The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-13
TORAL ASkS FOR TINE
COnSuItS Madrid as to Sur
rendering.
FLEET OPENS DEADLY FIRE
City Set on Fire in -Four Places by
Its Shells.

American Troops Guard Every Ave-
nue. of Escape From the Town
Except by Ferry-ArtiIIery on the
Hills Shells the Entertainments
simultaneously With the Firing
by the FIeet-RepIy of the Enemy
Very Light-shafter Demands Un-
conditional Surrender in the Name
of Humanity.
Copyright, 1893. by the Associated Press
sboney July II, via Kingston. July 12,
11S0 a. ma concerted movement has
been made by the United States army and
navy against the city of Santiago de Cuba
during the past twenty-four hours, which
the American officers here believe will re-
suit in the almost immediate fall of thu
city.
The fleet lying off Aguadores, three miles
east of Moro Castle began the bombard-
ment of Santiago on Sunday afternoon and
continued IL this morning Notwithstand-
ing the fact that our ships had to fire at
ar extreme elevation, and although the
range was nearly five miles the aim was
so accurate that many of the shells fell
In the city and set fire to it in four places.
One shell struck Saint Michaels Church.
In which quantity Of powder and am
munition was stored, and blew it TO
| pieces
During the bombardment from the sea.
the army extended its lines and drew in
closer to the city, so that at noon to-day
every road and trail leading out of the
city was guarded and the escape of tho
Spanish soldiers seemed impossible. The
only way they can get out of the city is
to ferry across the bay to the western side
Of the harbor, and even then they could
not get into the interior without encoun-
terlng American troops.
During the time the warships were bom-
! harding Santiago this morning the bait
terles of artillery on the hills facing the
| city shelled the Spanish entrenchments
| aud received but a light response.
| The American sharpshooters also sent in
a deadly fire. and the Spaniards fell back
| to their last entrenchments, Offering but
| little resistance.
The Americans suffered no loss.
| At about noon to-day Gen. Shafter com-
municated by signal with Rear Admiral
| Sampson requesting the latter to cease
| firing. Then the general sent Gen. Whee-
| Ter into the Spanish lines under a flag OF
| truce with a message to Gen. Toral, the
| Spanish commander, reciting the fact that
| the American ships had given complete
demonstration that they could throw shells
into the city ana destroy II at will, that
| the American troops had the city prac-
| tiealiy surrounded, and that there were
1900 Spanish and Cuban refugees starv-
ing TO death at El Caney, and also point
| ing out that our army had no means OF
feeding them.
Gen. Shafter demanded the unconditional
surrender OF the city, and coupled this
demand with the statement that unless
Gen. Torai acceded, the assault upon the
city both by the land and, sea force would
be renewed at once.
Several hours elapsed before any reply
was received from Gen. Toral, and then
he sent a message to Gen. Shafter TO the
effect that the matter was of such great
Importance that he had been Obliged to
refer IL to the Madrid government, and
that he would send his final answer as
soon as he could receive Instructions from
Madrid
1T was then late In the afternoon, and
Gen. Shafter gave orders to all the troops
to get as much rest as possible, and to
be prepared to resume the attack at any
moment.
No other answer had been received from
Gen. Toral up TO o'clock this evening.
During the time negotiations were pend-
ing, Mai. Gen. Miles arrived off Aqua
dores on board the Yale, from Charleston.
Admiral Sampson went on board the
Yale and held a conference with Gen.
Miles, then the latter went to Siboney,
landed for a short while and held a tele-
phone communication with Gen Shafter,
seven miles away.
Gen. Miles will go 10 the front to-mor-
row CTuesday) morning.