The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-24
A BIT OF HISTORY.
Alger Relates How
Skilfully He Man
aged.
RETURN OF PRISONERS.
Saving to Government of
Over One Million
Dollars.
RETURN OF PRISONERS.

Washington, July 23.-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 it was sud
denly confronted during the war with
Spain, of suddenly disposing of the
thousands of Spanish prisoners cap
tured in Santiago province. The history
of that time has not been fully told, and
1t remained for Secretary Alger today
to supply the need, by the following bit
Of "Reminiscences:
On the night of July 9, 1898, the presi-
dent asked me what, in my judgment,
we should do with the Spanish prison.
ers of Santiago after their capture. The
matter had received very much thought
definite conclusion had been reached.
then suggested to the president that
Galveston Tex, would be the best place
in the United States, in my judgment,
where we could send them; that it was
away from the coast line travel, good
harbor; that there would be plenty of
room for camping, and that it's climate
would be as nearly similar to that OF
Santiago as we could probably select.
This seemed to meet his approval, as it
was only G question of time, of course,
when the capture would be effected.
1 went to my home, as nearly as l can
remember about o'clock in the morn
ing, and being too tired to sleep, l, lay
awake for awhile, but finally dozed off.
awoke the next day bright and early,
and my first thought was concerning
the Spanish prisoners, and the new idea
came into my head: why not send
them back to Spain?" This thought i'm
pressed me so deeply that 1 formulated
my plan, ard 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 president,
saying that it would be an unprecedent-
ed procedure and a most gracious act;
that to ship the prisoners to Galveston
would be half the distance; that we
should have to cloth e, guard and feed
them there, and no doubt have to ship
them back to Spain in the end.
l also stated thet I believed that it
would be great inducement to the
SpaniaI DIS to surrender, which Gen.
Shafter afterwards assured me was the
effect. The president readily approved
the plan, and on the same day cabled
Gen. Shafter as follows:
"Washingtcn, July 10, 1898.
"Gen. Shaftrr, Playa del Este, San
tiago, Cuba:-Should the Spaniards
surrender Internationally and wish to
return to SPAIN they will be sent back
direct at the expense of the United
States government.
"R. A. Alger.
Secretary of War"
Upon receiving this on the 18th OF
July. Gen. Shafter sent the following
communication to the commander-in-
chief of the Spanish forces:
Headquarters of the Fifth Army
Corps, Camp near Santiago,
Cuba, July IL, 1898.
"Sir-With the largely increased
forces which have come to me and the
fact that I have your line of retreat
securely in my hands, the time seems
fitting that l SHOULD again demand of
your excellency the surrender of Santi-
ago and of-your excellency's army. |
am authorized to state that should your
excellency so desire, the government of
the United States will transport the en-
Spain I have the honor to be very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
"William r. Shafter,
Major General, Commanding"
To which the commander replied as
follows:
Santiago de Cuba, July II, 1898.
"Sir-I have the honor to advise your
eminence that your communication of
this date is received, and in reply de-
sire to confirm that which I said in my
former communication; also to advise
you that I have communicated your
proposition to the general-in- chief
"Reiterating my sentiments, 1 am
very respectfully, your servant,
Jose Toral
| fkr1 IN
and Military Governor Of Santiago"
Immediately upon the surrender steps
were taken to carry out the pledges of
the United States government to ship
the Spaniards homes The Quartermas-
ter's department Immediately advertis-
ed for bids to transport the prisoners
to Spain with the result that eight of
the ocean transportation companies
submitted combine bid, which was
for officers s110 and for enlisted men
$55 per capita, steamers to be dispatch
ed from Santiago de Cuba within As
hours of their reported arrival or
demurrage to be paid at the rate Of SO
cents per capita per day, same demur-
rage to be paid If steamers be detained
at place of debarkation by quarantine
or other cause.
The Spanish Transatlantic compa-
ny's bid was $50 per capita for officers
and $40 for enlisted men, with no demur-
rage. The Spanish company's offer was
accepted. The rations for the prison
ers were inspected by a United States
government official and this govern
ment paid for the transportation Of all
the prisoners $513,S60 The same num-
Der carried by the other companies On
der their bid would have cost the gov
eminent $1,S12,915. Here was $500 900
saved to the United States and prob
ably as much more In demurrage.
Some days after this contract was
awarded, the president said to me as
I entered the cabinet room: Mr. Sec
rotary, would you like to hear some
thing favorable to you printed in the
New York TImes?" and went on Ia
read the editorial comment compli-
mentary to the man who originated
the plan Of transporting the Spaniards
back to Spain.
BODIES FOUND.