The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-14
An Attack That It Is Thought the
Spaniards Can't Resist. r
MILES LOOKS 1T OVER
The Roads Are In a Frightful Con-
dition-Fierce, Tropical Thunderstorms
Are Frequent, the Rife Pits and
Trenches Are Flooded and It's Almost
Impossible to Find Enough Dry Spots
to Sleep On.

OF Juragua, July Il. via Kingston.
Jamaica, July 13.-All the negotiations
for a peaceful surrender of Santiago
de Cuba ended in utter failure to-day
and the city must fall by the sword.
General Toral. the Spanish commander.
has finally refused 10 accept Skaters
proposition for an unconditional sur
render. and the American army now
only awaits the word of its general to
begin. General Skaters second and
last proposal to surrender was sent
into Santiago at noon yesterday. II
went in the form of a terse note. in
which the general pointed out the hope
lessness of the Spanish position. sur
rounded by the American troops and
cut off from reinforcements and with
out means to combat our feet. which
can hurl shells by the hundreds into
the heart of the city. Unconditional
surrender II was declared, was the only
terms to be considered, and only
prompt acceptance OF these terms could
save the Spanish forces and innocent
citizens from awful slaughter.
Skaters communication until shortly
after o'clock this morning. when a
reply came under a flag of truce. Cen
eral Toral was as brief as his foe, say
ing I'm effect that II the Americans
wanted Santiago they would have to
come and get it, He declared that un-
conditional surrender of the city would
be beyond reason and possibility and
expressed himself as ready to meet an
attack at any time the invading army
saw fit to make one.
General Shafter accepted the answer
as final. and although no firing was or
dered. he imediately began prepara-
tions for the coming struggle. The late
arrivals OF volunteers were moved up
from Juragua and the LIST Illinois. the
sth Ohio and the list District of Column
bia were located in the trenches vacat-
ed by Lawton's men. Hines battery
was swung around to the north. closely
connecting with Lawton's force. and
now occupies a bluff from which IL can
fire directly into the heart OF the city.
General -.awton anticipates little diff
Guilty in driving the Spanish from their
position.
Under the present plans the Ameri-
can army and navy will begin the at
tack at the same time. The fleet will
hurl shells into the city. while the
great forces of American soldiery will
gradually tighten about the Spanish
positions. the divisions advancing from
all along the line as the semi-circle
narrows. The batteries in the rear will
maintain a heavy fire.
The American officers feel confident
the city cannot Withstand this terrible
assault but a short time.
General Miles went to the front to-
day and will probably remain there for
some time. Before he went there early
this morning he telephoned to General
Shafter. The latter advised him not
to start out until later. as the roads
were in a frightful condition from the
rains and badly blocked by supply
trains. The general waited until noon
and then set out accompanied by
Troop A of the I'd cavalry. the only
mounted troop OF General Skaters
army.
worst of the campaign so far as the
work is concerned. Fierce tropical
thunder storms have been frequent
with an almost continuous downpour of
rain. The rife pits and trenches at the
front have been flooded and last night
few men in the besieging army were
able To sleep, owing to the amount OF
water on the ground.
The trail to the front Is In a fright
full shape. The streams and the fords
are swollen and the soft soil is cut into
almost impossible shapes by the wheels
OF the supply wagons. one OF General
Randolph's light batteries occupied a
whole day In getting TO the front. The
rain is coming down in torrents to-
night. and a thunder storm is raging
along the coast. Rear Admiral Samp-
son and General Miles were frequently
in communication during the after
noon.
General Miles went on board the New
York at about 3 o'clock and an ex-
change of notes between the two COM
manders occurred later. The nature of
their conference could not be ascer-
tanned. but IL Is supposed 10 have re-
lated 20 concerted attack upon San
tiago.
General Wheeler raised the following
| officers in his cavalry division for gall
lantry in action: Brigadier General
| Carroll. Colonel Sumner. Captain Wes-
! sells, Major Lesbord, Major Wint, Cap