The times., 1898-07-16

siboney. July 15.-santiago has fallen
and the movement against Porto Rico
viii probably soon be' under way.
The conference which led TO the sur
render took place beneath a cottonwood
tree. a quarter OF a mile in advance OF
our lines. The American representatives
were Gems. Miles and Shafter. Col Maus
and capt McKittrick The Spanish rep
resentatives were Gen. Toral. Col. Veias-
Quez. Mr.. Mason. the British vice consul
at Santiago. and Senor Mendoza, who
acted as Interpreter. Gen. Miles wore
q plain blue uniform that was in striking
contrast TO the linen uniforms Of the 9TH
er American officers. Gen. Toral and Col.
Eelasquez glittered in gold lace.
Gen Toral admitted at once that the
Spanish situation was hopeless. He, how
ever. attempted TO impose conditions. but
Gen Miles peremptOrily told him that his
surrender must be unconditional After
some discussion. however, Gen. Miles, as
a concession to Spanish pride, agreed that
the Spanish officers should be allowed to
retain their side arms.
The arrangement to transport the enc
my's forces to Spain was proposed by
Gen. Miles and was due 70 the Govern
meurs desire 10 avoid the responsibility
and expense Of caring for them. Shipping
them back TO Spain viii, in the end. be
far cheaper to the Government than TO
maintain them here or in the United
States
The concession regarding side arms
was the only one that Gen Miles would
make. despite the fact that he was very
anxious that the siege should end, be
cause Of the sickness among our troops.
After discussing the question in all its
bearings for an hour, Gen. Toral agreed
20 the surrender. The American army
VIII not enter Santiago until the Spanish
troops have evacuated the city.
Gen Miles expressed great satisfaction
at the termination Of the Santiago cam
paign. There never was any doubt that
the Americans could carry the Spanish
dntrenchments by assault. probably in an
hour or two, but the American COM
manders wished to avoid the losses that
would necessarily result from a general
assault
The rapidly increasing sickness among
our troops however, necessitated prompt
action. and II Santiago had not capitu-
lated soon after noon il would have been
won by assault before dark.
Considering all the difficulties of a cam
paign in this country the American Off
GERS and men deserve high praise for the
manner in which they have carried it to
a successful issue. II was less than three
weeks ago that the army landed in Cuba,
and today the strongest Spanish position
in the island, with the exception of
Havana. IS practically in its hands.
The Spanish commander was forced to
and the fact that starvation closely
threatened the city. He was also in
huenced by the destruction Of Cervera' s
squadron.
Prior TO the conference, Gen. Miles look
ed well. but he was undoubtedly worried
by the delays that had occurred
After the meeting he had q long CONVEX
satiOn with Col. Greenleaf He had to
face an even more serious problem than
the taking Of Santiago, the question Of
keeping his 25010 troops free from the
scourge Of yellow fever. Even as he
talked, ambulances bearing stricken men
fled into sight through the brush. en-
route to the hospital, which is away up
on a hillside.
DR.. ". Z. Parker. who is in charge Of
the fever patients. makes the official
statement with the consent of the mill
tary authorities, that a great number of
soldiers are down with malariaI fever and
about 800 are stricken with yellow fever
There have been some deaths from the
latter disease. Every effort is being
made 10 Isolate the fever patients, both
al the front and at Siboney. and the
efforts have been successful
Now that the troops can be moved from
before Santiago there is no need for a
yellow fever scare. The quarantine camp
Is in healthfUl location on a hillside at
Slboney and the sick have the attention
1F nh zfrfur
The Cuban refugees, of whom there
were a thousand about Siboney. will now
be sent back TO Santiago and the army
Will be freed from danger Of c5ntaeion
from that source Hitherto 1t was impos-
s.3le 10 keep the refugees from mingling
with the troops.
Before any considerable number of
troops occupy Santiago the CITY will be
purihed as far as possible and a rigid
quarantine viii be established. The navy
mas now established a quarantine against
the army.
Or Guiteras. the yellow fever expert.
has gone home, having been exhausted by
ms Efforts here. DR.. Parker Of New Or
leans has succeeded him. The rainy
weather is largely responsible for the
spread or the fever The post office at
Sboney having been burned with the
other buildings in the place to prevent
tho spread. Of disease the post Office is
now IN tent, where considerable diff
Guilty is experienced in protecting the
hundreds Of thousands Of letters from the
rain. Special Post once Agent Brewer
has been sent here establish a postal
station
Several Of the newspaper correspond
ents have. been rendered unfit for work
by the exhaustion exposure and malaria.
one of them. Mr. Mamford, is in a erfti-
cal condition
lt is "a noteworthy fact that no Cubans
were present al the surrender conference.
Gen. Pand0 has not entered Santiago
and lle presumably Is not included in
the surrender. unless he may be near
enough to come within the surrender
belt.
Sibaney. July l5-As the New York
Suns dispatch boat was going into Bal
ouir this afternoon from Guantanamo
she was greeted by terrific whistlinc from
the auxiliary cruiser Manning The whist
ding was immediatelE'-taie up 10y other
ships Ia the harbOF consisting Of ;3bot+