Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-08
Cen. NILES SPEAKS.
CONTINUED from page ~

of July. Gen. Shar.er autographed that his
losses had been greatly under-estimated:
that he had met with stronger resistance
than he had anticipated. and that he was
seriously considering the advlsability of
falling back to a positlon five miles to
tho rear, and that he had been unable to
be up during the heat for four days.
..Under such circumstances. Gen. Miles
telegraphed Gen. Shafter that he wOull
be with him w!tflin week. with a strong
OF course taking the troops
expected for the second expedition. which
had been ordered by the President to OPP
crate against the enemy In Cuba as well
as in Porto Rico. These reinforcemeEts
were rapidly pushed forward and some
of them arrived in advance Of the COM
harding general nnd were put in position
In the trenches around Santiago.
"Under yerba. instructions OF the Pres
ident. Gen. Mites was directed TO go
wherever Gle deemed his presence was re-
duired, and that he should give such d.
rections as in his opinion were best for
the army and for the government.
..These were the circumstances under
which Ger Miles left Washington, ar
irving at Santiago, July II. not as a pri-
vate Individual nor as visitor Any pre-
tence that he went there disrobed OF his
authority or official capacity Is too child
ish 10 be considered by sensible men.
From the moment he arrived at Santiago
he was responsible for what might occur.
"He designed TO disem5ark the troops
and artillery named on the west side OF
Santiago. as was understood before leav-
Ing Washington, and before he went
ashore he made the necessary arrange
ments accordingly.
"He then proceeded to the front and
after consulting with Gen. Shafter. a note
was sent to the Spanish commander BY
Gen. Shafter. saying that the command
ing general of the United States army
had arrived in his camp with strong rein
forcements and would meet him between
the zines at any hour agreeable Go him.
THE reply of the Spanish commander
was that he would meet him al II O'Clock
the next morning.
THE meeting was held and after soma
conversation between Gen. Shafter and
Gen. Toral, Gen. Miles frankly informed
the Spanish general that he had left
Washington six days before and that Il
was then the determinations of the gov
eminent that his portion of the Spanish
army must be captured or destroyed.
''He also informed the Spanish genera;
that his reinforcements had already ar
rived with him, that some of these forces
lad already disembarked and that the re-
mainder would be disembarked on the
west side of the harbor. and that it was
useless for him 10 contend against the
inevitable. These transports could also
be plainly seer by the Spanish from
Moro Castle and other points.
General Toral replied THAI so long as
he had rations ard ammunition he had to
fight in order to maintain the honor OF
the Spanish army.
In response to that he had already
maintained the honor of the Spanish
army. and that further efforts would
be useless and would result in the
wanton sacrifice Of human life.
He then said that he was waiting
to hear from his government and was
informed by Gen. Miles that he had
already taken much time for that pur-
pose and would be given until day.
light of the following morning, it being
swer.
He begged for longer time and
earnestly requested until II O'Clock.
next day. This was finally granted
by Gen. Miles, the meeting dissolved
and the officers separated.
On returning from this conference,
a dispatch was received by Gen. Miles
from Washington, as follows:
Washington, July 13, 1898.
Major General Miles:
You may accept surrender by
granting parole to officers and men,
the officers retaining their side arms,
the officers and men after parole to De
permitted to return to Spain, the
United States assisting. If not accept
ed, then assault, until in your judg-
ment an assault would fail. Consult
with Sampson and pursue such course
as to the assault as you jointly agree
upon. Matters should be settled
promptly.
(Signed) r. a. ALGER.
Secretary of Wer.
This does not look as if Gen. Miles
was there as visitor. He was chary-
ed with the responsibility of ordering
an assault upon the entertainments
and Notifications of an army, which.
if successful, would have cost at least
5000 men. or Of Withholding the assault
if, in his Judgment, such assault would
fail
No greater discretion was ever
given to any general commanding an
army and what is more, as will be OBJ
served. he was authorized to accept
the surrender. which in the interest of
his subordinates he generously declin-
ed to do. and went away leaving all
the honor to his next in rank. Gen.
Shafter.
On the morning succeeding the first
interview, letter was received from
Gen. Toral, of which the following g
a literal translation:
Santiago De Cuba, July a. 1898.
General in Chief of the American
Forces:
Honored Sir: His Excellencv tho
seneral-in-chief of the army of the Is.
land Of Cuba. telegraphs from Havana
Yesterday at p. NJ. the following:
believing the business of such import.
ahce as the equalization of that place
TO be known and decided ,,o.,, -, =,