The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-15
THE NEGOTIATIONS.
General ToraI Realized the Hopelessness
of Further Resistance.


General Wheeler's headquarters, be-
fore Santiago de Cuba, July 1S, p. m.,
via Kingston, Jamaica, July IA, 1870 D.
m.-White flags still futter over the op-
posing lines. The truce has been ex-
tended until tomorrow noon, and ne
Gotiatjons looking 20 the surrender of
Santiago are proceeding. Both sides
have yielded somewhat. General Tor
al, the Spanish commander, realizes the
hopelessness of further resistance, and
the American commander, General
Shafter, is inclined to reduce the harsh
ness of the terms which he at first pro-
posed to impose upon the enemy.
1t appears that on Monday General
Shafter did not demand the uncondition-
al surrender which General Toral had
refused on Sunday, but offered as an
alternative proposition to accept the
capitulation of the enemy and to trans
port the Spanish officers and troops to
Spain, they to leave all their arms be-
hind, and he to accept their parole. 1t
was this proposition which General Tor
al declined yesterday.
This morning 1t was decided TO hold
a personal Interview with General Tor
al General Miles and his staff, who
got no further than General Skaters
headquarters last night, accompanied
by General Shafter and his staff, rode
out to the front shortly before o'clock
under a flag of truce. A request for
a personal interview with the Spanish
commander in chief was made and ac-
ed to, and at about Q o'clock General
Miles, General Shafter, General Wheel
er, General Gilmour, Colonel Course,
Captain Wiley and Captain Maus rode
up, passed over our entertainments and
went down into the valley beyond. They
were met by General Toral and his
chief of staff under a spreading mango
tree at the bottom of the valley, about
half way between the lines. The inter
view that followed lasted an hour.
The situation was placed frankly be-
fore General Toral and he was offered
the opportunity of being sent home with
his garrison on leaving Santiago prov
ince, the only condition imposed being
that he should not destroy the existing
fortifications and should leave his arms
behind. This latter condition the Span
ish general who does not speak English,
explained through his interpreter, was
impossible. He said the laws of Spain
gave a general no discretion. He might
abandon a place when he found it un-
tenable, but he could not leave his arms
behind without subjecting himself to
the penalty Of being court martialed
and shot. His government granted him
permission to evacuate Santiago. That
was all. Further than that he was pow
erless to go.
Without saying so in words. General
Miles said the tenor of General Torals
remarks betrayed his realization that
he could not hold out long. When Cen
eral Shafter explained that our rein
forcements were coming up; that he
was completely surrounded and that
new batteries Were being posted. Cen
eral Toral simply shrugged his shoul-
ders.
II am but a subordinate" said he,
'and i obey my government. If IL is
necessary we can die at our posts"
General Toral is a man of 60 years
of age. with a strong, rugged face, and
fine soldierly bearing. His brave words
inspired feeling Of respect and admira-
tion in the hearts of his adversaries.
Nevertheless. the Spanish generals
anxiety to avoid further sacrifice of life
in his command was manifested, and he
did not hesitate to ask for time to COM
municate the situation to Madrid. al
though he obviously shook his head
when he spoke of the probable response.
In the course of an interview, General
Toral said the bombardment of Sunday
and Monday had done little damage.
He admitted that shells from the guns
of the fleet had destroyed four houses.
but he asserted that only half a dozen
solulers OF lne garrison nau Deen IN
jured. He also volunteered the infor-
nation, when General Miles CALAMITY
inquired after General Linares condi-
ton, that the latter would probably
have to undergo the amputation OF his
left arm at the shoulder.
General Miles did not attempt to di-
rect the negotiations, but vouched for
the conditions General Shafter offered.
Upon the return of our commanders TO
the American line a consultation was
held at General Wheeler's headquar-
ters. Generals Garcia and Castillo.
with their STATS. had ridden around
from the extreme right to see Miles. IL
was a notable group gathered under
the protecting awning of General
Wheelers tent.
General Miles. in blue fatigue uni
form. with the double star on his
shoulders and his campaign hat encir-
cled by a single strand OF gold braid.
looking the ideal soldier. sat on an emp
ty ammunition box and formed the
center Of the party.
On the right OF General Miles sat
General Shafter and on his left was
General Garcia in a mud -spOtted white