Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-30
SURRENDER OF SANTIAGO.
spanish War Department Publishes
Interesting Omcial Explanations
Vrnw~ n 1rorntna


Washington, Oct. 3o.-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 the summer of 1898.
The defendants named in the proceed
ings are: Jose Toral yelazquez, general
of the division and the successor Of
Gen. Linares in command of the Fourth
division of the army corps of Cuba. and
the commanders of the outlying mill
tary posts, which We're included in the
capitulation of Santiago
The most interesting feature of the
report is the fact that the court lays
great stress upon the Importance of the
American naval forces, and declares
that without their corporation it would
have been impossible for the American
forces to have compelled the surrender
of Santiago. The sentence of the court
concludes by vindicatng Gen. Toral
from any censure for the surrender of
the city, stating that he had used ev-
cry means of defense required by the
laws of honor and dtuy = as attested
by the brilliant battle sustained from
June % to the day of equalization, and
the many casualties in generals, COM
manders, officers and privates during
said battles.
The other defendants are exonerated,
having acted under the instructions of
the orders of the commanding general,
who in turn had the authority of his
home government for each step taken.
Before reaching this conclusion. how
ever, the court goes into what may be
characterized as a brief but compre-
hensive history of the whole Cuban
campaign from the Spanish standpoint.
the various reverses met with from time
to time being cited as an explanation
of the final surrender of the city, which
was pointed out as being inevitable
from the time the American squadron
blockaded the narbor and cut off all
hope of outside assistance.
II is declared that during the bonn
bardment of Santiago. on May 81,
about 100 shots We're fired by Spanish
batteries and the Colon in a space of
| forty-tive minutes. The fact that the
Colon aided the batteries of the forts is
new. Referring to the sinking of the
Merrimac in the channel, the court de-
| clares that she was sunk by the com
bined fire of the Reina Mercedes and
THE water batteries, a statement not in
agreement with Lieut.. Hobsons view
of the affair
OF the bombardment by the American
squadron on July 6. the court says that
4 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
that no guns We're dismounted by this
/ bombardment.
zone chief and eight men We're killed;
two chiefs and five officers and sixty
/ six men were wounded. This is 8
fllarger casualty list than was credited
lat the time.
The landing of the American force:
at Daiquiri and the bombardment o.
that town and of Siboney are described
in considera BILE detail. Coming dowl
to the fight at Caney, the court declare
4 that one half of the officers engaged
were either killed or wounded.
points out with pride, however, that tn
lSpanish artillery during the morning
fight on July was able to silence tn
Il American battery at Eel Poso and caus
lit to Withdraw.
u OF the general engagement of July
lit was said that over 800 men ana fit.
generals and officers We're killed am
wounded 1t is pointed out that durin;
Il the engagement of July only LOO mel
of the Spanish command We're activel.
engaged, the others. it is explained, be
ling to the westward or occupied II
guarding threatened positions and un
able to be of material assistance.