Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-24
IT IS DISCREDITED.
A REPORTED PRIVATE LETTER
FROM COysUL-GESERAL LEE,
In Which, II IL said, He Criticises
severely the Spanish Commanders
In Cuba Regarded rs an Inven-
lion.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 23.-The
publication OF an alleged letter, said TO
have been written by Consul-Generai
this city, (name not given. is regarded
by State Department officials with grave
suspicion. Until the identity Of the ''rela-
tive" is established. there are few to
believe that Consul-General Lee, charged
with important semi-diplomatic duties,
can have discussed public matters OF such
grave Importance through the medium of
private correspondence, and 1t Is certainly
regarded as incredible that ne could have
authorized the publication of his letter.
Until official confirmation is received from
Consul-General Lee that he has done so,
the story viii be treated by the depart
ment as an invention.
The letter referred to discusses the
situation in Cuba in about the same terms
Of condemnation Of the Spaniards and
laudation Of the Cubans as have been
adopted by many newspaper correspond
ents favorable TO the Cuban cause during
the past few months. The alleged letter
so exactly comedies with what has been
published from the pens Of these corre-
spondents that 1t might easily have been
written from Washington. II adds no
thing to the general stock Of information
upon the situation in Cuba, and it's value,
II 1t is genuine, consists OF the semi-offi-
cial confirmation IT gives OF the published
stories of incredible Spanish brutality, and
Cuban sacrifice, heroism. and success.
WHAT CAPTAIN DAN LEE SAYS.
FREDERICKSBURG. VA, June D.
Especial. )-General Fitzhugh Lees brother
Captain Dan Lee. was in the city to-day
In an interview with the Dispatch CORE
spondent he ridiculed the widely-pub-
lished statement that the General had
written private letter 70 some one In
this country telling of the atrocities OF
the Spanish troops In Cuba. The Captain
says neither ne nor his family has heard
from the General since he was here few
Sundays since, as reported in the Dis
patch at the time. except in one letter,
written Just before the General sailed,
though he was expecting letter by every
mail.
THE ALLEGED LETTER.
The above dispatches refer to the fol-
lowing which appeared In the Washing
ton Post of yesterday:
A very interesting letter was re-
ceived to-day by a relative from General
Fitzhugh Lee 1t was written on the
18th. and deals fully with Cuban affairs.
The Spanish authorities, the General
says, have treated him with great
courtesy, and Captain-General Weyler
has granted every request thus far pre-
ferred even allowing him 10 visit the
prisons where the captured Americans
are confined.
OF the Spanish troops, he says they
are fairly-well drilled. but under sys-
tenn OF tactics and manual totally DIFF
ferent from any the General had ever
seen.
AS to the insurgents. they practically
have control Of the island. Their ennis
saries come In and 20 out of the towns
and cities as they will, and he believes
the entire native population Is In sym
pathy with them.
AS to the inhumanity of the Spanish
commanders, General Lee expresses
himself in the plainest terms. They
do not regard the laws Of modern war
nor the usages customary among civil
liZed nations at ALL" he says
"From every quarter there IS the same
testimony concerning the barbarites OF
the Spanish soldiers. Some Of the evil
dence L have heard would be beyond be-
lief. did L not know II 10 be most re-
liable.
"The plumber OF inoffensive citizens
murder every form OF rapine, is the
invarying story OF prisoners and natives
OF the island, who happen TO be under sus-
picion. and IL takes very little indeed here
TO place YOU under suspicion"
General Lee doubts If peace could be
Made now short Of a basis Of absolute
independence and freedom from Spanish
control