The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-24
It WAS ALGER'S SCHEME
He Suggested That Toral's Men
Be Returned to Spain.
HE GROWS REMINISCENT
Vells How the Novel Idea Came to HIM
and How the Suggestion Was Ac-
copied by McKinley-Its Iufiu-
ence on the Surrender

"A
ger has always felt a deep pride in
The success with which the war depart
ment met the tremendous problem
thrust upon it by the necessity with
which it was suddenly confronted dur
Ing the war with Spain. of suddenly dis
posing of the thousands of Spanish
prisoners captured in Santiago prov
ince. The history of that time has not
been fully told, and it remained for
Secretary Alger to-day to supply the
need by the following bit of reminis-
cence:
"on the night of July Q, 1898, the
president asked me what. in my judg-
ment, we should do with the Spanish
prisoners at Santiago after their cap
ture. The matter had received very
much thought from the president and
myself, but no definite conclusion had
been reached. I then suggested to the
president that Galveston, Texas, would
be the best place in the United States,
In my judgment, where we could send
them; that it was away from the coast
line travel; good harbor; that there
would be plenty of room for camping
them, and that it's climate would be as
nearly similar to that of Santiago as We
could probably select This seemed to
meet his approval. as 1t was only a
question Of time, of course, when their
capture would be effected. 1 went to
my home, as nearly as i can remem-
Der about o'clock in the morning, and,
being too tired to sleep, / lay awake
for while, but finally dozed off l
awoke at daybreak, and my first
thought was concerning the Spanish
pavtr tIN \
my head: Why not send them back to
Spafn?' This thought so deeply i'm
pressed me that I formulated my plan,
and on the morning of July 10, instead
of going TO the department direct, l
went to the white house and laid the
new plan before the president. saying
that it would be an unprecedented pro-
cedure and most gracious; that to
transport the prisoners to Galveston
would be half the distance; that we
should have to clothe, shelter guard
and feed them there, and no doubt
have to ship them back to Spain in the
end. l also stated that / believed that
it would be a great inducement to the
Spaniards to surrender, which General
Shafter afterwards assured me was the
effect. The president readily approved
the plan, and on the same day l cabled
General Shafter as follows:
War Department, July 10. 1885
General Shafter Playa del Este, San
tiago: Should the Spaniards surrender
Internationally and wish to return TO
Spain, they will be sent back direct at
the expense Of the United States gov
eminent tSigned), r. A. ALGER,
" Secretary of War
Upon receiving this, on the 18th of
July, General Shafter sent the follow
ing communication to the commander
in-chief of the Spanish forces:
" Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
Camp near Santiago de Cuba, July H.
1S9S-Sr: With the largely increased
forces which have come to me and the
fact that l have your line surely in my
hands, the time seems fitting that /
should again demand of your excel
lency the surrender of Santiago and of
your excellency's army. l am author
lied to state that should your excel
lency so desire, the government of the
United States will transport the entire
command of your excellency to Spain.
i have the honor to be, very respect
fully. your obedient servant,
WILLIAM r. SHAFTER,
Major General Commanding
To which the commander replied:
" Santiago de Cuba, July H. 1885,
Sir: l have the honor to advise your
excellency that your communication of
this date is received, and in reply de-
sire to confirm that which l said in my
former communication: also to advise
proposal to the general in chief. Re
iterating my sentiments. am, your re-
spectful servant, JOSE TORAL,
Chief Fourth Corps and
Military Governor of Santiago
Immediately upon the surrender
pledges of the United States govern
ment to ship the Spaniards home. The
quartermaster department Immediately
advertised for bids to transport the
prisoners to Spain, with the result that
eight of the ocean transportation COM
panies submitted a combined bid. which
was-for officers, $40, and for enlisted
men, s55 per capita, steamer to be dis
patched from Santiago within As hours
of their reported arrival or demurrage
to be paid at the rate of so cents per
capita per day, same demurrage to be
paid If the steamers be detained at
place of debarkation by quarantine or
other cause. The Spanish Trans-At-
lantic company's bid was s55 per capita
for officers and 500 for enlisted men,
with no demurrage. The Spanish conf
pany's offer was accepted, the rations
for the prisoners We're inspected by a
United States government official and
this government paid for the Transport
tation OF all the prisoners $5l3, $50. The
same number carried by the other COM
panies under this bid would have cost
the government s1.5H,9l5 Here was
$500, 900 saved to the United States and
probably as much more in demurrage.
Some days after this contract was
awarded, the president said TO me as
entered the cabinet room:
Mr.. Secretary, would you like to
hear something favorable to you print
ed in the New York Times, and went
on to read the editorial comment com
plimentary to the man whose mind
originated the plan of transporting the
Spaniards back to Spain"