The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-09-01
UNIQUE FAREWELL
FROM SPANISH TROOPS.
Letter To General Shafter Conveying
Good Wishes for Our Noble,
uanna SnIhIara =,


ment unique in the annals of warfare
was cabled to night by the war de-
| partment by General Shafter. 1t is
a eongratulatory farewell address
issued TO the soldiers Of the Ameri-
can army by Pedro Lopez de Cas-.
tillo. private Spanish soldier, on
behalf of 1000 Spanish soldiers.
Following is the text:
To Major Gen. Shsfter, command
ing the American army in Cuba.
SIR-The Spanish soldiers who
capitulsted in this place on the 10Th
of July last, recognizing your high
and just position, pray that through
you all the courageous and noble
soldiers under your command may
receive our good wishes and farewell
which we send them on embarkinR
for our beloved Spain.
For this favor, which we have ne
doubt you will grant you will gain
the everlasting gratitude and con-
sideration of eleven thousand Span.
ish soldiers who are your most
humble servants
PKDRo LOPEZ DE CAsTILLe,
Private of Infantry"
General Shaitsr also sent a copy
of the following letter:
Soldiers of the American army:
We would not be fulfilling our duty
as we'll born men, in whose breasts
there live gratitude and courtesy
should we embark for our beloved
Spain without sending to you our
most cordial and sincere wishes and
farewell.
I'VE fought you with ardor, with
all our strength, endeavoring to
gain the victory, but without the
slightest rancor or hate toward the
American nation. We have been |
vanquished by you 80 our Generals
and chiefs judged in signing the
cspitulation), but our surrender and |
the bloody battles preceding it have
left in our souls no place for resent
ment against those who fought US
nobly and valliantly.
You fought US as men, face to
face, and with great courage, a quail
ity which we had not met with dur
ing the three years we have carried
on this war against a people without
religion, without morals, without
and of doubtful origin,
who could not confront the enemy.
but hidden, shot their noble victims
from ambush and then Immediately
fed.
This was the kind OF warfare we
had to sustain in this unfortunate
and. You have complied exactly
with all the laws and usages OF war
rs recognized by the armies of the
most civilized nations of the world;
have given honorable burial to the
Head of the vanquished; have cured
heir wounded with great humanity,
nave respected and cared for your
prisoners and their comfort, and,
astly, TO US, whose condition was ,
,errible, you have given freely Of 1
-FOUR stock of food and medicines.
With the high sentiment OF ap-
probation from US all there remains
out to express our farewell, and
With the greatest sincerity we wish
Iou all happiness and health in this
and, which will no longer belong to
'ur dear Spain, but will be yours;
Who have conquered it by force and
it with your blood, as your
nscience called for under the de
nand of civilization and humanity
'ut the descendants OF the Congo
nd of Guinea mingled with the
Hood of INSCRIPTIONS Spaniards
nd OF traitors and adventurers-
hese people are not able to exercise
r enjoy their liberty, for they will
nd 1t burden to comply with the
AVIS which govern civilized commu.
titles.
From 1000 Spanish soldiers.
PEDRO LOPEZ DK CASTILLO.
Soldier Of Infantry.
Santiago de Cuba. Aug Il, 1898.