The evening times., 1898-07-27

New York. July N.Lrhe Herald prints
the following. dated Santiago. Cuba.
Monday. via Playa del Este. Tuesday:
Major Gen. william R. shafter.
commander Of the American forces in
the campaign against Santiago today
gave me an interesting interview on the
situation he-e.a ~.
Gen. Shafter throws much light on his
controversy with Gen. Calico Garcia,
the Cuban leader. and now makes public
for the first time the fact that he and
the Cuban general had some correspond
ence about their differences prior to the
open break between them.
You may say" said Gen. Shafter.
when 1 called ar the palace. in which he
is now comfortably situated. that the
situation in Santiago is much improved.
Twenty thousand Spanish soldiers in the
province Of Santiago. have laid down
their arms. leaving less than 5000 to be
accounted for. 1 hope tina: all Of the
Spanish army will have been accounted
for by the end of the week. SO that the
work of loading the troops on transports
will be over as soon as possible. and
the campaign in the province be brought
to a close.
"Col Wood has been installed as mill
tary governor, with full power to act -
circumstances may warrant. II the oc-
casion should arise, 1t would be a simple
matter for him to suspend the operation
of the existing civil government and to
impose military dictatorship.
1T is unlikely. however, that any seri-
Gus difficulty will be met. The people OF
Santiago are quiet and orderly. and they
seem delighted that the campaign is over.
They have been cooped up 50 long that
whatever regret they may feel is over
balanced by the compensation Of peace
I'm the country many of the Spanish
troops have already gone to work. while
here In Santiago, as you can see for
yourself. business has been resumed.
Food is coming In more literally, and in
another week there should be plenty for
all. The health of the city is much bet
ter than / had anticipated. yet there 10
a great deal Of sickness. and constant
care will be required to prevent the spr, ad
of disease in the army.
Our troops have withstood great raw
ages Of death. and the great discom-
forts OF the heavy rains. They are re-
markably well. Sanitary reforms. which
now are being instituted will, think. i'm
prove the health of the community in
general.
''As to the political situation. have
little to add to what already is known. 1
regret that Gen. Garcia should feel Of
Tended because he was not permitted 30
be a signatory party to the Spanish sur
render. In a letter to him written in re-
ply to his protest / have made 1t plain
that the ceremony of surrender and the
retention OF Spanish municipal officers
and tariff duties must be treated as tenn
porary measures quite apart from the A.
nal permanent policy of the United States
in Cuba. / told Gen. Garcia that we were
at war with Spain: that we would be held
responsible before the world for the ad-
mtnistration OF the surrendered terri
tory. and that pending the conclusion of
the war the Cubans could not reasonably
expect the recognition which he sought.
At the proper time. l added. the terms
of the Presidents proclamation undorbt-
edly would be made good
The letter was personal and very
friendly in tone. but Gen. Garcia made
no reply TO II. The next news / heard OF
him was that he had Withdrawn with his
army to HolSuin. near the north coast
THE fact Is that I did recognize Gen
Garcia as far as / could by inviting him
to be present at the surrender of San
tiago as my guest. He declined to come
sending this message: L cannot be your
guest under the Spanish flag
Il have the most Kindly feeling for
Gen. Garcia and sincerely regret that
he has found cause for complaint. 1t is
idle. however. to argue the point for no
matter how warmly one may sympathize
with the Cubans the proposition to IN
stall them in power Immediately after
the surrender of the Spanish Is untenable
and lacks support among Cubans them
Selves
The palace in which Gen. Shafter has
established his headquarters is large and
roomy. though somewhat antiquated
building. facing the plaza.
Gen. Shafter today inspected the city
on horseback. being accompanied only by
two members of his staff. He was well
received along the route. but there were
no cheers.
Gen. Shafter is a strict disciplinarian,
and he is rapidly bringing the several
branches of the army into one cohesive
body capable of coping with any situa-
ton that may arise.
The commissariat Is much improved
The railroad will be opened tomorrow,
and the troops will be removed TO woom-
land The transports are unloa ding as
rapidly as possible and are awaiting or
ders from Washington.