The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-19

the situation by saying: "It cannot
be possible that there will be failure
in completing arrangements" No
question whatever has been raised as
to the surrender itself. Not only has
General Toral agreed to it, but this
agreement has been ratified by Gen
eral Blanco at Havana and by the
Spanish authorities al Madrid.
General Greeley received another
dispatch at o'clock containing the
information that Colonel Allen had
landed the shore end of the signal
corps cable at Playa from the cable
steamer Adria. Colonel Allen was not
allowed to land at Playa on account
of the Adria coming from an infected
district. All were we'll on board, but
no one was allowed ashore. Colonel
Allen returns this evening to Baiquiri
to repair the French cable at that
Point and establish regular cOmmuni
cation between Playa and Santiago de
Cuba SO that the army will be in tele-
fraphic communication with Wash
ington as soon as the city is surrender
ed.
The perpleying problem now to be
solved is how to carry out the pledge
made by General Shafter to remove
the Spanish soldiers, who surrender, to
Spain. 1t would have been no easy
across the Atlantic under the best con-
ditions, but the reports that indicated
the existence of yellow fever among
the Spaniards threatened all kinds of
difficulties. After all, it was decided
to be only a matter of money, and if
the price offered is large enough
steamship lines can doubtless be found
to undertake the transportation. AT
the best, several weeks probably will
be required to remove the Spaniards,
so that it will be necessary to main
tain a considerable proportion Of the
American army in the neighbOrhOod
for some time. Still being under no
care to protect themselves against the
foe, the American troops can be SO
disposed as to make themselves very
comfortable in comparison with what
| they have undergone, and by remOv-
| ing into the hills just in the rear of
| Santiago, it is believed that the dan
| ger of an extension of the yellow fever
| will be reduced so far that it will no
! longer be cause for grave apprehen-
| sion. The surgeons reports describe
| the disease as of a mild type, and it
| is said that this will readily yield to
| change of location into higher and
| cooler ground.
| SECRETARY ALGER'S STATE
MENT
The following statement has been
| issued by Secretary Alger from the
| dispatches he has received from the
| officers at Santiago:
"The commissioners on the part Of
| the United States named by General
| Shafter were Generals Wheelers and
| LaWtOn, and Lieutenant Miley. Their
| discussion lasted until late last night
| and was taken up by them at O'Clock
| this T. orning. This surrender covers
| a great area of the eastern part of Gu
, ba, of course the details may take
| some little time, but they are being
| pushed along as rapidly as possible.
[ CONFERENCE AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.
| After an extended conference with
| the president tonight, at which three
| members of the cabinet were present,
! Secretary Alger said: "The situation
! is just this. The Spaniards at Santi-
ago are prepared to surrender, but
! they want to carry their arms. We
! have determined to grant no such con-
! cession nor any concession except the
! generosity of this government to
| transport them to Spain''
| Secretary Alger was asked if it was
, not the expectation that when it was
/ known that no other terms would be
: granted the surrender would take
| place, and replied that such was the
! sion would me afforded by this gov
| ernment.
1t was nearly l o'clock when the con-
| ference at the White house adjourned
| Beside Secretary Alger there were
| present Secretaries Bliss and Wilson
| and Postmaster General Smith. Ad-
| jutant General Corbin was present the
last part of the conference Secretary
Alger did not say how much time
NC Ould be allowed the enemy to reach
81 conclusion, but it is known that the
administration will make it very short
| and submit to no further parley with
General Torai The next move is sur
| render upon the terms which the Unit
ed states proposes or immediate at
tack upon the Spanish forces by the
army and navy.
Washington, July 16.-The fact that
appeared at last satisfactorily estab-
lished this evening, after another
twenty-four hours active cable corre-
spondence with General Shafter. was
that the :Sjanish army had surrender
ed. About that there could be no
doubt, but unfortunately the details
are still good deal beclouied as set
out in General Skaters last dispatch.
1t is realized here that the terms i'm
posed by the commissioners as to the
removal of the Spanish troops, now
augmented to a form idable total, in
volve grave responsibility for our gov
ernment. Still, the stafr corps of the
war department have riser so we'll to
meet every emergency as it occurred
that there can be no doubt IF their
ability to solve the large question pre-
sented by the necessity of removing
this army across the Atlantic Fortuy
nateiy Secretary A1ger, in anticipatiorI
OF heavy demands upon the depart.