Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-07-21
First Chapter in Land
Campaign Ends
Gloriously.
Spanish Troops to Be
Sent Back Home.
Next is Porto Rico and
then Havana.

10 SSAASSs
Playta del Este, July 14.-Toral,
commanding the Spanish forces at
Santiago, this morning sent a COM
munication to Gen. Shafter, indicat
ing his willingness to accept the terms
Of surrender proposed yesterday and
asking the American commander to
appoint commissioners to meet the
Spanish commissioners to arrange to
send the Spanish troops back to
Spain. This will be promptly done.
The surrender of Toral not only
means the fall of Santiago, but by
the terms Of the surrender the whole
eastern end of the island falls into the
hands Of the United States without
the firing of shot. The surrender
is to include all the Spanish troops at
Santiago, Guantanamo, Caimanera and
Sagua, composing the 4th corps of
the Spanish army. The portion of
Santiago de Cuba that lies east of
line from Sagua, via, Las Palmestos
to Asseradores, is surrendered to the
United States.
Washington, July 15.-The first
chapter in the land campaign of the
United States against Spain closed
Thursday when the Spanish colors
gave place over Santiago to the Amer
lean flag. Next will follow the trans
portation Of the Spanish troops back
to their native land and the capture
Of the island Of Porto Rico, unless
peace soon interyenes. The siege of
Santiago 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 en-
gagged on both sides. Looking back
over the record of these two weeks,
1t is seen that great ironclad squad
ron was destroyed, nearly 1000 Span
ish sailors were drowned or killed by
shell or flame, and an untold number
of Spanish soldiers died in the
trenches Of Santiago. On the other
hand, about $50 American soldiers
were killed IN round numbers and g.
600 more sent to the hospitals from
wounds, feyers and other ailments.
Next is Porto Rico," said secretary
Alger, after receiving the news of
Santiagos formal surrender. And
then, if need be, Havana" The Sec
rotary said that the Porto Rican ex.
petition would go forward immediate
ly. 1t will comprise new men entire
ly. 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 ordered to Santiago to garri-
son the town, two regiments being
already under orders to proceed. The
Porto Rican expedition will be COM
manded by Gen. Miles in person,
though Gen. Brooke, now in command
at Camp Thomas, is expected to be his
main dependence. The size of the ex-
petition will depend upon Gen. Miles
wishes, although it is believed that
$4,000 men will be sufficient. There
will be plenty of transports available
for the expedition as the government
has devised other means OF removing
the Spaniards captured at Santiago
than by carrying them on these trans
ports.
Porto Rico is not expected to Of
fer very formidable resistance. 1t is
believed that the moral effect of
Thursdays surrender of Santiago will
be to discourage the defenders of San
Juan. There is, however, always a
prospect that peace may ensue before
hostilities have progressed against
Porto Rico. Rumors are afioat to the
effect that the Spanish government
has at last made overtures in that di-
rection, but their basis probably was
the current belief that one more re-
verse to Spanish arms would be suf-
ficient to compel the Spanish govern
ment to sue for peace and this reverse
is furnished by the surrender of
Torals army. The territory surren-
dered to the United States by Gen.
Toral makes about 5000 square miles.
The Spanish soldiers to be sent to
Spain are estimated at 10. 900 men.
The navy department had not heard
at the close of Office hours to what
extent the American fleet was partici-
pating in the Spanish surrender With
Santiago in our hands the way will
be clear for Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
to enter the harbor and proceed to the
wharves as soon as the torpedoes and
mines at the harbor entrance are re-
moved. The Notifications of MORO
castle. Zocapa. Cayo Smith and others
are included in the surrendered zone.
The possession of these fine fortresses
will afford valuable garrison points
for large number of men.