The record-union., 1899-10-30
Sentence of the Supreme Council
Upon It.
General ToraI and His SuhardinatsS Are
Exonerated.
The Court Lays Great Stress ON the
Importance of the American
Naval Forces and Says That
Without Their Cooperation It
Would Have Been Impossible
to Compel the Surrender.


Would Have Been Impossible
to Compel the Surrender.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-The Bu-
reau of Naval Intelligence has made
public very interesting document
published in the official organ of the
Minister of War at Madrid and con-
tanning the sentence of the Supreme
Council in the proceedings instituted
because of the capitulation of Santiago
in July of last year. The defendants
named in the proceedings are Jose To-
raj Velasquez, General of Division, and
the successor of General Linares in
command of the fourth army corps of
Cuba; General Mesa, Chief of Brigade
of Guantanamo; Lieutenant Colonel
Rafael Alagri, commander of Sagua
de Lanamo; Captain Arturo Hidalgo,
commander of Alto Songo; Captain
Jose Rica, commander of San Luis;
Captain Romualdo Martinez, comman-
der of Palma Soriano, and Captain Gle
mente Peyro, commander at Ell Cristo.
The defendants. named, besides Gen
eral Tora1, are the commanders of the
outlying military posts which were in
cIuded 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 cooperation it would
have been impossible for the American
forces to have compelled the surrender
of Santiago.
The sentence of the court concludes
by vi1dicating General Toral from any
censure for the surrender of the city,
stating that he had FUSED every means
of defense required by the laws of
honor and duty, as attested by the bril-
liant battles sustained from June 22d
to the day of capitulation and the
many casualties in Generals, command
ers, officers and privates during said
battles.
The other defendants are exonerated,
having served under the instructions
of their commanding General, who in
turn had the sanction of his home Gov
ernment for each step taken.
Before reaching tfr4s conclusion, how
ever, the court goes into what may be
characterized as a brief, but compre-
AACilSlNC, 1l1SlOIy VI bllC MlIOlC OuDctIl
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
blockaded the harbor and cut all hope
of outside assistance.
1t is declared that during the bonn
bardment of Santiago on May 31st
about 100 shots were fired by Spanish
batteries and the Colon in a space Of
forty-five minutes. The fact that the
Colon aided the batteries of the Morro,
Socapa and Punta Gorda during this
bombardment is new. Referring to the
sinking of the Merrimac In the chan
mel at the mouth of the harbor the
court declares that she was sunk by
the combined fire of the Reina Mer-
cedes and the water batteries, a state
ment not in agreement with Lieutenant
Hobsons view of the affair on board
the Merrimac.
OF the bombardment of the American
squadron on June 9th the court says
that over 1000 projectiles were dis
charged by the hostile fleet, resulting
in serious injuries to the Reina Mer-
cedes and the garrison quarters at the
Morro. 1t says, however, that no guns
were dismounted by this bombardment.
"One chief was killed, however, and
eight men killed, two chiefs, five Off
GERS and fifty-six men wounded
This is rather a larger casualty list
than was credited to this bombardment
at the time.
The landing of the American forces
at Daiquiri 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 officers engaged We're
either killed or wounded. 1t points out
with pride, however, that the Spanish
artillery during the mornings fight on
July 1st was able to silence the Amer
lean battery at Ell Poso and cause ii
to withdraw.
| Of the general engagement on July
| 1st, 1t is said that over 800 men and
fifty Generals chiefs and officers were
killed and wounded. 1t is pointed out
that during the engagement of July 1st
| only LOO men of the Spanish COM
mand were actively engaged. the 9TH
ers, it is explained, being to the west
ward, occupied in guarding threatened
positions and unable to be of material
assistance.
| Following the loss of San Juan and
| Caney, the court declares that the
water supply was cut off and that the
military force surviving the two days
! fighting of July 1st and I'd was entire
| ly inadequate to defend the fourteen
kilometers of protective works around
the city. The total force available is
placed officially at 1000 infantry and
| 1 ZOO guerrillas. The remainder of the
forces, it is explained, were garrison
ing the Morro and the batteries at So
capa and Punta Gorda and performing
also the services of carrying water tc
different points. patrolling the city
land rendering such other services as
the inhabitants could have rendered
had the city remained loyal
/ Referring to garrison stores, the
court says that at the time of the sur
render all that was left of the arms
was a million Spanish Mauser cart
ridges. These would not have LASTED
for more than two attacks on the part
of the enemy The Argentine Mausel
ammunition, of which there was a con.
siderable supply, could not be utilized
for want of weapons of that type, mol
could the Remington ammunition, thest
I,af,N - L.. ~