The morning times., 1896-12-26
ZERTUCHA'S LATEST LIE.
Gen. Pa1ma's Reply to the Traitors
Recent Letter.

Recent Letter.
New York, Dec. 25.-Gen. Tomas Es-
trada Palma, the Cuban delegate, has given
out statement in reply to a published
letter of DIR. Zertucha, in which the doctor
says that Maceo, driven to despair by the
non-support of the rebel government, in
vited his own doom; that members of the
Cuban council are in the pay OF Spain; that
they failed to back their own general, and
that Maceo was dispirfted by the receipt OF
certain letters from those connected with
the civil government of the insurgents.
Gen. Palma's reply is as follows;
Il am not very much surprised TO see
DR.. Zertucha rushed into print for the pur-
pose of dstracting attention from himself
by attracting it to scandalouS charge,
which can only aid him with the Spaniards.
For me 1t is a sufficient indication OF
the mans character that he suTrenders tt
the enemy under the conditions in his case,
and that he IS treated with 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 directed? He certainly know
that this interview will ultimately be sent
to Cuba, where it cannot be received by
the Spaniards otherwise than with demon
strations of gratitude.
II know from letters received from Gen.
Antonio Maceo personally, as well az from
person OF our mutual confidence, through
whom we frequently communicated. that
Maceo was not in the desperate straits
depicted by DR.. Zertucha. The following
Intf Hryhi ilb I fDl ra-
ceived will show that Maceo was well
satisfied with the condition OF affairs:
The active operations OF the campaig gn
have prevented me, much against my
wishes, from answering Immediately your
welcome communications of the 9th and
| 25th of October Gen. Rius Rivera hap
PLY disembarked with all the war ma
terial sent, which was We'll employed in q
series of hard coInbats, which were signal
victories for US.
| :: The object Of Weyler was to imprison
our army between two fortified lines and
| make US suffer a tremendous defeat, by
| means of Simultaneous attacks 10y 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 our saving the
! expedition OF Gen. RiuS Rivera, being de
| stroyed.
.'As late as the 9Th OF December, the day
before it is represented he was killed" p"
| Gen. Palma said, "a person of vefacity
and confidence bad a conference with the
general, and / am Informed that Maceo
then stated that the Cuban forces in Pinal
del Rio were in excellent condition, in
charge OF Rus Rivera, and that he was
| well satisfied with his position.
| 'Zertucha's last published interview
differs in detail from all others pre-
| viously published. His assertion Of Macc0's
disappointment is absolutely groundless
| Zertucha's attitude toward his former
companions in arms is such as cannot vii
| for him the credence OF any honest man.
Continuing Senor Palma said: we have
| 10000 wel-equipped soldiers in active
| operation on the field. If they fail, 40,
600 more soldiers viii spring up To take
| their places. The Cubans viii die, If
necessary but they will never give up the
fight until they are free from Spain.
They do not forget the blood their country
men have she'd