The times., 1898-09-15


children, who will suffer very greatly by their
hasty and enforced departure from the city,
have the honor 10 announce that Viii delay
such action solely in their interests until noon
Of the 5th provided that during the interim
your forces make demonstration whatever
upon those of my own.
] am, with great respect your obedlent SER
want.
Major General, L. :. Army.
The Commanding General CT the Spanish Forces,
My first message went in under a flag
of truce at 1880 p. m. l was of the opin-
ion that the Spaniards would surrender
il given a little time, and i thought this
result would be FASTENED IL the men of
their army could be made to understand
they would be well treated as prisoners
Of war. Acting upon this presumption,
determined to offer TO return all the
wounded Spanish officers at FL Caney
who were able to bear transportation and
who were willing to give their paroles not
to serve against the forces of the United
States until regularly exchanged. This
offer was made and accepted. These Off
GERS, as well as several of the wounded
Spanish privates, twenty-seven i'll all,
We're sent to their lines under the es-
cort of some of our mounted cavalry
Our troops were received with honors,
and / have every reason TO believe the
return of the Spanish prisoners produced
a good impression On licAi
The cessation of firing about noon on
the Sd practically terminated the battle
of Santiago: all that occurred after TINS
time may properly be treated under the
head of the siege which followed. After
deducting the detachments retained at
Siboney and Daiquiri TO render those de-
pots secure from attack, organizations
held to protect our TANKS, others acting
as escorts and guards to light batteries,
h. Of q
guards left in charge of blanket rolls
which the intense heat caused the men to
cast aside before entering battle, order
lies etc. il is doubtful if we had more
than u 600 men on the firing line on July
l. when the battle was fiercest and when
the important and strong positions of Ell
Caney and San Juan were captured.
Few Cubaps Assisted.
few Cubans assisted in the attack at
FL Caney and fought valiantly, but their
numbers were too small TO materially
change the strength, as indicated above
The enemy confronted US with NUMBERS
about equal TO our own; they fought OBJ
stinately in strong and intrenched posi-
tions, and the results obtained clearly in
dicate the intrepid gallanrry of the com
pany officers and men, and the benefits
derived from the careful training and in
struction given in the company in recent
years in rifle practice and other battle eN-
ercises Our losses in these battles were
% officers and 20S men killed, and 81 ofh-
GERS and 1903 men wounded; missing, az
The missing, with few exceptions, re-
ported later.
The arrival of Gen. Escario on the
night Of July and his entrance into the
city was not anticipated, for, although 1t
was known as previously stated that
Gen. Pando had left ManZanillo with re-
endorsements for the garrison of San
tiaeo. il was not believed his troops could
arrive so soon. Gen. Garcia, with De-
tween four and five thousand Cubans,
was intrusted with the duty OF watching
for and intercepting the re-enforcements
expected This, however, he failed 10 DO
and Escario passed into the city along on
nv extreme right and near the bay Up
10 this time / had been unable TO COM
plete investment of the town with my
own men but TO prevent any more re-
endorsements coming in or the enemy es-
Gaping. 1 extended my lines as rapidly as
possible to the extreme right, and COM
pieted the investment of the place, leav-
ing Gen. Garcia's forces in the rear or
nv right flank to scout the country for
anv approaching Spanish re-enforce-
ments. a duty which his forces were very
competent to perform.
1t had been reported that s,Op Spanish
troops had left Holquin for Santiago IT
was also known that there was a consld-
cradle force az San Luis, twenty miles TO
the north.
In the battle of Santiago the Spanish
navy endeavored 10 shell our troops on
the extreme right, but the latter were
concealed by the inequalities of the
ground. and the shells did little If any
harm. Their naval forces also assisted IN
the trenches. having Loco on shore, and
-s-sr, r,.aIs saaf1 1E1.l
loss: among Others Admiral Cervera
chief of staff was killed. Being con-
WINGED the city would fall, Admiral Ger
vera determined TO put to sea, informing
the French consul it was better to die
fighting than to sink his ships. The news
of the great naval victory which followed
was enthusiastically received by the
army.
The information of our naval victory
was transmitted under flag Of truce TO
the Spanish commander in Santiago on
July 4. and the suggestion again made
that he surrender to save needless ei1u-
sion of blood
On the same date / informed Admiral
Sampson that If he would force his way
into the harbor the city would surrender
without any further sacrifice of life
Commodore Watson replied that Admiral
Sampson was temporarily absent, but
that in his CWatson's) opinion the navy
should not enter the harbor.
In the meanwhile letters passing be-
tween Gen. Toral and myself caused the
cessation of hostilities to continue Each
army. however, continued to strengthen
its intrenchments ] was still of the
opinion the Spaniards would surrender
without much more fighting, and on July
6 called Gen. Torals attention TO the
changed conditions and at his request
gave him time TO consult his home gov
ernment This he did, asking that the
British consul. with the employees of the
cable company, be permitted TO return
from FL Caney to the city. This | grant
ed. The strength of the enemy's position
was such I did not wish to assault If il
could be avoided.
An examination of the enemy's works,
made after the surrender, fully justi-
fies the wisdom of the course adopted.
The intrenchments could only have been
carried with very great loss of life, prob
ably with not less than 5000 killed and
wounded.
on July Gen. Toral offered to march
out of the city with arms and baggage,
provided he would not be moleSted be-
fore reaching Holquin, and to surrender
to the American forces the territory then
occupied by him. / replied that while
would submit his proposition to my home
Government, ] did not think it would be
accepted
In the meanwhile arrangements were
made with Admiral Sampson that when
the army again engaged the enemy the
navy would assist by shelling the city
from ships stationed of Aguadores, drop
ping shell every few minutes.
On July 10 the First Illinois and the
First District of Columbia arrived and
were placed on the line to the right of
the cavalry division. This enabled me TO
push Lawton farther TO the right and TO