The San Francisco call., 1897-09-25

RECOGNIZE
PATRIOTS
Then Why Should Not
BeIligerent Rights
Be Accorded
GENERAL GARCIA SO
DECLARES.
The Noted Cuban Leader
Talks of the Capture of
Las TunaS.
RULES OF WAR FARE WERE
OBSERVED THERE.
RULES OF WAR FARE WE'RE
OBSERVED THERE.
Having Fought So Successfully,
the Insurgents Will Accept
Nothing but Independ enoe.

NEW YORK, n. Y, Sept. a. "A special
to the Sun from Santa Catalina, Santiago
de Cuba, says: l left General Garcia
Yesterday between the villages of La Saba
and Miguel de Los Ralos, marching west
ward after his great success at Las Tunas.
OF Las Tunas nothing remains but ruins.
l obtained an interview with the general.
l asked the general to what extent hs
believed his victory would impress the
American Government In favor OF the
Cuban cause.
81 had not the least idea about that,
he said. when l first determined TO take
Las Tunas on August 16. L have since
given the matter little thought. In my
opinion the United States may very easily
solve the Cuban problem, ana that is by
recognizing the belligerenCy of the repub-
Iic of Cuba. That is the right step to take.
1t is not legally a com mpromise by the
United States, and it is merely an act OF
Justice, humanity, International duty"
The general then handed me receipt
signed by General Luque for nineteen
Spanish prisoners OF the garrison OF Las
| Tunas, who were exchanged for nineteen
| Cubans.
This document" he added, twill be
sent by the Cuban Government to our
delegate in the United States, Senior Es-
trada Palma. 1t proves beyond doubt we
are belIigerents and treated as belliger-
ents by the Spanish army itself. After
this what argument can a foreign nation
advance for treating us other than belliger-
ents?
~ ha,- ha nd
name manner in which the Spanish gar
rison was treated by US. The commander
requested to be permitted to surrender
with military honors and l granted them
to him. The Spanish sick and wounded
received from US humane care. Is it not,
therefore, an injustice to deny to the
Cuban army the rights which our own
foes give us and ask from US on the field of
battle? We act as pelligerents with oar
enemies and they recognize US in that
capacity"
To the question what he intended TO do
next General Garcia said:
II would like next to entirely free Cuba,
but what | certainly will do is to continue
fighting until that great aim is attained"
Finally he said concerning the possi-
bility of any settlement of the Cuban war
10 Spain:
II would be glad to know the United
States had notified Spain she must stop
this war in Cuba, but she would have 10
stop it at once and on the oaly terms we
will accept, which is recognition of our
independence Other solutions, no mat
ter how liberal they may appear, will be
absolutely ignored by the Cubans. We
~
ioin us to Spain, and not for autonomy.
Spain in former years did not grant
autonomy when the country was at peace.
It was her duty then to do 1t, and some
Cubans asked it through the press and in
Parliament. But now that is not the
question. We are not shedding our blood;
we have not seen our country ruined; we
are not sacrihcing our property and lives
for autonomy. 10 speak to US OF that is
| nonsensical.
'Our independence Is, furthe rmore, at
hand in spite of all the boastful reports
of Spanish generals. Is it 10 be supposed,
when tue great dream of all Cuban pa
triots and heroes since the beginning of
the century is about 10 be realized, that
we should destroy all we have won in this
war by accepting a proIongation of
Spain rule in Cuba"
The general refused to say whether he
intended to attack Jucaro Moron trocha
or what recent adv1ces he had received
from General Gomez.
General Garcia looks ten years younger
that when he left New York. His agility
on horse back is wonderful. During all
the attack on Las Tunas he directed per-
sonally his artillery and exposed himself
often to the fire from the Spanish forts.
| His secretary, Manoelo Rodriguez, who
never leaves him, was sllghtly wounded
by his side. So was Colonel Alfredo