Shafter demands the surrender of the city.

On July 3 General Shafter sent the following communication to General Toral, commanding the Spanish army in the province of Santiago: 

Headquarters of United States Forces, Near San Juan River, Cuba, July 3, 8:30 A. M.—­To the Commanding General of the Spanish Forces, Santiago de Cuba—­Sir:  I shall be obliged, unless you surrender, to shell Santiago de Cuba.  Please inform the citizens of foreign countries and all women and children that they should leave the city before 10 o’clock to-morrow morning.  Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. R. Shafter, Major-General, U. S. A.

General Toral made this reply: 

Santiago de Cuba, July 3, 2 pm.—­His Excellency, the General Commanding the Forces of the United States, San Juan River—­Sir:  I have the honor to reply to your communication of to-day written at 8:30 A. M. and received at 1 pm, demanding the surrender of this city; on the contrary case announcing to me that you will bombard the city, and asking that I advise the foreign women and children that they must leave the city before 10 o’clock to-morrow morning.  It is my duty to say to you that this city will not surrender and that I will inform the foreign Consuls and inhabitants of the contents of your message.

Very respectfully, Jose Toral, Commander in Chief, Fourth Corps.

The British, Portuguese, Chinese, and Norwegian Consuls requested that non-combatants be allowed to occupy the town of Caney and railroad points, and asked until 10 o’clock of the next day for them to leave Santiago.  They claimed that there were between 15,000 and 20,000 people, many of them old, whose lives would be endangered by the bombardment.  On the receipt of this request General Shafter sent the following communication: 

The Commanding General, Spanish General, Spanish Forces, Santiago de Cuba—­Sir:  In consideration of the request of the Consuls and officers in your city for delay in carrying out my intention to fire on the city, and in the interest of the poor women and children who will suffer greatly by their hasty and enforced departure from the city, I have the honor to announce that I will delay such action solely in their interest until noon of the 5th, providing during the interval your forces make no demonstration whatever upon those of my own.

I am with great respect, your obedient servant, W. R. Shafter, Major-General, U. S. A.

On July 6 the flag of truce which had been flying over Santiago for a day or two was still displayed, but a smaller flag was presently seen coming from the city in the hands of a man in uniform.

A party was sent from General Shafter’s headquarters to receive the bearer of the flag.  It was found that he was a commissioner from General Toral. lie announced to those who met him that he had an important communication to deliver to the commander of the American army, coming direct from General Toral, and he desired to be taken to General Shafter.