Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-15
THE SURRENDERED TERRITORY.
II Comprises About 5000 square Miles
OF Wild. Rocky. Worthless
Country.

WASHINGTON, July I4-The territory
surrendered to us by General Toral makes
about $500 square miles. The number of
Spanish soldiers to be sent TO Spain is es-
timated at lO.ooo men.
Major Hopkins. the military aide 10 Sec
retary Alger. this afternoon had spread be-
fore him a huge map OF Cuba. showing the
Surrendered zone turned over to the Amer
lean troops. The line begins at Assera-
dores, about fifteen miles west OF Santiago
harbor, and then runs due north about
twenty-five miles to Palmo Soriana. Had
the line continued due north. 1t would have
passed west of Holguin. thus taking the
Spanish garrison at that point. Evidently.
General Toral wished to avoid the inclusion
of Holguin. so the line turns abruptly TO
the northeast of Palmo and runs to the
The extreme length of this surrendered
tract is about l1e miles and the extreme
width, making in all about 5000 square
miles. II is rugged. mountainous coun-
tiago, with its fine harbor, is the main
point. while. Guantanamo is second in i'm
portance.
Mr.. II. J. Allen. of Ottawa. Kas.. corre-
spondent of The Kansas City Journal. who
had just come from Santiago. was with
Secretary AIger during the afternoon and
gave him some interesting details as to the
character of the country now surrendered
to our troops. He said the country was so
wild and rocky that it afforded practically
no camping ground for a considerable
number of troops. and in his opinion there
was not a point in this sweep of country
suitable as a base of operations for an
army. Except the Spanish force at Santi-
age, numbering about 1o.0o0 men. Mr. Allen
says. there are no Spanish troops within
the surrendered zone. as it has been over
run by Garcia's forces. The Spanish gar
rlscns are at Manzanillo and Holguin, to
the west of the surrendered zone. Mr. AL
len says these Spanish garrisons do not
exceed 5000 men. This. he says. is General
Garcia's estimate. Mr.. Allen left Santiago
only last Saturday. At that time he says
there were two suspicious cases thought
to be yellow fever in the hospital at Sib-
oney.
The navy department had not heard up
to the close of Office hours to what extent
the American fleet was participating in the
Spanish surrender With Santiago in our
hands. the way will be clear for Admiral
Simpsons feet to enter the harbor and
proceed up to the wharves. as soon as the
torpedoes and mines at the harbor entrance
are removed The fortifcations of Moro
castle. Socapa, Cayo Smith and others are
included in the surrendered zone. The pos
session of these fine fortresses, particular
ly Morro castle, will afford valuable garri-
son points for a large number of men,
While the feet will soon be free to move
up to Santiago city, some doubt is enter
tained in naval circles whether any good
could be accomplished by such a move.
as il might subject some of our sailors to
the contagion existing within the city.
Great attention will now be given to the
care of our sick and fever stricken SOL
diers on the island. In the opinion of the
army surgeons, the sick can be best treat
ed by removal 10 the high ground back of
the southern coast. where the heat is less
severe. and where recovery could proceed
without the fear of communicating disease
10 the rest of the army. Secretary Alger is
anxious to bring the entire army back as
soon as it can be done with safety to the
men themselves and without jeopardy to
the other troops in Florida and to the gen.
eral public. The active preparations made
TO deal with the emergency are such that
IL is felt the question of disease can be
coped with successfully. Now that the mill
tary situation has been simplifed in the
matter of transports the department is full
ly prepared for the next move.
LONDON PRESS COMMENT.