The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-07-29
ALGER C0NcE WE'D TIE IDEA.



sirv with which Il was confronted our
Iuf thr war with -wOuUt #i,'..' . ~
posrng of thousands of Spanish pT's'
ou,r. captured 600 Santiago province
Tho history OF that time has NOT ''''
mIy Told, aud r. remained for N''l'
,a-v Alpel 10 supply the aggI by lh'
following biz Of "reminiscences
"Ou the night Of July o. l'''. 'h'
prr sidcut asked me what, in my lHut-
mrut we you'd do with the spanish
prisoners II Santiago after their cap
turc. The matter had received very
rnurl. thought from the president ."l
myself but no definite conclusion h"d
been reached. then suggested 10 inr,
president that Galveston. Tex, would
lie a., best place in tho United states
IN my Judgment, wlrN - could sc"I
them: that il was away from the coast
line travel: a good harbor; that there
would be plenty Of room for camping
them. and that its climate would be
as nearly similar 10 that OF santiago
as we could probably select, This
seemed 10 meet his approval, Us IL was
! only a question Of time, of course,
WHEN their capture would he r.rr''u,
] went to my home, ms nearly ms ! can
! remember. about two o'clock in the
morning, and being too tired 20 sleep.
/ / lay awake for awhile, but ilnally
/ dozed of. | awokc at daybreaE, and
my first thought was concerning the
| Spanish prisoners, and the new idea
came into my head why not send
them back 10 Spain? This thought sn
deeply impressed me that formulated
NV plan. and on the morning of July
10. Slstead of going TO the department
direct, | went 10 the White House and
laid the new plan before III" president,
saving that il would be- an Uuurrce-
donted procedure and a most gracious
act. that to transport the prisoners
TO Galveston would bc half the dis
lance; that we should have TO clothe,
shelter. guard ard feed them there.
and no doubt have 10 ship them bacE
TO SIaiu in the end. also stated Iiat
l believed that it would ho great
iuduccment to the Spaniards 10 sur
render. which Gen. Shafter afterWard
assured me was the effect The prcsi.
dent readily approved the plan and on
the same day l cabled Gen. ~haftcr as
follows:
"'War Department, July 10. 1895.
"'Gen. Shafter, Playa del Este, San
tiago de Cuba:
Should the Spania.ds surrender
Internationally and wish TO return 70
Spain, they win be sent back at the
expense OF the United States govern |
mcnt.
TX. A. ALGER. Secretary of War
"UTon receiving this, on the i1th OF |
July, Gen ShafteT sent the following |.
to the commander-in.
Chief of the Spanish forces;
Headquarters of the Seventh |
Army Corps. Camp near Santiago de |
Cuba. July II, 1895:
'Sir-With the largely increased /,
forces which have come to me. and |
the fact that l have your line Of re.
treat securely in my hands. the time
seems fitting that | should again de
mand of your excellency the surren.
der of Santiago. and of vour excel
Iencv's army. | am authorized tc
state that should your exceIIencv Sd
desire. the government of the United
States will transport the entire com.
mand of YOUR excellencv TO Spain.
"'T have the honor to he very re-.
spectfully. YOUR obedient servant,
"'WM. r.. SKATER.
Maior-GenernI Commandino'
TO which the commander replied as
follows:
Santiago de Cuba .JpIv II 1893
Sir hive the honor to advise