The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-30
INTERESTING DOCUMENT.

Review ofthe Cuban Campaign From
q Spanish standpoint-ThC Merri-
mac Incident Recalled.
WARRINGTON. D. c., oct. 2s.-The
bureau Of naval intelligence has made
public a very Interesting document
published In the omciat organ Of the
minister Of war at Madrid and contains
ing the sentence of the supreme council
in the proceedings Instituted because Of
the capltuiation Of Santiago in the
summer Of 1898. The defendants named
III the proceedings are Jose Toral Vel
aSQuez. general Of division, and the
successor Of General Linares, in conn
mand OF the Fourth army corps Of Gu
ba; General Mesa, chief Of the brigade
OF Guantanamo; Lieutenant Colonel
veIarde, military commander Of Bara-
Goa; Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Alegri,
commander Of sagua de Tonamo; Cap
tain Arturo HidalBo, commander Of AL
to Songo. Captain Jose Garcia, com-
nander OF San Louis; Captain Romual-
rIano, and Captain Clemente Peyro.
commander at ri Crlsto. The defend
ants named, beside General Torai are
the commanders Of the outlying milf
tary posts, Which were included IN the
capltulation OF Santiago.
The most Interesting feature OF the
report IL the fact that the court lays
great stress upon the Importance OF the
American naval forces and declares
that without their cooperation 1t would
have been Impossible for the American
forces TO have compelled the surrender
OF Santiago. The sentence OF the court
concludes by vindlcating General Toral
from any censure for the surrender OF
the city, stating that he had used ev-
cry means Of defense required by the
laws OF honor and duty. "s'eaF AS
attested by the brilliant battles sustain
ed from June 70 to the day Of caplt1la-
ton and the many casualties in gener-
ais, commanders, officers and prtYateS
during said battles"
The other defendants are exonernted,
having acted under the Instructions OF
their commanding general, who IN turn
had the sanction of his home governs
ment for each step taken. Before reach
ing this conclusion, however, the court
goes into what may be characterized as
brief but comprehensive history OF
the whole Cuban campaign from the
Spanish standpoint, the various re-
verses met with from time to time be-
ing cited as explanations of the final
surrender OF the city which was point
ed out as being Inevitable from the
time the American squadron blockaded
the harbor and cut on ali hope Of out
side assistance.
It Is declared that during the bonn
bardment Of Santiago on May 81, about
one hundred shots were fred by Span
ish batteries and the Colon in n space
OF forty-hVe minutes. The fact that the
Colon aided the batteries OF the Moro,
SocApa and Punta Gorda during this
bombardment, Is new. Referring to the
sinking OF the Merrimac in the channel
at the mouth Of the harbor, the court
declares that she was sunk by the
| combined FIRE Of the Relna Mercedes
and the water batteries, a statement
not in agreement with Lieut.. Hobson's
view Of the affair on board the Merri-
mac.
OF the bombardment by the American
squadron on June 6, the court says that
over two thousand projectiles were dis
charged by the hostile fleet, resulting In
serious injuries to the Reina Mercedes,
and the garrison quarters at the Morro
1t says, however, that no guns were
dismounted by this bombardment. zone
chief was killed, however. and eight
men killed, two chiefs, five officers and
| fifty.six men wounded" This Is rather
a larger casualty list than was credited
to this bombardment ut the tina
The landing OF the American forces at
DRidutri and the bonbaTdment Of 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 officers engaged
were either killed or wounded. 1t points
out with pride, however, that the Span
ish artillery during the mornings fight
on July ], was able 10 silence the
American battery at Ell Paso and cause
1t to withdraw.
OF the general engagement on July 1,
It Is said that over Ave hundred men
and fifty generals, chiefs and officers,
were killed and wounded. 1t is pointed
out that during the engagement OF July
], only 100 men Of the Spanish COM
mand were actively engaged, the 9TH
ers. 1t Is explained, being to the west
ward occupied In guarding threatened
pointa and unable to be Of material as
sistance.
Following the loss Of San Juan and
Caney the court declares that the water
supply was cut on and that the mill
tary force surviving the two days
fighting OF July and 2, was entirely
inadequate to defend the fourteen kill
ometers OF protective works around the
city. The total force available is placed
officially at seven thousand infantry
and one thousand g1errlllas. The re-
mninder OF the forces, It is explained,
| were HarrlBoninE the Moro and the
batteries at Socupa and Punta Gorda.
and performing also the services of
carrying water to different points, pa
trolling the city "and rendering such
other services as the inhabitants could
have rendered had the city remained
loyal"
Referring to garrison stores, the court
4, says that at the time Of the surrender
all that was left Of the army was n
million Spanish Mauser cartridges,
These would not have lasted for more
than two attacks on the part of the
enemy, The Argentine Mauser ammu-
| nltInVN NJ NVh1o1, fhoHn rnNa1dor-