The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-30
V|ND|CAT|ON OF TORAL
Spanish Report on the Capture
of Santiago.
REVIEW OF THE FIGHTING
A History OF the Surrender
OF Santiago Was Inevitable-Toral
Did All That Honor
Demanded

Washington, Oct. 29.-The bureau of
naval Intelligence has made public
very interesting document published in
the official organ of the minister of war
at Madrid and containing the sentence
of the supreme council in the proceed
ings instituted because of the capitula-
ton of Santiago in July, last year. The
defendants named in the proceedings
are Jose Toral Velasquez, general of d.
vision and the successor of General Lin
ares in command of the 4th army corps
Of Cuba; General Mesa. chief of the
brigade Of Guantanamo; Lieutenant
Colonel Rafael Alagri, commander of
Sagua de Tanamo; Captain Arturo Hi
dalgo. commander of Altosango: Cap
tain Jose RIGA, commander of San Luis;
Captain Romualdo Martinez, COM
mander Of Palma Soriano, and Captain
Clemento Peyro, commander at Eel
Cristo.
The defendants named, besides Gem
eral Toral, are the commanders of the
outlying military posts which We're in
cluded in the capitulation of Sam
tiago.
The most interesting feature of the
report is the fact that the court lays
great stress upon the Importance OF
the American navel forces and declares
that without their cooperation 1t would
have been impossible for the American
forces to compel the surrender of San
tiago.
The sentence of the court concludes
by vindicating General Toral from any
censure for the surrender of the city,
stating that he had used every means
of defense required by the laws of honor
and duty = = as attested by the
brilliant battles sustained from June %
to the day Of capitulation and the many
casualties in generals. commanders. Of
ficers and privates during said bat
ties
The other defendants are exonerated.
having served under the instructions OF
their commanding general. who in turn.
had the sanction of his home govern
ment for each step taken.
Before reaching this conclusion, how
ever, the court goes into what may be
characterized as a brief, but compre-
hensve history of the whole cuban
campaign from the Spanish standpoint,
| the various reverses met with from
| time to time being cited as explanations
of the final surrender of the city, which
! was pointed out as being inevitable
| from the time the American squadron
| blackaded the harbor and cut or all
hope of outside assistance.
| IT is declared that during the bonn
| bardment of Santiago on May 81. about
| 100 shots were fired by the Spanish bat
teries and the Colon in a space Of As
minutes. The fact that the Colon aided
| the batteries Of the Moro, Socapa and
| Punta Gorda during this bombardment
| is new.
Referring to the sinking of the Mer-
rimac in the channel at the mouth Of
| 4l,o ,~t 1na1o
was sunk by the combined force of the
Reina Mercedes and the water bat
| teries.
OF the bombardment by the Americ an
squadron on June g. the court says that
over 1000 projectiles were discharged
by the hostile fleet, resulting in serious
injuries to the Reina Mercedes and the
garrison quarters at the Moro. 1t says,
however. that no guns were dismounted
by this bombardment.
Zone chief was killed. however. and
eight men killed, two chiefs. five officers
and Sc men wounded.
This is rather larger casualty list
than was credited to this bombardment
at the time.
The landing of the American forces
at Daiquira and the bombardment Of
that town and of Siboney are described
in considerable detail.
Coming down to the fight at Caney,
the court declares that half of the olf
GERS engaged were either killed or
wounded. 1t points out with pride
however, that the Spanish artillery dur
ing the mornings fight of July l was
able to silence the American battery at
Ell Poso and cause it to withdraw:
Of the general engagement on July l.
it is said that over 500 men and 80 gen
erals, chiefs and officers were killed and
wounded. 1t is pointed out that during
the engagement of July l only 1,lOO mer
of the Spanish command were active
engaged the others, it is explained be
ing to the westward, occupied in guard
ing threatened positions and unable tc
be of material assistance.
Following the loss of San Juan and e
Caney the court declares that the Watel
supply was cut off and that the mill
tary forces surviving the two days
fighting of July and was entirely in
adequate to defend the IA kilometers o
protected works around the city. The
total force available is placed Officially
at 1000 infantry and 900 artillery. The
remainder of the forces were garrison
ing the Moro and the batteries a
Socapa and Punta Gorda and perform
ing also the services of carrying waite
, to different points, patrolling the cit,
land rendering such other services a
the inhabitants could have RENDERED
| had the city remained loyal
Referring to garrison stores. the cour
says that at the time of the surrende
ali that was left of the arms was mil
lion Spanish Mauser cartridges. Tines
would not have lasted for more thai
| two attacks on the part of the enemy
| The Argentine Mauser ammunition, o
| which there was a considerable supply
| could not be utilized for want OF
|