The record-union., 1898-07-18
News Of the Formal Surrender
Received at Washington.
President Consu!ts With Secretaries
AIger and Long.
Plan for an Aggressive Movement Against
Porto Rico in Which Aimy and
Navy will Take
Part.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE Amer
lean flag is now waving over Santiago.
The first message conveying the news
Of Santiagos formal surrender was re-
ceived at the White House shortly be-
fore IL o'clock, just as the President
was preparing to go to church. About
) D. m. General Shafter forwarded
dispatch that graphically related the
story Of the day and portrayed a situa-
ton entirely satisfactory from the
American point of view. The first mes
sage did not come from Shafter, but
from the vigilant officer, who has before
shown that he was alert for vital
events. The message was brief, saying
only that the surrender had been ac
complished; that the Spanish troops
marched out of the trenches, one regi-
ment at a time, stacking arms for de-
livery to the American forces, and that
the Spanish flags had been hauled down.
Secretary Alger and Adjutant General
Corbin were at the War Department at
the time and We're soon apprised Of the
usual form, as a report from General
Shafter, the fact was not bulletined.
Secretary Alger expressed his gratifica-
ton at the elimination Of the Santiago
campaign. He had fully expected the
surrender to be formally carried out at
y o'clock this morning, according to
General Skaters telegram last night,
yet it was relief to know that the last
chance for parley and Spanish diplo-
macy had passed and that our flag was
now flying over the city.
1T is a magnificent achievement"
said he, and most of all, it is tribute
10 the bravery, pluck and endurance
of our American soldiers. Now that
their efforts have brought final and
complete success, 1 believe their cam
paign Will be recorded as one of the
most glorious pages of our military his
tory. Not more than 10000 We're en-
gagged when the most serious fighting
occurred, but they pushed forward and
created a condition which has brought
the surrender of 25,00O men,
Later in the afternoon the official dis
patches came from General Shafter,
giving in brief military language an
unusually clear statement from the
General of the days events. 1t was
entirely satisfactory from every point
of view, showing that the Americans
were in complete control of a city that
it would have cost 5000 lives to cap
true by storm. Moreover it was very
a,, arr;x,
that it showed, contrary to what had
beeen expected, that there was little
sickness and scarcely any yellow fever
in Santiago, but great deal OF suffer-
ing and distress.
The President, after his return from
church, had a conference with Secre-
taries Alger and Long, and Captain
Crowninshield of the Bureau of Navi-
cation and member of the Naval War
Board. 1t was stated after the meeting
that plans had been discussed for an
aggressive movement, in which both
army and navy will take part against
Porto Rico. Before going to the White
House Secretary Alger had been in con-
ference with General Brooke for two
hours. They had before them a large
number of maps of Porto Rico, and the
plans of campaign were discussed from
every point Of view. 1t is expected
that General Miles will go direct from
Santiago TO Porto Rico, and that Cen
eral Stone and Colonel Michter Of his
staff will leave from New York in a day
or two on the Resolute, to join the Gen.
eral at Santiago Secretary Long would
not discuss the naval program except
to say that active preparations are on
foot for the next forward movement
During the day Secretary of War AL
ger indorsed the plan of Colonel Hecker
for the transportation of the Spanish
troops at Santiago back to Spain 1t
provides for an aggregate of LOGO
| Spanish officers, with first-class cabin
accommodations, and 24,O00 soldiers,
with third-class steerage passage The
circular says that the Spanish forces
will be delivered on board at Santiago
for transportation to CadiZ, Spain, or
such other ports as may be designated.
1t is provided that the accommodate
are to be kept up to the standard re-
quired by the United States army reg
ulations as to officers and men, in re-
gard to galleys. ventilation, etc. The
subsistence furnished is to be equal
to the prescribed United States army
ration. which is set forth in detail as a
guide to bidders as to what they must
furnish.
The only disquieting news received
during the day was as to the yellow
fever conditions at the front, and this
was modified in an encouraging way
later by General Skaters news. 1t
was a dispatch from Colonel Greenleaf,
Chief Surgeon with the army in Cuba,