The San Francisco call., 1899-07-24
OF
SECRETARY ALGER
Speaks Freely of His
Official Acts.
SENDING HOME OF PRISONERS
CLAIMS A SAVING OF EXPENSE
TO THE COUNTRY.
Moreover, He Says It Was an Effect
i've Inducement to the Span
iards to Lay Down Their
Arms.
SENDING HOME OF PRISONERS
CLAIMS A SAVING OF EXPENSE
TO THE COUNTRY.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON. July 28,-secretary
Alger has always felt a pride in the
success with which the War Department
met the tremendous problem thrust upon
it by the necessity with which 1t was
suddenly confronted during the war with
Spain of suddenly dispOsing of the thou
sands of Spanish prisoners captured IN
Santiago province. The history OF that
time has not been fully told and it re-
mained for Secretary Alger to-day to sup
ply the need by the following bit or
reminiscence:
"On the night Of July 8, 1898, the Presi-
dent 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 con-
clusion had been reached. theh sus-
gested to the President that Galveston,
Texas, would be the best place in the
United States where we could send them;
that it was away from the coast line
travel; a good harbor; that there WoulQ
be plenty of room for camping tnenl' dnu
that its climate would be as nearly SIM
liar to that of Santiago as we couId prop
ably select ,
This seemed to meet his approval, as
II was only question of time, OF course,
when their capture would be erected L
went to my home. as nearly as can re
member, about ? o'clock in the morning,
and being too tired to sleep lay awake
for a while fbut finally dozed on. WOKE
at daybreak and my first thought was
concerning the Spanish prisoners, ana the
new idea came into my head; w ny not
send them back to Spain" This thought
so deeply impressed me that formulated
my plan, and on the morning OF July Io'
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 act; that to
transport the prisoners TO Galveston
would be half the distance; that we Snould
have to clothe, shelter, guard and FEED
them there and no doubt have 10 snip
them back to Spain in the end. l also
stated that l believed that 1t would be a
great inducement TO the Spaniards to sur
render, which General Shafter atterWard
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 TO- 1895.
General Shafter, Playa del Este, San
tiago. Cuba: Should the Spaniards sur
render unconditionally and wish to return
to Spain they will be sent back direct
at the expense of the United States Gov
Secretary of War
Upon receiving this on the 11th of July
General Shafter sent the following com
munication to the COmmander-ln-chlet or
the Spanish forces:
'Headquarrters Of Fifth 3,,,A Army Go Corps
forces which have come TO me. and the
fact that | have your line OF retreat Sc
Curely in my hands. the time seems fitting
that / should again demand of your Ex-
cellency the surrender of Santiago ana OF
your Excellency's army. am authorled
TO state that should your EXcellenCy SO
desire the Government of the United
States will transport the entire command
of your ExceIlency to Spain.
~ have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servant
- WILLIAM r. SHAFTER,
- Major General commanding.
ITO which the commander replied
Santiago de Cuba, July Il, 1S9S;--Sir:
| have the honor to advise your ENcellency
that your communication of this date is
received, and in reply desire TO connrm
that which l said in my former communl-
cation; also TO advise you that nave
commqnicated your proposition to the ne
general-in-chief. Reiteraung my senu-
ments | am, your respectful servant,
JOSE TORAL,
&" 'Commander-in-ch Fourth Corps and
Military Governor of Santiago.
"Tmmediately upon the surrender steps
were taken to carry out the pledges OF
the United States Government shipment
Of Spaniards home. The QuartermaSter )
Department Immediately advertised for
bids to transport the prisoners to Spain,
with the result that eight of the ocean
transportation companies submitted
combined bid, which was for Ofhcers SIlJ
and for enlisted men $50 per capita,
steamers to be dispatched from Santiago
de Cuba within fOrty-eight hours OF their
at the rate of 50 cents per capita per day;
same demurrage to be paid If steamers
be detained at place of debarkaton by
quarantine or other cause. The Spanish
Transatlantic Company's bid was s53 per
capita for officers and $50 for enlisted
men. with no demurrage. The Spanish
companys offer was accepted. the .rations
for the prisoners were inspected by
United States Government official and
this Government paid for the transporta-
ton of all the prisoners s51S.S60. The same
number carried by the other companies
under their bid would have cost the Gov
ernment s1,312 915. Here was $500 900 saved
to the United States and probably as
much more in demurrage.
Sore days after the. contract was
awarded the President said to me as 1
entered the Cabinet room: Mr.. Secre-
tary. would you like to hear something
favorable to you printed in the New York
Tines and went on to read the editorial
comment complimentary to the man
whose mind originated the plan of trans
porting the Spaniards back to Spain"
MANY STEAMERS FOR SALE.