The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-15

when the Spanish colors gave place
over Santiago to the American flag.
Next will follow the transportation of
the Spanish troops back to their native
land and the capture of the island of
Porto Rico, unless peace soon inter-
venes.
The siege of Santiago had lasted two
weeks and was remarkable in many
respects. and in none more than the
heavy percentage of loss through death,
wounds or sickness, OF the soldiers and
sailors engaged on both sides. Look
ing back over the record of these two
weeks. IL Is seen that a great ironclad
squadron has been destroyed: that
nearly a thousand Spanish sailors have
flame, and that an untold number of
Spanish soldiers have died in the
trenches of Santiago. On the other
hand, about $50 American soldiers have
been killed. and in round numbers 1000
more have been sent to the hospitals
from wounds, fevers and other all
ments. Our fleet had a remarkable
exemption from disaster in the many
engagements IL had with the forts at
the entrance of the harbor and with the
Spanish squadron.
Next is Porto Rico" said Secretary
tiago's formal surrender. ''and then, IL
need be. Havana"
The secretary was i'm excellent spirits,
and he was more anxious than he dared
10 show as to the condition of our sick
soldiers. and looked with apprehension
upon the possibility of n prolongation
of the struggle in the unhealthy valley
of Santiago. The secretary said the
Porto Rican expedition would go for
ward Immediately. II will comprise
new men entirely. The warriors in the
trenches before Santiago have distin-
guished themselves and II is not
deemed prudent to bring them in un-
necessary contact with new troops in
view of the danger of spreading con-
tagion.
The sick soldiers will be nursed back
to health and brought to the United
States as soon as they can be safely
removed. Immune regiments will be
expected to go TO Santiago to garrison
the town and, as stated in these dis
patches yesterday. two of these regi-
ments are already under orders to pro-
ceed.
The Porto Rican expedition will be
commanded by General Miles in person.
though General Brooke, now i'm COM
mand at Camp Thomas, Is expected 10
be his main dependence. The size Of the
expedition will depend upon General
Miles wishes, although II Is believed
that $4,000 men will be sufficient for the
purpose. At San Juan the navy will
be of greater assistance than II was at
Santiago. owing to the possibility of ap-
preaching the town more closely with
out risking contact with mines. Cen
eral Brooke is now on his way to Wash
ington, by direction of Secretary Alger.
so that he VIII be in position TO make
his views direct to the department. The
experience gained In dispatching Shaf-
ter's expedition. II is expected will aid
the officials in their determination 10
make short work of the Porto Rican
affair.
There will be plenty of transports
available for the expedition. as the gov
ernment has devised other means of re-
moving the Spaniards captured at San
tiago to Spain than by carrying them
on those transports. That the navy is
ready to do its share at short notice goes
without saying. Porto Rico Is not ex-
pected to offer a very formidable resist
ance. IL is believed that the moral ef-
feet of to-day's surrender at Santiago
will be to discourage the defenders OF
San Juan. There is. however. always
the prospect that peace may ensue be-
fore hostflities have progressed against
SPANS easternmost West Indian island
Rumors were afioat this afternoon TO
the effect that the Spanish government
Ut ndu Uldue ONeTtureS IN tnat d.
rection. but their basis probably was
the current belief that one more reverse
to the Spanish army would be sufficient
to compel the Spanish government to sue
for peace. and that this reverse was fur
nished by the surrender of Torars army.
The navy department has no been
affected by the rumors TO the extent
of relaxing any OF it's precautions or
abandoning any Of its plans. for Secre-
n
that Commodore Watsons eastern
squadron would certainly go to Spain
as soon as IL could sail
The territory surrendered to us by
General Toral makes about $4,000
square miles. The Spanish soldiers 20
be sent to Spain are estimated at To-
900 men.
Major Hopkins. the military aide TO
Secretary Alger. this afternon spread
before him a huge map OF Cuba. show
ing the surrendered zone turned over
to the American troops. The line be-
gins at Acerraderos, about Is miles
west Of Santiago harbor. and then runs
due north about % miles to Palmo
Sorani. Had the line continued due
north IL would have passed west Of
Holguin, thus taking the Spanish gar
rison at that point. Evidently General
Toral wished TO avoid the inclusion Of
Holguin. so the line turns abruptly 20
the northwest OF Palmo and then runs
to the coast town Of Del Casa. The
extreme length OF this surrendered
tract is about 10 miles and the ex-
treme width about so miles. II is a
rugged. mountainous country. with
very few towns Of any size.
Santiago. with its fine harbor. is the
main point. while Guantanamo is Sec
ond in importance. II. ]. Allen or Kan
sas City. who has just come from
Santiago. was with Secretary Alger
during the afternoon and gave him
some interesting details as TO the char
acter Of the country just surrendered
10 our troops. He said the country was
so wild and rocky that II afforded prac-
tically no camping ground for a cOnsid-
cradle number OF troops. and, in his
opinion, there was not a point in this