The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-25

New York, Dec. 24.-General Thomas
Estrada Palma, the Cuban delegate,
today gave out statement in reply to
a Published letter of Dr. Zertucha, in
which the doctor says that Maceo.
driven to despair by the non-support OF
the rebel government invited his own
doom. Zertucha says that members
of the Cuban council are in the pay
of Spain; that they failed to back the
mulatto general and that Maceo was
dispirited by the receipt of certain
letters from those connected with the
civil government of the insurgents.
General Palma's reply is as follows:
L am not very much surprised to see
DR.. Zertucha rush into print for the
purpose Of distracting attention from
himself by attracting it to a scandal
Gus charge, which can only aid him
with the Spaniards.
THE LIAR ZERTUCHA.
For me, it is a sufficient indication
OF the mans character that he sur
renders to the enemy under the condi-
lions in his case, and that he is
treated in such a kindly manner by the
Spaniards.
What more natural than that he, in
combination with Spanish diplomacy,
should be the instrument by which the
revolution should be discredited? He
certainly knows that this interview will
be ultimately sent TO Cuba where it
cannot be received by the Spaniards
otherwise than with demonstrations of
gratitude. l know from letters re-
ceived from the late General Antonio
Maceo personally, as well as from a
person OF our mutual confidence
through whom we freouentlv
communicated, that Maceo was
not in the desperate straits
depicted by DR.. Zertucha. The
following extract from a letter which
L lately received viii show that Ma
Geo was well satisfied with the condi-
ton of affairs:
OBJECT OF WEYLER.
g The active operations of the cam
paign have prevented me, much
against my wishes, from answering
Immediately your welcome communi-
cations of the 10Th and 25th of October.
General Ruiz Riviera has disembarked
with all the war material sent, which
was well employed in a series of hard
combats which were signal victories
for us.
The object of WeyIer was to i'm
prison our army between two fortified
lines and make us suffer a tremendous
defeat by means of simultaneous at
lacks by forces previously placed in
those positions, but the most brilliant
success crowned our efforts six of the
enemy's columns which tried to impede
our progress after saving the expedi-
ton of General Rivera being
destroyed -
las late as the 9Th of Decem-
Der, the day before it is reported
that he was killed. General Palma
said, "a person of veracity and con-
fidPnc0 q
general, and I am informed that
Maceo then stated that the Cuban
forces in Pinar del Rio were in ex-
cellent condition in charge of Riviera
and that he was well satisfied with his
position.
ABSOLUTELY GROUNDLESS.
''Zertucha's last published interview
differs in detail from all others pre-
viOusly published. His assertion of
Maceo's disappointment is absolutely
groundless.
'Zertuchas' attitude towards his
former companions in arms is such as
cannot win for him credit"
Continuing, Senior Palma said: I'VE
have 10000 well-equipped soldiers in
active operation in the field. If they
fall. 10000 more soldiers viii spring up
TO take their places. The CubanS will
die, If necessary, but they will never
give up the fight until they are free
from SPAIN They do not forget the
blood their countrymen have spilled"