The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-24
SENDING PRISONERS BACK TO SPAIN
Gen. Aleer Says He First Suggested It and
Impressed 1t Upon the President.


WARRINGTON. July 23.-Slnce the close OF the
war with Spain there has been much comment
| on the action OF the United States in sending
back to Spain the Spanish prisoners captured
by the navy and army. The plan met with gen
eral approval the world over. but there has
been considerable discussion rs to who was
responsible for the suggestion to send them to
their own country. Secretary Alger has finally
determined to tell the history OF the whole
matter and to Sun reporter and other news
paper representatives he made the following
statement:
On the night OF July o. 1893. the President
asked me what. in my judgment. We should do
with the Spanish prisoners OF Santiago after
their capture 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 Calves
ton Tex. would be the best place In the United
States. in my judgment. whore we could send
them: that II was away from the coast-line
travel: a good harbor: that there would be
plenty OF room for camping them. and that it's
climate would be as nearly similar to that o!
Santiago as we could probably select. This
seemed to meet his approval. as 1t was only
question OF time. OF course. when the capture
would be effected / went to my home. as
nearly as | can remember about O'Clock in
the morning and being too tired to sleep I
lay awake for a while. but finally dropped of.
l awoke at just day break. and my first thought
was concerningthe Spanish prisoners. and the
new thought came into my mind, Why not
send them back to Spain p This proposition
impressed me so deeply that formulated my
plan. and on the morning of July 10. instead OF
going to the department direct. went to the
White House and laid the new plan before the
deoted sag,ng ,na ina th woud De al
any nation In the world that to ship the pris-
oners 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 induce
ment to the Span ards to surrender. which Gen.
S ma aiterward assured me was the effect
on the ssme as Gene sa f pan o
lows
Gen. Shaft,r. Playa del Este. Santiago. Cuba:
Should the spaniards surrender m,nSonditionaly
asss' he sS.S
ment X. A. ALoER Secretary Of War.
Upon receiving this. on the 18th OF July
ton to the Commander-in-Chief OF the Spanish
forces:
"HEADeUARrERs FIFTH ARMY CORPS.
CAMP MAR SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July II.
o WITH the S5Fe ,s forces whSa
ting that should again demand OF your E1cellency
army am sathori1eG to s state that should your
E1celleney so desire. the Government Of the United
EIcellency to spain. l have the honor to be. very
respectfully your obedient servant
- WM. r. SKATER, Major-General Commanding.
ITO which the commander replied as follows:
"sAsTIAoo DE Cun., July H. 1923.
SIR: have the honor to advise your eminence
and in reply desire to connrm that which said in
my former communication; also to advise you that
have communicated your proportion to the Gen
erain Chief. Reiterating my sentiments am. very
"JosE ToRAL. Commander in. Chief Fourth Corps.
and Military Governor of Santiago.
Immediately upon the surrender stems were
SssrS H%s o To t h
The Quartermaster's Department Immediately
adyerised for bids to transport the prisoners
me; oqnsTl Steamship dompS3y timitsd,
Hamburg American Packet COMPANY. Robert
soap Co ErGdsfsk i Eyand Co.
Thomas Wilson. Sons A Go. CIimited,. and
Wilson 4 Fnrness LeyInpd Line Limited
oers sGa or R which hen pe for
capita, steamers to be despatched from San
tiago de, Cuba within forty-eight hours of their
dsmSrrage to be paid II steamers e rs be detaned
cause r The Spanish TrSnsatantic Company' s
bid was $50 per capIta for officers and $40
ss ffSEs 1 e; sS r.
s5i3.s60. The same number carried BY the
tho ere h %Ss
$500: 600 saved to the United States and prob
after this contract was "a. awarded the President
said to me. As entered the Cab net room. Mr..
Seeretpby would YOU IKE to hear tS som something
Times p and went on to read the editorial com:
ment. mplmentary to the man whose mind
iards back to Spain"