Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-07-17
(copyrirhs. Associated Press.)

(Copyrirfa.. Associated Press)
At Gen. Wheeler's> Headquarters. be-
fore Santiago, July IL via Kingston,
July 1.-The preliminal Abasis for the
capt. lation of the SpanS forces in
Eastern Cuba was agreed to and sign
ed under a picturesque Cieba tree, half
way between the lines, shortly after
midnight. Our commissioners were
invited to enter the city by those rep
resenting Gen. Toral. but the invitation !.
was declined and the conference was
held under the spreading Cieba, just
such tree as that under which Column
bus assisted at the celebration of mass
on his first landing in Cuba. near Ha-
vana
At the very outset hitch occurred.
owing to a misunderstanding OF what
was said at the personal interview be-
tween Gen. Shafter and Gen. Toral at
noon. At that time our interpreter.
translating the language df General
Toral, had given Generals Shafter,
Miles and Wheeler distinctly to under
stand that Capt. Gen. Blanco had con-
sented that the commissioners should
have plenary powers to negotiate the
terms of surrender, such terms as they
agreed upon to be binding upon both
parties. Something was said about o.
notification to the Madrid government,
but Gen. Shafter insisted that the
capitulation had been actually agreed
to and that
NO FURTHER CONSENT
Of the Madrid government was re-
quired.
When the commissioners met short
ly after o'clock in the afternoon
those in behalf of Gen. Toral (Gen Es-
carlo, Lieut.. Col. Fortan and Robert
Mason, the British vice consuD COM
batted at once the idea that the capitu-
lation had in fact actually taken place.
The consent of Madrid, they insisted.
was still necessary; but, at the same
time, they claimed strongly that it
would be forthcoming, as Capt. BlancU
had authorized ii and the home gov
eminent would do the same. Gen.
Toral. who was present and who. in
fact, di,Hcted the negotiations on his
own behak Id he>had never been !.
oyerrlled AAGecU(
he -ad1sd. uSfl Madrid had
it, Santiago had not capitulal
All this was extremely unsatI
to our commissioners. who clunS
ciously to the understanding GeN
Shafter had received earlier In
day.
Finally, with the question OF whether
or not the Spanish forces had actually
surrendered still open, the commits
sioners proceeded to the consideration
of the preliminaries. Capt. Miiey had :
drawn up thirteen articles OF general
nature and these were submitted
Gen. Toral personally He made
strong appeal that the word capt.
lation" be used instead of the harsh
term Surrender" and that his az
be allowed to march out, the offi
with their side arms and the men
their small arms. He said the
could afterwards be sent to Spain
er on the same ships with the
or on some other ships Gen
further remarked that he expec
commissioners. as representaiil
brave and chivalrous people,
seek to humilate his army {,
appear that he was vanqul
brave men, his soldiers des
GO HOME WITH II
They had simply yielded
force and they would pr
go home without honor.
Our commissioners col
this appeal, but they said
the terms laid down By
ment and they could onI 80
the matter to Washington.
At 4 o'clock Gen. Toral RI
the city to consult with Gen.
Gen. Toral and the Spanish 10
sioners returned at $50. saying b.
desired still further change In fh6v
phraseology of the articles and sug- D
gested a postponement OF the negotia-
tons until morning. This Gen. l.
Wheeler firmly declined. Thereupon Al
recess was taken until $50. The com7
missioners returned at that hour and
the articles were again gone over In
detail. Various changes Of yerbiags
which tended only to soften the tones
of the terms without affecting thd
sense were proposed by the Spaniards
and our commissioners accepted prae
tically all Of them.
Shortly after midnight Gen. Wheel
suggested that the good faith Of
1 Spaniards be tested All the artica
were re-read and each commission
in turn was asked IL they were sat
factory When they replied In
affirmative, Gen. Wheeler asked ID
to affix their signatures. This fE2y
appeared reluctant to do. but hey
could not we'll refuse When all had
signed, the commissioners sepa& fed.
to meet again at $50 in the morning.
The present municipal authorities
are TO continue in control Of Tie city
until the Spanish troops are embarked.
The Spanish troops from other points
- taar al ~ he -
Refugees are 10 return TO their
homes, but not until the sanction Of
Madrid IL received and the same APP
plies to the removal OF the Instructions
at the mouth Of the harbor
Pending this. however, Miss Clara
Barton and
THE RED CROSS AGENTS
with supplies. are to be allowed 10 en-
ter the city over the line Of the Juragua