The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-18
WAR TO THE DEATH.

Cuhan's Apology for the Butchery OF
Spanish Wounded and Priscners-He
Alleges That tho Spaniards Were the
First to Murder Prisoncrs-Thcir Re-
fusals to Exchange Prisoners.
To THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD
The active part you hare taken in clearing away
the apparent mystery which enveloped The state OF
affairs In my country (Cuba) encourages me to
write few words in regard to the letter you pub
llshed to-day from your in every respect worthy
commissioner, Nj. J.. J. O'Kelly.
TO say that all true friends OF Cuba owe you o
debt OF gratitude, and to your valiant correspond
cnt the most profound admiration for his I'M
swerving energy. his impartiality and sincerity,
would be to repeat what mas frequently been ex-
pressed, AMI can only hope that at some future
day we may have the opportunity OF Offering you
a more unmistakabie proof OF our high considera-
ton and esteem.
shall now proceed to state the object OF these
lines. l observe in your said commissioners letter
the just censure, or rather condemnation, he cx-
presses at the conduct OF the Cuban soldiers to-
wards the prisoners and wounded taken from the
Spaniards, and desire TO place before the readers
OF the HERALD the origin OF this course, which,
when considered Independently of oil antecedents,
must necessarily force upon the reader most un.
favorable impression as TO the Instincts and feel
ings OF my countrymen. When it is known that
this most outrageous manner Of making war has
been forced upon them by their enemies, the Span
iards, the conclusion must, however, be different.
In the beginning Of the war not a single prisoner
was shot. Such was the consideration shown to
them that our Cuban officers in every case de-
prived themselves OF the little comforts they could
enjoy in their camp in behalf OF the Spanish officers
they held as prisoners. And do not speak by
hearsay, but by actual knowledge OF the facts, a
few OF which snail mention, and which the
Spaniards will not dare to contradict II they have
any respect for the truth.
In the very beginning OF the revolution, when
held as prisoners, ana when afterwards the villages
OF Jiguani Las Tunas, &C., were surprised ana. all
the Spanish forces captured, how were they
treated? Let those same Spanish officers come
forward and say If every consideration was not
shown them, and If after a few days detention,
they not all released on parole, as well as ali
those Of the soldiers who preferred TO leave dor
great many remained) the Cuban camp.
Let particularly Colonel Luiros narrate his own
surpassed, Vaimaseda In brutality and cruelty.
When the news Of the Yara uprising reached san
with l, 200 men to dispense the rebels. He left with
great pomp, as usual, but before he had advanced
many miles In the road to Bayamo was routed, and
found himself and the troops under hts com mand
enveloped by the Cuban army and forced either to
deliver himself and division into the hands OF the
Cubans, to fight with no prospect OF success or TO
starve to death, SO nicely cooped in did he find
himself What did he do then Knowing that the
Cuban chiefwas q Freemason, and he beng one
also, he wrote a letter to the Cuban, promising
under oath as such that If lie and his troops were
allowed to retreat unmolested he would never
again take the field against them and thai further,
he would use every endeav0r to prevent his regi-
ment from doing so in future. The kind-hearted
never subjected Iuros Of such infamous conduct
and agreed to let him return to Santiago de Cuba.
What Luiros did afterward is well known. ! need
not state ii here. His name has frequently APP
peared in the war dispatches from Cuba.
Now, again, what was the conduct OF the Cubans
towards the Governor OF Jiguani, a relative OF
General Lersundig The only bed TO be had In the
Cuban camp and that belonging to the Cuban Gen.
eral, as well as blankets, &C., were given to him.
He was treated as commander OF the CUBAN
forces more than as prisoner, and hnaly released
on parole.
taken prisoner near Mayari, the same considera-
tons were shown him.
In fact, could present hundreds upon hundreds
as well could / show that these same men who
were so kindly treated became afterwards the
most cruel instigatOrs OF all the butcheries not
only OF real revoutionsts, but OF hundreds Of inno-
cent Cubans
repeatedly sent commissioners to the Spanish
commanding officers with the special request that
che lives Of the prisoners should be spared and ex.
OF SUCH propositions was to increase the rage OF
tne Spaniards and push them to greater butcherles
arms In hand or wounded. In fact the Cubans en-
deayored by every means within their reach to
and they failed. Nay, their own generesity was
turned against them until the sense OF necessity
ioIceu upon tne IN tne conviction, horrible as IL IL,
that then only line OIL Conduct toward the Span
ards should be war to the death.
The EFFORT my countrymen had to make to arrive
at this hnal decision can easily be supposed when
the mildness and generosity OF their Character are
considered IL is no doubt abominable that war
should be thus conducted between two ciyilized
peoples; but the supreme law OF necessity does
not recognize any human convention. 1t Is q sad
fact, cruel necessity.
shall proceed no further. NV heart even Mt
such distance from those scenes Of horror
sIckens, and hasten 70 turn away my thoughts
from such heartrending spectaces. Perhaps when
Mr.. O'Kely will be able to write here all the facts
he has learned, he will not fail 20 show what
have above saiu viz, that, criminal as the conduct
OF the Cubans may appear, II has been forced upon