The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-11
ToRAL's PROPOSITION.
Spaniards Wanted to March Out
With Colors FLYING.


Copyright 1898. by the Associated Press }
On Board the Associated Press Boat
Wanda, Off Juragua, Saturday, july
9.-The surrender of Santiago was for
mally offered by the Spanish COM
mander, General Toral, today, but the
conditions attached caused a prompt
refusal Of the offer by General Shaft
sr. The negotiations, however, result
ed in the extension of the armiStice
until noon Sunday, and white flags of
truce still float over the opposing
armies.
General Toral's proposal contemplate
ed the immediate surrender of the city,
but he insisted that his army be per-
nitted to march away under arms and
with flying colors, and declared that he
would fight TO the last ditch unless
the conditions were accepted.
General Shafter replied that nothing
but unconditional surrender w"''''' p =
considered by him, but he consented to
cable the Spanish offer to Washington,
in the meantime extending the armis-
tice.
II was shortly before noon today
when a little group of Spanish officers,
under a flag of truce, came out from
under the yellow wall Of the besieged
city, and slowly made its way toward
the American line A detail was sent
to meet them and they were escorted to
comfortable quarters, while the letter
from General Toral was carried to Gen
eral Skaters tent, two miles from the
front. The letter was couched in the
icily courteous terms characteristic of
such communication and was as brief
as possible. 1t bore the signature Of
General Toral, who commands Santi-
ago since General Linares was wound
ed, and stated that he was prepared to
surrender the city, providing his army
would be permitted 10 capitGlate with
honor" This, he explained, meant that
the Spanish should be unmolested' and
go in any direction they wished, with
arms and flying their colors.
The letter concluded with the bold
statement that surrender under any
other terms was an impoSSibility and
would not be considered.
General Shafter Immediately cabled
the facts TO Washington and sent to
General Toral q refusal Of his proposal,
but added that he would communicate
with his government and would extend
the informal arInistice until Sunday
noon.
It is deemed probable that the truce
may extend even beyond the time
designated, as the offer of General
Toral to surrender on any terms is re-
garded as an indication that the Span
ish commander has decided upon sur
able.
The general condition of the health
of the American troops is excellent
but the water supply is poor and a
number of cases of malarial fever have
developed No deaths have resulted,
however, and in nearly all instances
The fever has been broken by a liberal
use Of quinine. The hardships of the
campaign and the fears of possible
attacks of fever have rid the army in
the field and on the coast of non-com-
hatants, with the exception Of a few
newspaper correspondents. who have
been on the ground since the American
warships appeared off Santiago and
who constitute the only force able to
report the progress of the war, with
the assistance of the dispatch boats
service.
The second fleet of transports arrived
off Juragua this morning, bearing $500
troops. including 4 large detachment
of artillery. If the peace negotiations
fail. the heavy guns viii be a most
valuable addition TO the artillery now
in the field. and it is expected they
will be rushed forward to the front
The new troops viii be landed ton1or-
row and pushed forward as rapidly as
possible.
The days OF temporary peace are be-
ing utilized by both armies in strength
ening their defenses. The Americans
have strongly entreuched themselves,
and the artillery now at the front has
been placed in strong position behind
earthworks, and will be able to cover
the advance Of the troops much more |
effectively than during the previous |
enga cement.
The feeling is strong among officers
and men that Santiago will surrender |
without further fighting.
The wounded in the hospitals are be- |
ing well cared for, and in almost every !
instance are recovering rapidly.