The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-03


children and old men, who have Ieft
the town. tearing bombardment and who are
now suffering where they are though I am do
Ing my best 70 supply them with food; third, Il
saves the great destruction or property which
boinhardment would entail most Of which be-
longs to Cubans and foreign residents: fourth. it
at once relieves the command while il is in good
health, Tor operations elsewhere There are now
three cases Of yellow fever at Siboney in Michk
gan regiment. and If Il gets started no one knows
some prisoners we do not want and the arms they
carry. I believe many Of them will desert and
return 70 our lines. was told by sentinel who
deserted last night that two hundred men wanted
70 come. but were afraid our men would fire upon
them W. r. SIIAFTER. General"
DIsAPPRovED AT WASHINGTON
Washington. July .. II p. m.
major General Shafter. Playa del Este. Cuba:
In reply TO your telegram recommending terms
of evacuation proposed by the Spanish
mander, after careful consideration by the Presi-
dent and secretary of war. 1 am directed to say
that you have repeatedly been advised that you
would not be expected to make an assault upon
the enemy at Santiago until you prepared to
do the work thoroughly. When you are ready
this viii be done. Your telegram Of this
ing said your position was impregnabIe and that
you believed the enemy would yet surrender un-
conditionaly. You have also assured us that
you could force their surrender by cutting off the
supplies. Under these circumstances your mes
sage recommending that Spanish troops be per-
mitted to evacuate and proceed without molesta-
ton TO Holguin is great surprise and is not
approved. The responsibility of destruction and
distress to inhabitants rests entirely with the
Spanish commander. The secretary of
ders that when you are strong enough to destroy
the enemy and take Santiago that you do it. IL
you have not force enough, it will be dispatched
to you at the earliest moment practicable. Re-
Inducements are on the way of which you have
already been advised. In the meantime nothing
is lost by holding the position you have and
which you regard as impregnabe. AckncsEiedGs
receipt.
by order of the secretary of war.
H. G. CORBIN, Adjutant General"
Received at Washington July 10. 2:5o p. M
"Adjutant General Washington:
Headquarters Near Santiago, Cuba, July To-
troops received. My position IS impregnabls
against any attack the enemy may bring against
me but | have not vet enough troops to entirely
surround the town. The Cuban forces are not to
be depended upon for severe fighting. Instructions
o. at the war Deparens E Will ee carried ia OUT 70 the
on the 10th shafter telegraphs that his
offer having been declined. he should be-
gin to lombard Santiago at 4 o'clock that
day, but the secretary authorized him to
surrendered Internationally good deal of tee-
graphic correspondence occurs at this point to and
from from touching the terms OF surrender but the
lished. In the midst of them is one from General
Miles. Miles from the camp near santiago July IL In
generals that discretion be granted as to terms
of surrender. He referred to the Spanish offer to
surrender Santiago province, force, batteries.
munitions Of war etc, all except the men and
small arms General Miles says that, under or
dinary circumstances, he would not advise
ceptance, but to avoid the assault, and in view
of the fact that there one hundred cases OF
yellow fever in the command, he concurs with
Shafter. The response came as follows:
washington, July -.
'Major General Miles, Camp Near Santiago.
Playa del Este Cuba:
'"Ycu may accept surrender by granting parole
side arms; the officers and men, after parole, to be
permitted to return to Spain the United States
in your Judgment an assault would fail Consult
with Sampson, and pursue such course as to the
assault as you Jointly agree upon. Matters should
now be settled promptly.
!. '%R. A. AlLGER, Secretary Of War
(See dispatch to General Shafter July 10)
ALGER WANTS NAVY TO ACT.
Only July 1S Secretary Alger wrote to the Sec
retary of the navy requesting that he order the
fleet off Santiago to at once force its way into
the bay If possible. The reasons set out that
the heavy rains have made the roads nearly im-
passable for supplies for the troops, have filled
the trenches and endangered the lives of the men
from yellow fever; also, the enemy's works were
Of such character to involve terrible sacri-
fee of life were an attempt made to assault them.
Secretary Long responded in d, mere acknowledge
ment of receipt of the communication
More correspondence by telegraph relative to the
surrender is injected at this point by the secre-
tary including General Mess announcement OF
the surrender on July IA, with the understanding
Spain, and announcing his arrangements for the
disposition OF the sick soldiers The secretary
next telegram was addressed TO General Smarter
ceved the absolute surrender of the enemy? We
are waiting the conditions with impatienee.
Shafters response was that Miles regarded the
surrender as absolute, and the matter would be
settled by commissioners that day, the 18th.
There was teIegraphic exchange regarding the
Spanish arms. The secretary said no proposition
could be entertained 70 permit them to carry on
their arms, and Shafter replied that the arms
were surrendered subject to our disposition lie
regarded 1t as a small matter but one which "he
would not let stand between clearing 10000 Span
ish soldiers out of Cuba or leaving them there to
be captured later and probably with much loss
to ourselves"
A long dispatch from General Miles, dated
Playa del Este, q, tells what general directions
were given to Shafter to be executed under his
orders and supervision In order to avoid con-
hict of authority or misunderstanding. 1t is In
this message, which he also published In his re-
port that he suggested taking the troops to the
highlands in the rear of Santiago. and II that
failed to break the disease, then to send them TO
the New England coast.
After the fail of Santiago the secretary says the
Spaniards evacuated Manzanino on the 10th or
October. The sanitary condition of all three
cities he says is simply terrible, and great
amount Of work and money will be necessary to
make them habitable STILL cooler weather ap-
preaching and under the energetic supervision OF
General Wood 1t is hoped that his department
will be in good condition before the beginning OF
avf hot gaa