The Appearance of General Miles at Santiago-His Moral as well as Military ForceSpanish Obstinacy in the Negotiation for Capitulation-The Iron Hand at Washington-The Practical Question was, How Much Would Victory Cost Us?-The Spanish Case was Hopeless-They Sought to Save their Military Honor-The Scenes and Terms of the Surrender-An Inspector General's Picturesque Story-Telegrams that are Photographs-The President's Proclamation of Principles and Purpose in Cuban Government-Comparative Proportions of Great Surrenders.

It was July 7th that the Major-General commanding the army of the United States left Washington City for the seat of war in Cuba, and with the aid of a fast train to Columbia, South Carolina, and a "special" for Charleston, took the "Yale," having 1,500 troops aboard, and arrived at Santiago on the morning of the 11th, finding Admiral Sampson bombarding the Spaniards at the mouth of the harbor, but not forcing his way in, as Shafter desired. The General was en route four nights and three days.

There had been a good deal of conjecture whether. the real intention of the war office in hastening the transit of the head of the army from the national capital to the scene of action, might not to be to supersede Shafter, who was a sick man, sorely perplexed; and within the horizon of the popular observation there were heavy clouds, though the navy of the Spaniards was no longer considered. The purpose of General Miles-his plan presumablywas to assist in the capture of Santiago and press on to Porto Rico, precisely that which he did. Santiago was to him a spectacular episode.

The General commanding the United States army and the Admiral commanding the North Atlantic squadron soon got together. General Miles desired to land troops west of Santiago, and make a diversion in that quarter, the Cubans not getting up in our fashion of fighting. In his note to Sampson, Miles did not take into view that a force comprising the greater part of fifty or sixty thousand Cubans ought to be, according to his original plan,

somewhere in the neighborhood to storm the Spaniards out of Santiago. Shafter had cabled Miles July 4th: "I am delighted to know that you are coming that you may see for yourself the obstacles which this army had to overcome. My only regret is the great number of gallant souls who have given their lives for our country's cause."

A telegram of congratulation sent by General Miles July 3d was read at the head of each of the regiments that had been engaged. Miles told Sampson that he desired the coöperation of the navy in the west end movement, and Sampson cordially acquiesced, offering every assistance of his fleet to cover the debarkation of the troops and also to enfilade the Spanish position with the guns of the ships.

It will be noted that it was the plan of Miles, and not the plan of Shafter, in which Sampson so cordially acquiesced. There was one thing about which the Admiral held positive opinion, and that was, as the Spaniards had done what the gallant Hobson had not, blockaded the mouth of the harbor, he did not mean to risk the sinking of a battleship in attempting a "no thoroughfare." After meeting Sampson, Miles went on shore and communicated with Shafter, who said he had troops enough to hold his position, and Miles gave the orders for the movement on the west.

The next morning, July 12th, Miles rode to Shafter's headquarters, and the news of the arrival of the Major-General commanding was sent the Spanish General, also the fact that large reinforcements had arrived, and that others were on the way, and that Shafter and Miles desired to meet him between the lines at any time agreeable to him. The Spanish General courteously replied that he would see the American generals at 12 o'clock on the following day. On that day Shafter announced "nervousness' in the army on account of the yellow fever, "which is among us certainly, twenty-nine new cases yesterday and probably one hundred and fifty all told."

General Toral had been seen and "a good impression made on him," and Shafter supplemented that information with these words: "I will open on him at twelve noon to-morrow with every gun I have and the assistance of the navy with thirteen-inch shells." The Spanish General agreed to surrender on the basis of being returned to Spain-the proposal including all eastern Cuba. There were about 12,000 Spanish troops in Santiago, and as many at other points. The Spaniards were eagerly urgent to be allowed to have their arms shipped with them.

July 16th the Spaniards surrendered, the main point with them being that they were to go home with their side arms and that they were to take with their military archives, the arms they had so valiantly defended. General Shafter did not seem to think it an essential matter whether the old Spanish guns went to Spain or not, but Secretary Alger insisted that it was not possible to concede that the arms should go. The letter of General Toral notifying Shafter of Blanco's acceptance of the terms that had been definitely agreed upon, 'was wired to the Adjutant-General of the United States at Washington by the American General commanding in the field, who added: "I have stood the delay, as I believe it will come out all right, and a fight which we can have at any time will cost a lot of men." The letter was as follows:

General in Chief of the American Forces.

Santiago, Cuba, 14.

Honored Sir: His excellency the general in chief of the army of the island of Cuba telegraphs from Havana yesterday at 7 p. m. the following: "Believing that business of such importance as the capitulation of that place should be known and decided upon by the government of His Majesty, I give you notice that I have sent the conditions of your telegram, asking immediate answer, and enabling you also to show this to the general of the American army to see if he will agree to await the answer of the government, which can not be as soon as the time which he has decided, as communication by way of Bermuda is more slow than Key West. In the meanwhile your honor and the general of the American army may agree upon capitulation on the basis of returning to Spain." I have the honor to transmit this to you that in case you may find the foregoing satisfactory he may designate persons representative of himself, who, with those in my name, may agree to the clauses of capitulation upon the basis of return to Spain, accepted already in the beginning by the general in chief of this army. Awaiting a reply, I am, Very respectfully, your servant, JOSÉ TORAL,

Commanding, Chief of the Fourth Army Corps.

July 14th, 3:24 p. m., General Miles telegraphed Toral had formally surrendered on the understanding that his troops should be returned to Spain. The General pronounced that this was "very gratifying”—and "General Shafter and the officers and men of this command are entitled to great credit for their sincerity, fortitude, and in overcoming almost insuperable obstacles

which they encountered. A portion of the army has been infected with yellow fever."

Then came to the Santiago army headquarters this important dispatch from the White House: Executive Mansion, Washington, July 15, 1898-12:35 p. m.

Major-General Shafter, Camp before Santiago, Cuba:

Have you received the absolute surrender of the enemy? We are awaiting the conditions with impatience. R. A. ALGER, Secretary of War.

Shafter announced that the discussion as to terms lasted until ten o'clock the night of the 14th, and was to be settled on the evening of the 15th at 9:30, and that the great point of the Spaniards was to have their arms "shipped to them." It was not possible for them to fail to complete arrangements. The following telegrams complete the links of the chain of events:

Adjutant-General's Office,
Washington, July 15, 1898-4:45 p. m.

Major-General Shafter, Playa del Este:

Secretary of War suggests, is it not possible that Toral is gaining time to get reinforcements that may be on the way to assist him?

H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant-General.

Playa del Este, via Hayti.

(Received at Washington July 15, 1898—9 p. m.)

Adjutant-General United States Army, Washington:

Headquarters near Santiago, Cuba, 15.—I do not believe that Toral is trying to gain time in hopes of getting reinforcements. Cubans have forces in vicinity of all Spanish troops. Toral asked to-day to send messages to Guantanamo and to Palmas to notify Spanish troops of condition. Wheeler, Lawton, and Miley are thoroughly convinced that they are earnest, and they have been in consultation with the Spaniards twenty-four hours. Am told by reliable persons Santiago the Spanish officers are greatly pleased at the thought of going home, but generals are afraid of the consequences with themselves unless terms of surrender are sanctioned by the Madrid government. SHAFTER, Major-General.

Executive Mansion, Washington, July 15, 1898-5:59 p. m.

Major-General Shafter, Camp near Santiago, Playa:

Is it not possible that you are entertaining the proposition of permitting the Spanish to carry away their arms? Such a suggestion should be rejected

instantly. You have been instructed the terms of surrender acceptable to the President, and they must be concluded on these lines.

R. A. ALGER, Secretary of War.

Playa del Este, via Hayti.

(Received Washington July 15, 1898-11:20 p. m.)

Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington:

Headquarters near Santiago, 15.-I do not entertain the proposition for the Spanish to retain their arms. They are to surrender them absolutely immediately after articles of capitulation are signed, but they beg, as an act of consideration to them, that I will intercede with my government that they be shipped with them to Spain. I regard this as a small matter that in no way binds the government, but is one I would not let stand between clearing 20,000 Spanish soldiers out of Cuba, or leaving them there to be captured later, and probably with much loss to ourselves. SHAFTER, Major-General.

The text of the terms agreed upon is as follows:

Terms of the military convention for the capitulation of the Spanish forces occupying the territory which constitutes the division of Santiago de Cuba, and described as follows: All that portion of the island of Cuba east of a line passing through Aserradero, Dos Palmas, Cauto Abajo, Escondida, Tanamo, and Aguidora, said troops being in command of Gen. José Toral, agreed upon by the undersigned commissioners: Brig. -Gen. Don Federico Escario, lieutenant-colonel of staff; Don Ventura Fontan, and, as interpreter, Mr. Robert Mason, of the city of Santiago de Cuba, appointed by General Toral, commanding the Spanish forces on behalf of the kingdom of Spain, and Maj.-Gen. Joseph Wheeler, U. S. V.; Maj.-Gen. H. W. Lawton, U. S. V.; and First Lieut. J. D. Miley, Second Artillery, A. D. C., appointed by General Shafter, commanding the American forces, on behalf of the United States:

I. That all hostilities between American and Spanish forces in this district absolutely and unequivocally cease.

2. That this capitulation includes all the forces and war material in said territory.

3. That the United States agrees with as little delay as possible to transport all the Spanish troops in said district to the kingdom of Spain, the troops being embarked, as far as possible, at the port nearest the garrisons they now оссиру.