The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-02
SHAFTER'S REPORT.
Accompanied by Letter to the Sec
rotary of War.

Washington, Aug. 2.-The secretary
of war has received the following letter
from Gen. Shafter transmitting the
commissioners report of the surrender
of the Spanish army at Santiago:
Camp before Santiago, Cuba, July Is,
1851 take the liberty of sending to
you, this morning, a copy of the agree
ment between the commissioners on my
part and the commissioners on the part
of the government of Spain for surren-
der of eastern Cuba. The schedule just
submitted shows a little over p, 900 men
and Officers-abOut 6 1000 more men than
I have had myself and I am very glad
to say that we have got all these men
with very little loss Of life compared to
what it would have been had we been
forced to fight them. The city of San
tiago is simply a network of fortifica-
lions at every street corner.
I had no proper conception OF its
strength until I went into it, although
I knew those old stone towns were US
uaIly very strong.s The Spanish troops
are behaving and delighted with their
treatment.
Il sent to you personally a telegram
of Gen. Linares to his government
which one of the consuls gave me- II
shows the straits to which they were
nut and the feelings that animated
them He stated the case exactly. did
have him so completely surrounded that
it was impossible for him to get away,
and I could wait and he could not.
I send out tomorrow morning to re-
ceive something over 1000 men up in
the interior a short distance, about 20
miles, and in two or three days Wall
send to Guantanamo to receive the
1000 that have surrendered there Iney
will be shipped from Guantanamo d.
rect to Spain. There will be 800 men
from Baracoa and Sagua de Tanamo,
on the north coast, who will come into
the port there for shipment. Will Sen0
an officer around with a Spanish officer
to take their arms and military sup
plies.
than I had any idea of getting in the
way of munitions of war. Have got a
few beautiful modern high power guns
about a dozen.
my only fear is that we shall have
some sickness, and it is for that reason
that 1 have wired you so earnestly
about getting these prisoners away, 50
that we can get into the mountains with
my command Is or 70 miles at the emu
Of the railroad at San Luis which IS
said to be very healthy. 1t is at any
rate about 800 feet above the sea, ana
has communication by rail with San
tiagO. c,...
I suppose because there is no one there
except immuneS. Three cases only 50
far this year and the English consul
tells me there was very little last year:
Those who served through the civil
war say they have never seen anytn
to compare with it for hardshlps. Inc
shirt shown by the whole army was
SinnlV grand. can I6Cdl4 LlO Alio1eAAAOC
where a greater surrender has been
made than this. The final surrender OF
Gen. Toral and his generals to myseII
ana NV generals was highly dramatic,
as was the hosting of the flag over
the city of Santiago, one of the Oldest
cities on this continent.
II want to thank you and the presi-
don't for the words of cheer that have
come to us and to say that all of US
have redoubled every effort to make our
lives as safe and comfortable as pos
ill y