The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-03

life" A supplementary telegram declared
that If the army was to take the place
alone 1900 troops were wanted speedily,
and then II was not certain on account
of the stormy weather, and a surer way
was through the bay.
In reply he was told on July by Gen.
Corbin to confer with Sampson at once
for cooperation in taking Santiago, and
after the fullest exchange of views you
VIII agree upon the time and place of at
tack" In the afternoon of the same day
Gen. Corbin teiegraphed that the Secre-
tary of War found it evident from youE
several reports, that you do not con-
slider your force, strong enough to make
a successful assault upon the Spanish
army entrenched in Santiago. This being
the case, it is the point of wisdom TO
await endorsements the embarkation of
which you have already been advised.
You must be the judge of the time and
manner of assaults. The President has
directed that you and Admiral Sampson
have a conference and determine upon
a course of cooperation best calculated
to secure desired results with least sacri-
fice.'
The next day Shafter was telegraphed:
1.-The Secretary of War is anxious to know
what prospect there is Of breaking through
the mines. He will be very glad, even
with delay, to have Cooperation of the
navy, thus saving many lives" July
Sampson telegraphed that after consulta-
ton with Sampson the navy was disin-
clined to force entrance except as a last
resort would lombard city, for twenty
four hours, and then try to force the en-
trance with small ships. He had made
another demand for Torars surrender, in
which he hoped he would succeed. He
says:
las a last resort I will try running in
transports. l do not consider my force
sufficient to warrant an assault on the
city, though I believe 1t would be sue
cessful, but al fearful loss, of course.
1t would be criminal to hope for the end
to be gained, which is merely the capture
of a few thousand men, and when we
are seen we are getting them by siege
Shafter was telegraphed that it was re-
ported here that his men were without
food. He replied on the 9th that on the
day of the battle the men had piled up
and left their blankets and haversacks
and were not able to get them until the
next night Some of them may have been
hungry, but on the night of the battle
pack trains delivered food along the line,
They were without tobacco for several
days, as it was only by great eXertion that
coffee, sugar, meat and bread could be
gotten OF these the men had full rations
though coffee was lacking for twenty-four
hours.
The next communication is a note from
Gen. Miles at army headquarters at WASH
ington, announcing his intention of leav-
ing Washington the following night Two
days later, AJufy-S, the following dispatch
was sent:
"Adjutant Generals Office, Washington,
July s, 1S9S-Maj. Gen. SKATER Playa del
Este, cuba: Secretary of War directs me
10 inform you that Gen. Miles left here
at 1910 last night for Santiago, but with
instructions not to, in any manner, super
cede you as commander of the forces in
the field near Santiago so long as you are
able for duty.
II. c. Corbn, Adjutant General"
The following dispatches announce the
sailing. of Miles on the Yale, his arrival
at Siboney and the extension of the line
of investment On the Sth Gen. Corbin
asked Shafter If he recommended the ARM
ing of his volunteers with E<rag-Jorgen-
sens. And the reply Immediately as fol-
lows:
Adjutant General. U. S. A, Washington.
"Headuuarters Fifth Army Corps-By
all means arm in field Henrys division
and the volunteer regiments now here with
the Krag-Jorgensen rife. The use of
black powder Instantly brought Yolleys
against regiments using Springfield, and
was very demoralizing to those regiments.
.'Shafter, Mai. Gen. Commanding"
Half a dozen short dispatches following
tread of details of movements of lighters
and the completion Of the lines of invest
ment. On the 8th Shafter reports that
being better he has visited these lines and
regards them as impregnable. Says he.
mo assault will be made of advance from
our present lines until the navy comes
into the bay l hope to be able by fire
from our Entertainments todrive the enemy
inside Of the city" The same day he re-
ports propositions from Toral to march
out of the city to Holguin, but says: This
will give me another day to get up troops
from Siboney, the first transports with re-
Inducements having arrived In my opin-
ion they will hayeHt to surrender uncon-
ditonally very soon after l open fire upon
them" Through Gen. Corbin, the Presi-
dent replied: You viii accept nothing
but an uncondi tioual surrender and should
take extra precautions to prevent the
enemy's escape.
Late that night-July 9-these import
ant kilograms were exchanged:
Received Washington, July g. 1898, p.
m. Hon. Secretary OF War, Washington:
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, near
Santiago: / forward Cen ToraPs propos-
tion to evacuate the town this morning
without consulting anyone. Since then 1
have seen the general officers command
ing divisions, who agree with me that 1t
should be accepted. First, it releases at
once the harbor Second, il permits the
return of thousands of women, children
and old men. who have left the town Gear
ing bombardment and who are
now suffering where they are, though |
am doing my best to supply them with
food. Third, it saves the great destruction
Of property which a bombardment would
entail. most of which belongs to Cubans
and foreign residents. Fourth, it al once
relieves the command, While it is in good
health. for operations elsewhere. There
are now three cases of yellow fever at
siboney in Michigan regiment, and if IL
gets started no one knows where it will
stop. We VIII lose by this simply some
prisoners we do not want and the arms
rhey carry. I believe many Of them will
desert and return to our lines l was tod
by sentinel who deserted last night that
200 men wanted to come, but were afraid
our men would fire upon them.
w r gha ffqr General