the past few days, may
be returned to their respective governments on the terms
usual in such cases, of rank for rank. Trusting that this
will meet with your favorable consideration, I remain,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM R. SHAFTER,
Major-General, Commanding United States Forces.

Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
Camp near San Juan River, Cuba, July 4, 1898.

To the Commanding Officer, Spanish Forces, Santiago.

Sir:--It will give me great pleasure to return to the city
of Santiago at an early hour to-morrow morning all the
wounded Spanish officers now at El Caney who are able to be
carried and who will give their parole not to serve against
the United States until regularly exchanged. I make this
proposition, as I am not so situated as to give these
officers the care and attention that they can receive at the
hands of their military associates and from their own
surgeons; though I shall, of course, give them every kind
treatment that it is possible to do under such adverse
circumstances. Trusting that this will meet with your
approbation, and that you will permit me to return to you
these persons, I am,

Your very obedient servant,

WILLIAM R. SHAFTER,
Major-General, Commanding United States Forces.

Army of the Island of Cuba,
Fifth Corps, General Staff.

To His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of the American Forces.

Excellency:--I have the honor to reply to the three
communications of your Excellency, dated to-day, and I am
very grateful for the news you give in regard to the
generals, chiefs, officers and troops that are your
prisoners, and of the good care that you give to the wounded
in your possession. With respect to the wounded, I have no
objection to receiving in this place those that your
Excellency may willingly deliver me, but I am not authorized
by the General-in-Chief to make any exchange, as he has
reserved to himself that authority. Yet I have given him
notice of the proposition of your Excellency.

It is useless for me to tell you how grateful I am for the
interest that your Excellency has shown for the prisoners
and corpse of General Vara del Rey, giving you many thanks
for the chivalrous treatment.

The same reasons that I explained to