The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-05
FOREIGN CONSULS
ASKED FOR DELAY
Time Desired that Many nonCombatants Numbering Be-
tween Fifteen and Twenty Thousand, who Wish to
Leave may do so-Ihs Time General Shafer
at Once Granted-.The Bombardment is to
Begin at Noon To-day

Gen. Shafter's strong position was
shown in Il series of dispatches. Most
convincing of all rs to the feeling of
confidence and strength was that dis
patch given out late in the day which
Gen. Shafter gives the text of i'll de-
mand for the surrender of the city on
pain of bombardment. This dispatch is
as follows:
GEN. SHAFTER'S DEMAND.
Playa Del Este, July H. 1898.
Hon. r. \. Alger, Secretary of War,
Washington, ID. G..
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, July
3.-The following is my demand for the
surrender of the city of Santiago:
Headquarters United States forces
near San Juan River, Cuba. July 3.
1888, $50 a. m.-To the Commanding
General of the Spanish forces, Santiago
de Cuba. Sir: | shall be obliged, unless
YOU surrender, to shell Santiago de Cuba.
Please inform the citizens of foreign
countries and all women and children
! that they should leave the city before 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
w. II. SHAFTER,
Major General L. S. Army.
REFUSED TO SURRENDER.
Following is the Spanish reply which
Col. Dorst has just returned at G:30 p.
III.
Santiago de Cuba > p. M, July 3, '9S.
His EXcellency, the General Command
ing forces of United States, San Juan
River
Sir: | have the honor to reply to your
communication of to-day written at $50
Il. m.. and received ut | o'clock demand
ing the surrender of this city: on the CON
trary case, announcing to me that you
will lombard this city. and that | ad-
wise the foreign women and children
that they must leave the city before 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning. 1t is my
duty to say to you that this city will
not surrender; that / will inform the for
eign conSuls and inhabitants of the CON
tents Of your message.
Very respectfully,
JOSE TORAL,
Commander in Chief Fourth Corps.
The British Portuguese. Chinese and
Norwegian conSuls have come to my line
with Col. DorSt. they ask if non-com
batants can occupy the town of Caney
and railroad points and ask until 10
o'clock of the 9th instant before the city
is fired on. They claim that there are
between $4,000 and 10000 people-many
of them old, who will leave. They ask
if can supply them with food. which
cannot do for want of transportation to
Caney which is fifteen miles from my
landing. The following is my reply
SHAFTER DELAYS ACTION.
The Commanding General Spanish
forces, Santiago de Cuba:
Sir: In consideration of the request
of the consuls and officers in your city
for delay in carrying out my intention
to fire on the city, and in the interest
of the poor women and children, who
will suffer very greatly by their hasty
and enforced departure from the city.
| have the honor to announce that / will
delay such action solely in their interest
until noon of the 9TH providing during
the interval your forces make no de-
monstratlon whatever upon those of my
own. Your obedient servant,
w. X. SHAFTER,
Major General u. :. V.
General Shafter's other dispatches
breathe the same air of confidence and
determination as shown In his demand
on the Spanish commander. The first
one made public during the day, stated
that his lines completely surrounded the
town from the bay on the north to San
Juan River on the south, leaving the city
thus enveloped by II stretch of water on
one side and stretch of frOwnng Amer
leans on the other. Another dispatch
from Shafter epitomized the strength Of
his position by saying:
Il feel that | am master of the stua-
ton and can hold the enemy for any
length of time
In another dispatch Gen. Shafter
states that his demand for the
surrender of Santiago is still being con
sidered by the Spanish authorities which
indicates that the refusal of the
Spanish commander to capitulate
was not final. In any event. u
o'clock ON Tuesday marks the limit of
Shafter'S concession and if Santiagm-
has not capitulated at that hour, the
great siege guns now brought to the
front and in position. backed by the bat
tories of lighter field pieces, will begin
their work of destruction.