The National tribune., 1903-07-09
TRIBUNE WASHINGTON, G., THURSDAY, JULY 1903

|
$1,000 Cubans, had been intrusted with
| the duty of watching for these rein
| forcements and intercepting them, but
| for some reason he failed to do so.
and Gen. EScario passed into the city
along my extreme right near the bay. UP
to this time had been unable to complete
the investment of the town with my own
men. but to prevent any more reinforce
ments coming in, or the enemy escaping,
extended the lines as rapidly as possible
to the extreme right and completed the
investment of the place, leaving Gen. Car
/ cia's forces in the rear of our right flank,
to scout the country for any approaching
Spanish reinforcements, a duty which his
forces were very competent to perform.
| ADMIRAL cERvERA's FLEET.
| In the battle of Santiago. the Spanish
navy endeavorcd to shell our troops on
the extreme right. but the latter We're con-
cealed by the inequalities of the ground,
and the shells did little if any harm. Their
naval forces also assisted in the trenches.
having 1000 on shore, and l am informed
that they sustained considerable loss
among others Admiral Cervera's Chief
i of Staff was killed. Being convinced that
the city would fall. Admiral Cervera de-
termined to put to sea. informing the
French Consul that it was better to die
fighting than to sink his ships. The
news of the great naval victory which
followed was enthusiastically received by
| the army.
Information of our naval victory was
transmitted under flag of truce to the
Spanish Commander Mt Santiago on July
1. and the suggestion was again made
| that he surrender to save needless effu-
sion of blood. On the same date Informed
Admiral Sampson that, if he would force
his way into the harbOr, the city would
surrender without any further loss of time.
Commodore Watson replied that Admiral
Schley was temporarily absent, but that
in his (WatsOn's) opinion the Navy should
1ot enter the harbor.
PARLEYING WITH TIE ENEMY.
| In the meanwhile letters passing be-
tween Gen TOral and myself caused the
cessation of hostilties to continue. Each
army, however. continued TO strengthen
it's ntrenchments. Being still of the Op!n-
ion that the Spaniards would surrender
without much more fighting, on July q
called Gen. Torars attention to the
changed conditions, and at his request
gave him time to consult his home Gov
ernment. This he did, asking that the
British Consul with the employees Of the
Gable Company he permitted to return
from FL Caney to the city. His request
was granted.
The strength Of the enemy's position
was such that did not wish to make an
assault if it could be avoided. An exam
nation of the enemy's works, made after
the surrender. fully justified the wisdom
of the course adopted. The intrenchments
could have been carried only with very
great loss of life, probably with not less
than 5000 killed and wounded.
On July s. Gen. Toral offered to march
- bn ,it Will, and hu
provided that he would not be molested
before reaching Holguin, and to surren-
der to the American forces the territory
then occupied by him. | replied that.
while his proposition should he submitted
| to nv home Government / did not think
| that it would be accepted.
| Meanwhile arrangements were made
with Admiral Sampson that when the
army again engaged the enemy, the Navy
would assist by shellinG the city from
ships stationed off Aguadores, dropping a
shell every few minutes.
| On July 10 the 1st III. and the 1st Dis
trict of Columbia regiments arrived. and
| were placed on the line to the right of
the Cavalry Division. This enabled me
to push Lawton's line farther to the
right and practically to command the Co
bra road.
| On the afternoon Of the date last men,
toned, the truce was broken at p. m.
determined to open with four batteries
of artillery and went forward in person
to the trenches, to give the necessary Or
ders. but the enemy anticipated us by
opening fire with his artillery, few min
| utes after the hour stated. His batter
| les were apparently silenced before night,
while ours continued playing upon his
trenches until dark. During this firing,
the Navy fired from Aguadores. most of
the shells falling in the city. There was
also some small arms firing.
On the morning of July IL the lombard
ment by the Navy and our fed guns was
renewed and continued until nearly noon,
and on the same day n report was sent
to the Adjutant- General of the Army that
the right of Ludlow's Brigade of Lawton S
Division rested on the bay. Thus our hold
upon the enemy was complete. AT 2 p.
IN. on this date, the 11th, the surrender
of the city was again demanded. The fir
ing ceased and was not again renewed.
BY this date the sickness in my army was
increasing very rapidly, as n result of ex-
posure in the trenches to the intense heat
of the sun. the heavy rains and the dews
which, in Cuba, are almost equal to rains.
The weakness of the troops was becoming
so apparent that l was anxious to bring
the siege to an end, but in common with
most of the officers of the army did not
think an assault would be justifiable, es-
pecially as the enemy seemed to be act
ing in good faith in his preliminary propo.
sitiOns to surrender.
On July II l wrote Gen. Toral as fol
lows:
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 1 should
again demand of your Excellency the sur
render of Santiago and of your Excel
| lency's army. l am authorized to state
that should your Excellency so desire, the
Government of the United States will
transport the entire command of your EX-
cellency to Spain"
Gen. Toral replied that he had COM
municated my proposition to his General
in-Chief, Gen. Blanco.
July IL, l Informed the Spanish Com
mander that Maj.-Gen. Miles. Command
erin Chief of the American Army, had
just arrived in camp and requested him
to grant us personal interview ON the
following day. He replied that he would
be pleased to meet us. The interview took
place on the 18th, and 1 informed Gen.
Toral that only his surrender could be
considered and that as he was without
hope of escape he had no right to con-
tinue the fight.
| ToRAL AGREES TO SURRENDER.
| IN tbo 18th another intaryiew took