e
resumption of hostilities sufficiently far in the future to
allow a reply being received.

I beg an early answer from your Excellency.

I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. R. SHAFTER,
Major-General, Commanding.

Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
Camp near Santiago, July 9, 1898.

Hon. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

I forwarded General Toral's proposition to evacuate the town
this morning without consulting any one. Since then I have
seen the general officers commanding divisions, who agree
with me in that it should be accepted.

1st. It releases at once the harbor.

2d. It permits the return of thousands of women, children
and old men, who have left the town, fearing bombardment,
and are now suffering fearfully where they are, though I am
doing my best to supply them with food.

3d. It saves the great destruction of property which a
bombardment would entail, most of which belongs to Cubans
and foreign residents.

4th. It at once releases this command while it is in good
health for operations elsewhere. There are now three cases
of yellow fever at Siboney in a Michigan regiment, and if it
gets started, no one knows where it will stop.

We lose by this, simply some prisoners we do not want and
the arms they carry. I believe many of them will desert and
return to our lines. I was told by a sentinel who deserted
last night that two hundred men wanted to come, but were
afraid our men would fire upon them.

W.R. SHAFTER,
Major-General, United States Volunteers.

Reply.

Washington, D.C., July 9, 1898.

Major-General Shafter, Playa, Cuba.

In reply to your telegram recommending terms of evacuation
as proposed by the Spanish commander, after careful
consideration by the President and Secretary of War, I am
directed to say that you have repeatedly been advised that
you would not be expected to make an assault upon the enemy
at Santiago until you were prepared to do the work
thoroughly. When you are ready this will be done. Your
telegram of this morning said your position was impregnable
and that you believed the enemy would yet surrender
unconditionally. You have also assured us that you could
force their surrender by cutting off their