The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-23
GEN. GARCIA'S STATEMENT
(continued from First Page,)


 of San Luis. On the night of the third by the road of Fl Cobre, a column of the enemy, 5000 strong, entered the city under Colonel Escario, having left NIanzanillo on the 22d of June, and be- ing harassed by the Manzanillo division up to Raire. From Baire to Palma that column was attacked by forces of General Francisco Estrada, suffering heavy losses, the dead having been left streVn by the road. With that column Lieutenant Colonel Lora fought, aided by the cavalry of the division of Bay alno, and also my escort of cavalry un- der Lieutenant Colonel c. M Poey Col onel Escario recovered somewhat at Palma, where he left his wounded, and from there in zig-zags he arrived in Santiago de Cuba by the Cobre road, having sustained some firing. Perhaps the entry of this main column into the city might have been prevented had I been able to go to meet it with my forces, but in that case I should have been obliged to abandon my position on the right flank of the American army. On the fourth received an official mes sage that the enemy had evacuated the town of Fl Cobre and the forts Bar tolon, Montereal, Coleto and San Miguel. After 12 o'clock firing was sus- pended to allow General Shafter to par ley with the Spanish. As result of this the Spanish governor permitted all the families to leave the city for fear of bombardment by the Americans All the families took refuge in the houses and streets of Cuabitas and Fl Caney.
 On the seventh, General Estrada in- corporated his forces of 700 men with the besieging army. On this day also some American regiments arrived from the United States. My forces continu- ing to gain positions on the right flank reducing the circle around the city. On the ninth, the armistice dlscon- tinuing, the enemy asked permission to evacuate the city and retire to Holguin. General Shafter replied that he would l submit the proposition to his govern- ment. ppointed out to General Shafter | the unwisdom of allowing evacuation | in that form. I had reliable informa- tion from Holguin that a strong force under General Maria, about 6,000 to T. | 900 men, was ready to come to the as- sistance of Santiago de Cuba. In view I of this I conveyed all the roads ap- preaching our rear guard to prevent the enemy realizing their plans, and also | to prevent those who were besieged l from making sortie to Holguin. I re- | inforced all that part of my line at points where they might make the break. At the same time I repeated the order that the forces of Camaguey | whiph in ha st md the txun visions of Holguin should so place 1 themselves as to cut Maria off
 On the 10th advanced my right flank to completely close the circle hnd as at F o'clock the armistice came to an end, l ordered my forces to execute a flank movement that the enemy might think intended to surround their position and trenches of Dos Camines and compel them to give them up. The operation gave good results | The enemy in great haste, abandoned 1 the Villages of Dos Camines and Fl Cobre and all the forts and trenches on this side of Jarago. With this evo- lution the circle was completed, the west of the city being occupied by the forces of the division of Cuba as far as the shores of the bay, including the
 cemetery.
 As the government of the United States did not accept the proposition of the Spaniards to evacuate the city and
 retire to Holguin, General Shafter noti-
 fled General Toral that if the city did not surrender by o'clock he would fire
 upon it. The Spaniards not giving in at 3 o'clock tremendous firing of rifles
 and guns burst against the city from all
 the American line and part of the l Cuban line. At the same time the navy | commenced to Lombard the city from
 the coast up to twilight, when firing
 was suspended.
 On the 11th the firing and bombard-
 ment continued until a. m., at which
 time another armistice was concluded,
 the enemy taking advantage of this to
 make some defenceS and place cannons,
 the Americans to place their batteries.
 just landed, and ourselves to make some trenches and mount two cannon, | twelve-pounders, on a height at the
 side of Dos CamineS to fire on the forti-
 fications between the bull ring and the
 bay. The armistice lasted all of the
 18th and 18th, we having mounted our
 cannon and finished our trenches in the
 cemetery on this side of the city
 On the 14th firing should have com. menced at 12 o'clock, but the enemy asked for prolongation of the armis. , tice, giving as reason that the Span. iards had decided to surrender the city
 and all the villages and towns compris l ed in. the general command of Santiago . de Cuba, occupied to the east of tht r estate of Oriento inside of a line com : mencing at Assedores, passing by Pal
 ma Sorano, and ending at Sagua d,
 Tanamo on the north with the condi : tion that all their forces be sent t, v Spain by the government of the United !. States. The Spanish troops comprised s in this equalization amounted to 23,0O 5 men, as communicated by General To :, ral to General Shafter
 With the surrender of the city O Santiago and other towns which vii be evacuated shortly, the territory O
 the First army corps will be free. Il
 that of the second, the enemy has onl,
 Holguin Gilaria and the vollages ol , the railway line between the cities il the north and Manzanillo in the south I with two or three neighboring villages The American government has decid
 ed to occupy the city of Santiago a ! present with two regiments, and a