Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-30
HISTORY OF CUBAN CAMPAIGN
Epi Nl4
Bureau Of Naval Intelligence Makes Public
Interesting Spanish Document,
REPORT OF SURRENDER OF SANTIAGO
Credit for American Victory Given
to Admiral, snmpson's Fleet, which
BIocISadcd Entrance to Hnrbor
and Shut on Aid.


containing the sentence of the supreme
council in the proceedings instituted be-
cause of the capitulation of Santiago in the
summer of 1898
The defendants named in the proceedings
are Jose Toral velazquez, general of
division and successor of General Linares,
in command of the Fourth army corps of
Cuba; General Mesa, chief of the brigade
of Guantanamo; Lieutenant Colonel Velarde.
military commander of Baracoa; Lieutenant
Colonel Rafael Allegri, commander of Sagua
de Tar amo; Captain Arturo Hidalgo, COM
mander of Alto Songos; Captain Garcia,
commander of San Luis; Captain Romualdo
Martinez, commander of Palma Soriano, and
Captain Clemente Peyro, commander at El
Cristo.
The defendants named, besides General
Toral, were the commanders of the outlying
military posts which were included in the
capitulaton of Santiago.
The most interesting feature of the report
is that the court lays great stress upon %
Importance of the American naval forces
and declares that without their CO. operation
1t would have been impossible for the
American forces to have compelled the sur
render of Santiago.
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 re-
quired 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, command
ers, officers and privates during said bat
tles.'
The other defendants are exonerated, hav-
ing acted under the instructions of their
commanding general who, in turn, had the
sanction of his home government for each
step taken.
History of Cuban Campaign.
Before reaching this conclusion however,
the court goes into what may be character
ized as a brief but comprehensive history
of the whole Cuban campaign from the
Spanish standpoint, the various reverses met
with from time to time being cited as ex-
plantations Of the final surrender of the city,
which was pointed out as being inevitable
from the time the American squadron block
AIDED the harbor and cut off all hope of out
side assistance.
1t is declared that during the lombard
ment of Santiago on May 81, about 100
shots were fired by, Spanish batteries and
the Colon In space of forty five minutes
The fact that the Colon aided the batteries
ing this bombardment is new.
Referring to the sinking of the Merrimac
in the channel at the mouth Of the harbor
the court declares that 1t was sunk by the
combined fire Of Reina Mercedes and the
water batteries, statement not in agree
ment with Lieutenant Hobson's view of the
affair on board the Merrimac.
or the bombardment by the American
squadron on June 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 bonn
bardment. One chief was killed, however,
and eight men killed, two chiefs, five Of
ficers and fifty-six men wounded. This is
rather larger casualty list than was cred
tied to this bombardment at the time.
Silence American Battery.
The landing of the American forces at
Baiquri and the bombardment of that town
and of Siboney are described in consider
able detail. Coming down to the fight at
Ell Caney the court declares that one-half
of the officers engaged were either killed
or wounded. 1t points out with pride, how
ever that the Spanish artillery during the
mornings fight on July 1. was able to silence
the American battery at El Poso and cause
it to withdraw.
OF the general management on July / it
is said that over 500 men and fifty generals,
chiefs and officers, were killed and wounded.
1t is pointed out that during the engage
ment of July only 1,70O men of the Span
ish command were actively engaged the
others, 1t is explained, being to the west
ward occupied in guarding threatened points
and unable to be of material assistance.
Following the loss of San Juan and FL
Caney the court declares that the water
supply was cut off and that the military
force surviving the two days fighting OF
July and 2, was entirely inadequate to de-
fend the fourteen kilometers of protective
works around the city. The total force
available is placed officially at 1000 in
fantry and 1000 guerrillas. The remainder
of the forces, 1t Is explained, were garrison
ing the Moro and the batteries at Socapa
and Punta Gorda and performing also the
services of carrying water to different
points, patroling the city land rendering
such other services as the inhabitants could
have rendered had the city remained loyal"
short of Ammunition.
Referring to garrison stores the court
says that at the time of the surrender all
that was left to the army was 1000, 900 Span
ish Mauser cartridges These would not
have lasted for more than two attacks on
the part of the enemy. The Argentine
Mauser ammunitiop,e af which there was a
considerable supply, Gould not be utilized
for want of weapons of that type, nor
could the RemngtoT ammunition, these
weapons being in the bands Of the irregular
forces only. Ths provisions in the city at
the time of the Surrender. it is said. con-
sisted only of rice. salt. oil. coffee. sugar
and brandy, and of these only about ten
days supply remained, There were over
17OO sick in the shpsnItals who had to be
fed, to say notfhngsbf the soldiers who
spent day and night III trenches after three
years of campaign. during the last three
months of which they seldom had meat to
eat and were often reduced TO rations
mentioned above" ~ ~
Great stress is iHidfupon the presence of
the American squaaFep off the coast, and
the court declaresSthats besides the numeri-
cal superiority of the enemy on land with
seventy pieces OF modern artillery and the
support of powerful squadron" no rein
forcements could reach Santiago except by
sea and this eventually became vain hope
from the moment when the American ships