The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-19

arms Will turn them over TO this gov
ernment. This is final" These were
the secretary's words when asked for
information on the subject. And" he
added, in response to further inquiries
and to clear any doubt that might ex-
ist on the subject. the rifles will not
be returned TO Spain. This decision of
, the president applies alike TO those
Spanish soldiers who have not been
engaged with the United States troops
as we'll as those who have been par
! ucipating in the recent battles"
THE SURRENDER COMPLETE.
p. m-The following message has
just been received and given out by
Adjutant General Corbin:
Camp Near Santiago, July Is.
The surrender has been definitely
settled and the arms will be turned
over tomorrow morning and the troops
| will be marched out as prisoners of
war. The Spanish colorS Will be haul
ed down at o'clock and the American
! flag hoisted. SHAFTER,
Major General"
| McKINLEY'S CONGRATULATION
TO THE ARMY.
The following messages were sent
today by President Mckinley and Sec
retary r. A. A1ger:
/ ITO General Shafter, Commanding:
The president of the United States
sends to you and your brave army the
| profound thanks of the American peo-
| pie for the brilliant achievements at
| Santiago, resulting in the surrender of
| the city and all of the Spanish troops
| under General Toral. Your splendid
command has endured not only the
hardships and sacrifices incident to
| campaign and battle, but in stress Of
j heat and weather has triumphed over
| obstacles which would have overcome
| men less brave and determined. One
! and all have displayed the most con-
| spicuous gallantry and earned the
| gratitude of the nation. The hearts
| of the people turn with tender SYM
! pathy to the sick and the wounded.
| May the Father of Mercies protect and
comfort them.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY"
4, ITO Major General Shafter:
| Il cannot express in words my graf
! itude to you and your heroic men.
! Your work has been well done. God
? bless you all.
/ "R. A. ALGER,
! Secretary of War"
! The following has been received at
! the White house:
| playa del Este, July 16.
''To the President:
| Il thank you and my army thanks
| you for your congratulatOry telegram
! of today. | am proud to say every man
/ in it performed his duty galantly.
| Your message will be read to every
| regiment in the army at noon tOmor-
| row. SHAFTER,
| Major General
A LETTER FROM GENERAL To-
RAJ.
The war department today posted
! the following from General Shafter:
! Playa del Este, July 16.
"The following letter has been re-
/; ceived:
"'To His Excellency Commanding
I, American Forces:
"Excellent Sir: I am now authoriz-
; ed by my government to capitulate. ]
! have the honor to so apprise you and
! requesting that you designate the
hour and place where my representa-
! tiVes shall appear to confer with those
Of your excellency to effect the ar
ticles Of capitulatiOn on the basis OF
! what has been agreed upon to this
date. In due time / wish to manifest
! my desire to know the resolutions OF
| the United States respecting the re-
| turn Of arms SO as to note on the ca
| pitulations.
| ALSO the great courtesy of your
! great graces and return for their greal
! generosity and impulse for the Span
! ish soldiers, and allow them to return
| to the peninsula, with the honors the
| American army do them, the honor tC
J acknowledge as dutifully descended.
| Jose TORAL,
General Commanding, Fourth Army
! COrps''
The remarkable letter of capitulatior
addressed by General Toral to General
Shafter, and cabled to the war de-
| partment this morning, had the initial
of ~1o%o .cx~.-
| clplents. Every reader gave different
| Interpretation to the letter and only
on one point did they at first agree:
| Namely, that the translation was
| wretched This is not the first
time that General Shafter has failed
to convey to the department a clear
! understanding of what he had in mind
| but it was undoubtedly the very worst
| illustration he had yet forwarded.
Thinking it over, in the light of pre-
ceding dispatches, and especially OF
the brief bulletin of the early morning
announcing the surrender of the Span
iards, the officials finally concluded
that this letter written yesterday was
| simply part of the intent of the Span
lsh commander to gain time.
Looking closely at the letter and al
, lowing for the difficulties of transla-
| ton, 1t was believed that even in this
! case the Spanish commander had ad-
! mitted his surrender and thrown him
! self upon the generosity of the Amer
| leans in the matter of details. The
main difficulty in his mind was the
| contention over the arms of the SOL
| diers. If the Spanish soldiers possess
| ed these, even in packing boxes, upon
I their arrival in Spain, they might
! technically claim to have only evacu-
! ated Santiago. On the other hand. re-
! turning without arms, they would have
! surrendered and in General Torars
= mind he would be liable to court-mar-
tial and even to the imposition of the
. death penalty.
However, that was his concern. and
/ the United States government having
decided that the arms must be surren-
. dered, General Shafter was so instruct
ed, and the Spaniards must submit 1t
, is not doubted, in fact, from General
/ Skaters first dispatch, that they had
/ done so. and his letter from Toral is
| regarded. therefore. as nothing more
! than an illustration of one phase OF