunboat and about zoo seamen. To-
gether with merchant ships in the har-
bor. One of these vessels. the Mexico,
had been used as war vessel, anu hau
4 guns mounted on it
In taking charge of the civil government
all officials who were willing TO serve
were retained in office, and the estaphshed
order of government was preserved as Tar
as consistent with the necessities OF milf
tary rule | soon found the number of
officials was excessive. and j greatly re-
duced the lis. and some departments were
entirely abolished. A collector Of Gus
toms. Mr.. Donaldson. arrived soon after
the surrender, and. due to his energy ana
efficiency. this department was soon
working satisfactorily. The total receipts
had. up 10 my departure. been S102, OOO
On August received orders TO begin
the enbarkation OF my command and shir
them to Montauk Point, Long Island, n
Y The movement continued without IN
terruption until August 70, when i sailed
for Montauk with the last troops in my
command. turning over the command oi
L. + nrfn
Before closing my report wish to dwell
unon the natural obstacles / had to en-
counter and which no foresight could
have overcome or obviated. The rocky
and precipitous coast afforded no shell
tered landing places, the roads were mer'
bride paths, the effect of the tropical SUI
and rains upon unacclimated troops wa:
deadly. and a dread of strange and un
known diseases had its effect on the army
At Daiduiri the landing of the troops
and stores was made at small woodei
wharf which the Spaniards tried TO burn
but unsuccessfully. and the animals wer
pushed into the water and guided TO
sandy beach about 200 yards in extent A
Siboney the landing was made on tn
beach and at a small wharf erected b!
the engineers
l had neither the time nor the men Il
spare to construct permanent wharves
In spite of the fact that l had nearly LOO
men continuously at work on the roads
they were at times impossible TO
wagons
The San Juan and Aguadores River
would often suddenly rise so as to preven
the passage of wagons. and then the eigh
pack trains with the command had to b.
depended upon for the victualing of m.
army, as well as the 10000 refugees, VIII
could not in the interests of humanity b.
left to starve while we had rations. Offer
for days nothing could be moved excep
on pack trains.
After the great physical strain and ex
posure of July / and 2, the malarial ant
other fevers began to rapidly advanc,
throughout the command, and on July
the yellow fever appeared at Siboney
Though efforts were made to keep thi
fact from the armyyit soon became known
The supply of quartermaster and com
missary stores during the campaign wa
abundant, and. Notwithstanding the diff
culties in landing and transporting the ra
tion. the troops on the firing line were a
all times supplied with its coarser compo
nents namely, of bread, meat, sugar an
coffee. There was no lack of transporta
ton. for at no time up to the surrende
could all the wagons 1 had be used.
In reference to the sick ana wounded.
have to say that they received every at
tention that it was possible to give them
The medical officers without exception
worked night and day to alleviate the suf
fering. which was no greater than In
variably accompanies a campaign.
would have been better if we had NOR
ambulances, but as many were taken a