The Portland daily press., 1898-07-14
RAINS STEADILY.
Weather Badly Hampers
Military Operations.

Off Juragua. July 12.-s p. m., viz
Kingston, July 1910 a. M, by Associ
ated Press. All tine negotiations for {
peaceful surrender of Santiago de Cuba
ended in utter failure today and the city
must fall by the sword.
General Toral, the Spanish commando er
has finally and definitely refused Genera.
Shafter's proposal for an unconditional
surrender and the American army now
only awaits the word of its general to be-.
gin the final struggle.
| Just when the attack will be made de-
pends upon the time which will ensue be
fore General Randolph can land his bat
teries at the front, as it is definitely
settled that the forward movement will
not begin until the army is fully backed
up by the big guns the absence of which
cost SO many lives during the previous
engagements.
| General Randolph began early this
morning, but tonight out of the ten bat
teries only one of four guns had succeeded
in making its way over the almost i'm
passable trail to the trenches at the front.
This with the four batteries already
there is not considered by the American
commander as sufficient, and probably
twenty-four hours more will elapse before
the general engagement begins.
General Skaters second and last pro-
posal to surrender was sent into Santiago
at noon yesterday.
1t went in the form Of a terse note, in
which the general pointed out the hope
lessness of the Spanish position, sur
rounded by the American troops and cut
off from reinforcements and without
means to combat our feet which can hurl
shells by the hundreds into the heart of
the city.
Unconditional surrender, it was de .
clared, was the only term to be considered
and only prompt acceptance Of these
terms could save the Spanish forces and
innocent citizens from an awful slaught-
er.
The firing, which had been going on at
intervals since Sunday afternoon, was or
dered stopped when the flag of truce
started for the Spanish lines and has not
been resumed since.
No attention was paid to General
Shafter's communication until shortly
after eight o'clock this morning. when a
reply came under flag of truce.
General Toral was as brief as his foe,
saying in brief that if the Americans
wanted Santiago they could come and
get it.
He declared unconditional surrender to
be entirely beyond reason and possibility,
and expressing himself as ready to meet
an attack at any time the invading army
saw fit to make one.
General Shafter accepted the reply as
final and although no firing was ordered
he Immediately began preparations for
the coming struggle.
General Randolph's ten light batteries
place at Juraugua and a.change in the
lines was made.
General Lawton's entire division was
moved to the northward mile and
half, his entire right being placed at
Caimenes, on the border of the city.
This movement places the American
forces in semi-circle entirely surround
ing Santiago, and cutting off the retreat
of the Spanish, except by water, as our
fianks rest at the waters edge.
. The late arrivals of volunteers were
moved up from Juragua and the first
Illinois, the eighth Ohio and the regiment
from the District of Columbia were
located in the trenches vacated by Law
toms men.
Illness battery was swung around to
toms forces and now occupies u bluff from
which it can fire directly into the heart Of
the city.
This is a most important move as it en-
ables the American forces to she'll the city
without injuring the hospitals.
| The little town of Caimenes was evaou-
ated by the Spaniards yesterday and is
now occupied by the Cuban troops with
few companies of regulars.
| The occupation of Caimenes is most
| important to the American forces as il
completes the semi-circle from water line
to water line, and hens the city in. Il
" as a great blunder on the part of the
Spanish to desert the place without
struggle as with it, General Lawtor
hanks them completely. Near this poin
the Spanish left lies, and the flank hat
Continued OH Sixth Page.