The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-30
SPANISH COURT ON SANTIAGO.
PRESENTS SOME NEW POINTS As
TO THE CAPTURE.

McrrimaC-Casualty List ON the De-
casion of the Fleets ROmbard-
ment-Many Officers KiIIed-Santi-
agO's Supplies Were About Ex-
hausted-The Courts Decree.
Washington. oct. 29-The bureau of
naval intelligence has made public a very
interesting document published in the olii-
cial organ of the minister of war at Mad
rid ana containing the sentence Of the SUI
preme Council in the proceedings insti,ut-
ed because of the capitulation of Santiago
in the summer of 1895
The defendants named in the proceed
ings are Jose Toral Velazquez, general of
division and the successor of Gen. Linares
in the command of the Fourth Army
Corps of Cuba; Gen. Mesa, chief of the
brigade of Guantanamo; Lieut. Col. We
larde, military commander of Baracoa;
Lieut.. Col Rafael Algeria, commander of
Sagua de Tanamo; Capt Arturo Hidalgo,
commander of Alto Songo; Capt, Jose Gar
clio, commander at San Louis; Capt. Ro-
mualdo Martinez, commander of Palma
Soriano, and Capt. Clements PeyrO. COM
mander at FL Cristo. The defendants
named, besides Gen. Toral, are the com
manders of the outlying military posts
which were included in the captula ton of
Santiago.
The most interesting feature of the re-
port is the fact that the court lay great
stress upon the Importance Of the Ameri-
can naval forces and declares that without
their cooperation il would have been inn
10 A n
compelled the surrender of Santiago. The
sentence of the court concludes by Vindi-
eating Gen. Toral from any censure for
the surrender of the city, stating that he
had used every means of defense required
by the laws of honor and duty
= as attested by the brilliant battles
sustained from June % to the day Of ca
pitulation and the many casualties in gem
erals, commanders, officers and privates
during said battles"
The other defendants are exonerated.
having acted under the instructions Of
their commanding general, who, in turn,
had the sanction of his home government
for each step taken.
Goes Into the History.
Before reaching this conclusion, how
ever the court goes into what may be
characterized as a brief but Compreheu-
sive history of the whole Cuban cam
paign. 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 olockaded the
harbor and cut off all hope of outside as
sistance.
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 a space of forty-fve minutes
The fact that the Colon aided the bat
teries of Moro, Socapa and Punta Gorda
during the bombardment is new.
Referring to the sinking of the Merit
mac in the channel at the mouth of the
harbor. the court declares that she was
sunk by the combined fire of the Reina
Mercedes and the water batteries, a state
ment not in agreement with Lieut. Hob
sons view of the affair on board the Merit
mae
OF the bombardment by the American
squadron on June the court says that
over 1000 projectiles were discharged by
the hostile feet, resulting in serious in
juries to the Reina Mercedes and the gar
rison quarters at the Moro. 1t says,
however. that no guns were dismounted by
this bombardment.
Casualty List Was Large.
zone chief was killed, however and
eight men killed, two chiefs, five officers
This is rather a larger casualty list than
was credited to this bombardment at the
time.
The landing of the American forces AZ
Daiquiri and the bombardment of thar
that town and of Siboney are described in
considerable detail.
Coming down TO the fight at Caney, the
court declares that one-half of the Off
GERS engaged were either killed or wound
ed. 1t points out with pride, however
that the Spanish artillery during the
mornings fight on July was able to
silence the American battery at Eel Poso
and cause II to withdraw. OF the gen.
eral engagement on July 1t is said that
over 500 men and fifty generals, CHEERS
and officers were killed and wounded Ii
is pointed out that during the engagement
of July l only LOO men of the Spanish
command were actively engaged. the 9th
ers. it is explained being to the westward
occupied in guarding threatened points
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 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 guerillas. The remainder
of the forces, it is explained. were gsrri-
soning the Moro and the batteries a Soca-
pa and Punta Gorda and performing the
services of carrying water to different
points, patrolling the city, land rendering
such services as the inhabitants could
have rendered had the city remained
loyal"
Shortage of Supplies.
Referring 10 garrison stores, the court
says that at the time of the surrender all
that was left to the army was a million
Spanish Mauser cartridges. These would
not have lasted for more than two at
tacks on the part of the enemy. The Ar
gentine Mauser ammunition. of which
there was a considerable supply could not
be utilized for want of weapons of thar
type, nor could the Remington ammuni-
ton, these weapons being in the hands
of the irregular forces only.
The provisions in the city at the time
of the surrender, it is said, consisted only
of rice, salt oil, coffee, sugar and bran
dy and only of these only about ten days
supply remained. There were LOO sick in
the hospitals, who had to be fed 10 say
Of fta eoldfaro who sporf Iaxr oaI