The age-herald., 1898-08-23
WHY LEN. GARCIA
 JUMPEDTHE CAME Explains His Actions in a Lengthy
 Letter to Cuban Junta. WAS ORDERED ID COOPERATE With theIlAmerican Troops by Cuban Council of Government. FOLLOWED STARTERS ORDERS After Surrender Was Completed, No Further Instructions Were Given. RETIRED WITH HIS COMMAND Recites in Detail the Movement of the Insurgent Army During the Mill
 tary Operations Around the
 City of Santiago.
After Surrender Was Completed, No Further Instructions Were Given.
RETIRED WITH HIS COMMAND

New York. Aug 22.-General Calixto Gar cia sent his first official statement concern ing the Cuban operations at Santiago to the Cuban junta in this city. The mes- senger bearing General Garcia's state ment arrived today and it's translation fol- lows:
 "On the 9th of June, the steamer Glou- cester brought communication from Gen. eral Miles, commander in chief of the American army, in which he informed me of the project to attack by land and sea the city of Santiago, and that it was nec- essary that the greater part of the Cuban forces should advance on that city to CO., operate with him. Immediately I gave or ders that the forces that had been armed should move to Santiago, a very difficult operation. Surmounting all difficulties, the force arrived at Palma Soriano, and on the 14th I marched to Asseradores, where arrived on the 18th at 7:30 a. m., having been summoned there to confer with the admiral of the American navy, Sampson, to decide on the best plan of attacking Santiago. This conference took place on board the flagship New York. I must now declare that my object in moving my forces on Santiago and meeting the admiral of the United States navy has been to obey the orders received from the council of government to obey and respect the or ders of the commanders of the American army on their commencing operations in the territory under my command. On the 2Oth at half past o'clock the general in command of the brigade of Ramon De Las Taguas, Demetrio Castillo, landed in As seraderos from Sagua, being brought over by an American man-of-war to receive my orders.
 Shafter Landed.
 "A short time after I was advised that Major General Shafter, commander of the Fifth corps of the United States army had landed to confer with me on the attack by land of Santiago de Cuba
 General of Division Estrada marched on the Twenty-fifth to Aqucate to gather the forces there, to form a column of 800 to LOGO men, and to march with them toward Santiago in readiness to fight any forces tt at might be sent to the help of said city. At dawn on the 26th the setmers Orizaba and Seneca were opposite Siboney carry ing the balance of my forces. At o'clock
 
 ending at 10 p. m., all the Cuban forces camping around the village. Our forces which had arrived earlier. also camped around Siboney, as we'll many thousands of the American army. Perfect fraternity reigned among the Cuban and American soldiers who vied with each other in good feeling On account of the scarcity of food in the territory in which we were, the lad xxyif1 fnr subsistence for our forces. On the 18th General Shafter and myself had completed the plan of attack, and I received from him the order to march on the morrow with my forces toward Santiago. which he him self would do that same day, some regi- ments and cannons having been already ad- vanced. In the extreme vanguard, in sight of the fortified Spanish outposts was Colo mel Carlos Gonzales, commanding a divis- ion of Bayamo and part of the brigade of Ramon de las Luaguas.
 On the 10th I encamped with my forces at Fl Salido nine miles from Siboney and nine and half miles from Santiago At the same point General Shafter established his quarters.
 Batteries Opened Fire.
 At o'clock the American batteries fired on the Qualifications of San Juan, the Span-
 
 shortly afterwards fired also commenced from the batteries against Fl Caney, the garrison of the place answering with heavy fire. Fl Caney was defended by 1900 men, troops of the line, or regulars, under Brig adier-General Vera Del Roy and San Juan was defended by 2O00 men, also regulars.
 General Shafter ordered me to occupy the right flank of his army, and made night march, camping at 10 o'clock the same night at the country house Duoureau after or dering some forces almost on to Santiago. During the whole day of the 2d, heavy firing was exchanged with the enemy in front of Santiago who fired with rifles and guns at our positions. We had ten casual ties. This day, the French colony left the city, accompanied by the consul of their country, taking shelter under our flag. My forces slept in the positions occupied within rifle shot of the city.
 Firing at the City.
 On the morning of the Sd there was firing at the city At 10 o'clock the Spanish navy