The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-24
GARcIA's GREAT VIcroRY.
q Talk with the GeneraI On Its Results and
the Duty Of This Csantry.


CATALINA, Santiago de Cuba, Sept. :.
Il left Gen Garcia yesterday between the vii
lagos OF La Saba and Miguel de los Ramos,
marching westward after his great success at
Las Tunas on Sept. 5,sOt Las Tunas nothing re-
mains but ruins. When the last human being
abandoned the town. after the surrender of the
Spanish garrison, the Cubans plundered it and
set It on nre.
The history Of 1875 Will not be repeated"
said Gen Garcia. when the work Of destruction
was completed, and he ordered the march. In
1876 Las Tunas was taken by the Cuban Gen.
Vicente Garcia, and It's garrison was captured.
but several days after the Cubans had aban-
doned the town the Spanish General. Don Luis
Prendergast, arrived with 5000 men and
bonbarded the detenceless place. Though
Prerdergast met no foes to fight, he reported a
great triumph over the Insurgents. He Was
rewarded by his Government with the title OF
Marques de Victoria de Las Tunas. and the
name of the place-:which was simply Las Tunas
before, was changed by royal decree to Vic
toria de Las Tunas also.
To-day. however. the spaniards will not be
able thus 10 snatch victory from defeat. Gen.
Luque, the Spanish General, was satisfied at a
distance Of eight miles to watch the flames
consume the shattered remains Of the once
formidable Spanish stronghold. After ex-
oAAs@ A~-~N~~- 1N4 49, L No4NAhV
LuGue refused to accept battle and retired In
haste southwark.
The following is a part Of my interview yes
terday with Gen. Garcia / write ont the notes
in haste having no time TO spare, while a special
messenger bound for Manzanillo Is waiting. I
asked the General to what extent he believed
his victory would Impress the American Gov
eFn M bad IN not The y Least i idea ab bSase that" he
said, when l first determined to take Las
Tanas on AIE; IL; have on i,Hce given the
States may very easily solve the Cuban prob
lem and that, Is BY recognizing the ~belliger-
right step to take. It would not legally com,
promise the United states and it is merely an
act Of, justice, humanity, and international
The General then handed me the receipt
signed by Gen; Luque for the nineteen Spanish
prisoners .of the garrison OF Las Tunas who
This document" he added, will be sent by
United states, senior Estrada Palma. 1t proves
beyond doubt that we are belligerents, treated
as belligerents by the spanish Army itself. AZ,
advance for treating US other than as belliger'
Gen. Lqque in this receipt bestows upon Gen.
Army Army Of the Republic Of Cube Hd in The East" -.
honorable and humane manner in which the
Spanish garrison was treated by US. The com
with military hopors,, and l granted them e
him. Tho Spanish sick and wounded received
from US humane care. Is u not, therefore,, AT
injustice to deny to the Cuban army the right:
on tho field OF battlel We act as belllgerentt
with our enemies, and they recognize US In thai
capacity"
10 the question what he intended to do next
Gen. Garcia said:
Il would like next TO entirely free Cuba, bul
what i certainly will do Is to continue fighting
until that great aim Is attained"
Finally, he said concerning the possibility o.
any settlement Of the Cuban war arising from
Gen. Woodford's mission To spain:
II would be glad to know that tho United
this war in Cuba, but she would have to stoI
It at once, and on the only terms we will &C
cept, which Is the recognition Of our indie
pehdence. Other solutions, no matter how
liberal they may appear, will be absOlutel!
ignored by the Cubans. We fight to sever for
ever the bonds that join us to spain. and no
for autonomy. Spain In former years did no
grant autonomy when the country was a
TT was her duty then to do it, and some Gu
bans asked 1t through the press and in Parla
mant. But now that IL not the question. w
are not shedding our blood. We have not seel
property and lives for autonomy. To speak 4
US OF that Is nonsensical.
Our independence Is, furthermore, at hand
in spite OF all the boastful reports of the Spar
ish Generals. Is II TO be supposed that whe
the great dream OF ali Cuban patriots and heroe
since the beginning OF the century Is 10 be rea
lied, we should destroy all that we have wo
In this war by accepting the pro!ongation q
SPANS rule in CubaI"
The General refused to say whether he In
= 70 attack the Jucaro-Moron trochA Q