Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25
PALMA REPLIES TO zERTUcHA.
The Lattcr's Charges Agninst Cuban
Civil Leaders

NEW YORK. December 2A-General
Thomas Estrada Palma. the Cuban dele
gate, to-day gave out a statement i'm re-
ply to a published letter Of DIR. Zertu-
cha's. I'm which the Doctor says that
Maceo. driven to desperation by the nom
support OF the rebel government invited
his own doom; that members OF the
Cuban Council are in the pay OF Spain;
that they failed to back their own gene.
raj. and that Maceo was dispirited by the
receipt of certain letters from those con-
nected with the civil government OF the
proposed Cuban republic General Pal
mas reply is as follows:
II am not very much surprised 10 see
DR.. Zertucna rush into print. for the pur-
pose of distracting attention from him
self by attracting II to scandalous
charge which can only aid him with the
Spanish For me. IL is sufficient indica-
tion of the mans character that he sur
renders to the enemy under the condi-
tions i'm his case. and that he is treated
in such a kind manner by the Spanlards.
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
not be received by the Spaniards. other
wise than with demonstrations Of graft
tude
II know from letters received from
General Antonio Maceo personally. as
well as from person In our mutual con-
fidence, through whom we frequently
communicated, that Maceo was not In
the desperate straits depicted by Ter
tucha. The following extract from a
letter. which | lately received. will show
that Maceo was we'll satisfied with the
condition OF affairs:
The active operations OF the cam
paign have prevented me, much against
my wishes. from answering at once your
welcome communications Of the 10Th and
25th OF October. General Rius Rivera
happily 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 Weyler was to inn
prison our army between two fortified
lines. and make us suffer n tremendous
defeat. by means Of simultaneous attacks
by forces previously placed in those po-
stions; but the most brilliant success
crowned our efforts-six Of the enemy's
columns. which tried to impede our pro-
gress. after our saving the expedition Of
General Nus llNtId, btlitS uNoeiOytNs
Gas late as the 9Th of December-the
day before it is reported he was killed. y
General Palma said. "a person of We
racity and confidence had a conference
with the General, and ! am informed
that Maceo then stated that the Cuban
forces in Pinar del Rio were In excellent
condition, in charge of Rius Rivera, and
that he was well satisfied with his posi-
tion.
"Zertucha's last published interview
differs in details from all the others pre-
viously published. His assertion OF Ma
ceo's disappointment is absolutely
groundless. Zertucha's attitude towards
his former companions-in-arms is such as
cannot win for him the credence OF any
honest man. IL they fall. 1000 more sol
diers will sprung up TO take the places
of the rebels. The Cubans will die, II
necessary. but they will never give up
the fight until they are free from Spa n.
They do not forget the blood their coun-
trymen have she'd"