Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-30

ERABLB NEW LIGHT ON THE
SPANISH OPERATIONS - GEN.
TORAL IS INDICATED FROM
ANY CENSURE, AND THE 9TH
Err DEFENDANTS ARE EXON
GRATED, AS ACTING UNDER
THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE
COMMANDING GENERAL.
WASHINGTON October 29.-The
Bureau of Naval Intelligence has made
public very interesting document pub
lished in the official organ of the Min
lister of War at Madrid, and containing
the sentence of the supreme council in
the proceedings instituted because OF
the capitulation of Santiago in the sum-
mer of 1888. The defendants named IN
the proceedings are Jose Toral Velaz-
quez general of division, and the sue
cessor of Gen. Linares, in command or
the Fourth army corps of Cuba; Gen.
Mesa, chief of the brigade of Guantan-
amo; Lieut.. Col. Velarde, military
commander of Baracoa; Lieut.. Col. RAJ
fael Alegri, commander of Sague de
Tonamo; Captain Arturo Hidalge, COM
mander of Alto Songo; Captain Jose
Garcia, commander of San Louis; Cap
tain Romualdo Martinez. commander Oh
Palma Soriano, and Captain Clemente
Peyro, commander at Ell Cristo. The
defendants named, besides General
Toral are the commanders of the out
lying military posts which were in
cluded in the capitulation of San
tiago
The most interesting feature OF the
report is 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 vindicating Gen
ORAL lIOn airy CCAoulO ANA ~
render of the city, stating that he mad
used every means of defense required
bv the laws Of honor and duty
AS attested by the brilliant battles sus-
tanned from June 22d to the day OF ca
pitulation, and the many casualties IN
generals, 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 govern
ment for each step taken.
Before reaching this conclusion, how
ever, the court goes into what may be
characterized as brief but comprehen-
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 blockaded
the harbor and cut off all hope OF out
side assistance.
Tt is claimed that during the bonn
bardment of Santiago on May 81, about
100 shots were fired by Spanish bat
teries and the Colon in a space OF 40
minutes The fact that the Colon
aided the batteries of the MORO, So
cana and Punta Gorda during this
bombardment is new. Referring to the
sinking OF the Merrimac in the chan
mel 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 statement
not in agreement with Lieutenant
Hobson's view of the affair on board
the Merrimac.
On the bombardment by the Ameri-
can squadron on June 6, the court says
that over 1000 projectiles were dis
charged by the hostile fleet, resulting
in serious injuries to the Reina Mer-
cedes and the garrison quarters at the
MORO. 1t says, however, that no guns
we're dismounted by this lombard
ment. Zone chief was killed, however,
and eight men killed, two chiefs, five Of
ficers and Sc men wounded" This is
rather a larger casualty list than was
credited to this bombardment at the
time.
The landing Of the American forces
at Daiquiri and the bombardment 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. Il
points with pride, however, to the fact
that the Spanish artillery during the
mornings fight on July / was able to
silence the American battery at Ell
Paso and cause it TO withdraw.
OF the general engagement on July
/ it is said that over 500 men and 80
generals, chiefs and officers were killed
and wounded. 1t is pointed cut that
during the engagement of July l only
100 men of the Spanish command