The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-11
Said He d Fight 10 Last Ditch
II They We're Rejected.
ARMY NOT TO GIVE UP ARMS
Demanded That His Men Retreat
With Flags Flying.

Extension of the Armistice Untlr
Noon Yesterday the Only Outcome
of the SpnnIard's Ofer-Americnn
Officers Believed TOraI's OlHer Was
FOrerunner of CRpituIntiOns
Health OF the American Troops
Excellent With the Exception OF q
Few Cases of MaIarinI Fever.
Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press
on Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Wanda, off Juragua, Saturday, July
Q, p M. via Port Antonio. Jamaica, Sun-
day, July TO- 9:10. and Kingston, 10.40 A. m.
The surrender Of Santiago was formally
offered by the Spanish commander. Cen
Toral today, but the conditions att
tached caused a prompt refusal of the
offer by Gen. Shafter.
The negotiations however, resulted in
the extension of the armistice until noon
Sunday, and white flags of truce still float
over the opposing armies
Gen. Torals proposal contemplated the
immediate surrender of the city, but be
insisted that his army be permitted to
march away under arms and with flying
colors, and declared that he would 1ght
to the last ditch unless the conditions we're
accepted.
Gen. shafter replied that nothing but
unconditional surrender would be consid-
cred by him, but he consented to cable tho
Spanish offer to Washington, in the mean
time extending the armistice.
1t was shortly before noon to-day when
little group OF Spanish officers, under q
flag Of truce, came out from under the
yellow wall of the besleged city and
slowly made It's way toward the American
line
A detail was sent to meet them and they
were escorted to comfortable quarterss
while the letter from Gen. Toral was car
ried to Gen. Skaters tent, two miles from
the front. The letter was couched In the
iclly courteous terms characteristic
Of such communications, and was as brief
as possible. 1t bore the signature of Gen.
Torral, who commands at Santiago since
Gen. Lnares was wounded, and stated that
he was prepared TO surrender the city.
provided his army would be permitted to
capltulate with honor"
This he explained, meant that the Span
ish forces should be unmolested and go In
any direction they wished with arms and
flying their colors.
The letter concluded with the bold state-
merit that surrender under any other terms
was an lmpossiblllty and would not be con-
sidered.
Gen. Shafter Immediately cabled the
facts to Washington and sent to Gen. Tor
raj a refusal of his proposal, but added
that he would communicate with his gov
ernment and would extend the informal
armistlce until Sunday at noon.
1t is deemed probable that the truce may
extend even beyond the time designated.
as the offer OF Gen. Toral to surrender ON
any terms is regarded as an indication that
the Spanish commander has decided upon
surrender upon the best terms obtaina-
Bile.
The general condition of the health OF
the American troops is excellent, but the
water supply is poor and a number of cases
OF malarial fever have developed. No
deaths have resulted. however and in
nearly all the instances the fever has been
broken up by a liberal use of quinine
The hardships Of the campaign and the
fears of possible attacks of fever have rid
the army In the field and on the coast OF
non-combatants with the exception or
few newspaper correspondents, who have
been on the ground since the American
warships appeared off Santiago, and who
constitute the only force able to report
the progress Of the war with the assistance
of the dispatch boat service.
The second feet of transports arrived on
Juragua this morning bearing $500 troops,
including a large detachment of artillery.
If the peace negotiations fail these heavy
guns viii be a valuable addition to the
artillery now in the fed. and it Is ex-
pecied that they viii be rushed forward 70
the front The new troops win be landed
tomorrow and pushed forward as rapidly
as possible.
The days Of temporary peace are being
utilized by both armies in strengthening
their defenses. The artillery now at the
front has been placed in position behind
earthworks, and will be able to cover the
advance OF the troops much more effec-
lively than during the previous engage
ment
The feeling Is strong among officers and
men that Santiago viii surrender without
further hghing. The wounded in the hos
pitals are being well cared for, and in
almost every instance are recovering rap
fdi-