The record-union., 1898-07-13
EXPECTING
SANT|ACO'S
SURRENDER.
Fear That Spaniards May
Have Evacuated 1t,
And Slipped Away, Leaving
Only a Rear Guard.
Shafter May Be Allowing 1oral to
Talk With Madrid.
Opinion That He breads to Meet the
Abuse That Greeted Ger
vera After His
Defeat.
Shatter May Be Allowing Tora| to
Talk With Madrid.

WASHINGTON, July 1Z.-Ine eXpec-
tation was general to-day that Santiago
would be ours very soon. The main
source of apprehension to-day was that
the Spaniards may have succeeded, to
considerable degree, in eyacuating the
town before the American lines were
completed SO that when the Americans
entered the city it would be found
empty, with perhaps nothing more than
a small rear guard of Spaniards left to
protect and conceal the retreat Of the
main body Of troops. There were sew
eral indications of some such move
ment, which is supposed to have been
in progress for the past three or four
days.
General Miles, who arrived at Sibo-
ney on the Yale yesterday, made the
following report to Secretary Alger to-
day:
Arrived at noon. Had consultation
with Admiral Sampson and with Cen
eral Shafter by telephone. Troops
brought from Tampa, Charleston and
pNew York arrived and leaving for the
front Line of investment being ex-
tended MILES.
General Miles has not taken and viii
not take charge of the operations now
being conducted against Santiago. He
is simply in the capacity of the Com
manding General of the army TO look
over the field and ascertain whether
the operations are going along as they
should But with his appearance comes
very substantial assistance for Cen
eral Shafter. With him on the Yale
were about 1000 men and considerable
artillery, While the Columbia, which
formed part of his expedition, is ex-
pected to reach there at any moment
with the remainder of the troops. Prep
arations for the dispatch of Commodore
Watsons Eastern squadron are being
rushed. Every ship in Watson's squad
ron has been provided with the very
latest charts of the coast of Spain and
the Mediterranean and of courses which
will take them clear to the Philippines.
In addition TO this the officers assigned
to the vessels of this squadron, but not
yet aboard, have received orders from
the department to go to their ships at
once Notice of the departure of some
Of the vessels, therefore, may be looked
for at any mment.
Admiral Sampson has cabled' to the
department that he believes the wreck
ing plant nich is now on its way down
to Santiago to endeavor to save some
of the Spanish ships, is sufficient for
the purpose 50 far as the question of
mere capacity is concerned. The naval
officers are particularly desirous that
the Cristobal Colon shall be saved and
placed on the American list under the
angliciZed name of Christopher Colum-
bus.
The impression prevailed in official
circles when public business closed for
the day that the flag Of truce set in the
Spanish lines at Santiago at O'Clock
yesterday afternoon was still flying and
that negotiations continued looking to
a surrender. The basis for these ne
gotiations naturally could not be very
broad. in view of the injunction the
President laid upon General Shafter to
accept nothing less than unconditional
surrender. but it is supposed that time
NAV be consumed through the indul-
gence of General Shafter in allowing
the Spanish commander to commune
cate by cable with Captain General
Blanco in the effort TO obtain 1ts as
sent in the surrender.
General Toral undoubtedly has before
his eyes the vindictive abuse heaped
upon the unfortunate naval command
er. Cervera for surrendering at all, SO
that he probably will be bound by the
direction of Blanco in his own case. 1t
is not generally known that in response
10 the manly and pathetic report by
cable 10 Blanco announcing the loss OF
his squadron Cervera received most
harsh and unsympathetic reply, but
such is the case. Blancos purpose in
this may have been to dissuade other
Spanish commanders, military and ma
val. from surrendering under any con-
ditions, and in the case OF Toral 1t ap-
pears that he has adopted a strong
impression
Nevertheless, confidence waXed in the
speedy fall of Santiago. though many
officers fear the nest will be found emp
ty and the birds flown when the Amer
lean troops make their entry into the
town. Still. should this be the case
it may be fairly claimed that the prime
object of the movement on Santiago
namely. the destruction of the Spanish
squadron, has been achieved, and the