Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-08-25
AN UNIQUE DOCUMENT.
General Shnftor Receives Two Me-
naarkablo Communications
From a Spanish Soldier,

nonrkabl0 Communications
From a Spanish soldier.
Washington, August ga docu-
ment entirely unique In the annals Of
warfare was cabled last night 10 the
war department by General Shafter.
1t Is In the dorm OF a congratuatory
farewell address issued TO the soldiers
OF the American army by Pedro Lo-
peg dc Castillo, private Spanish sol-
der, on behalf Of the 1000 Spanish
soldiers, No similar document, per-
haps, was ever before issued 10 VIC
torious army by a vonqulshed enemy.
The president was very much inn
pressed 10y the address, and, after
reading II carefully, authorized It's
publication Following Is the text Of
the address, as cabled by General
bnafter;
Santiago, August %, 1898,
III. G, Corbin, Adjutant General United
States Army, Washington.
The following letter has just been
received from the soldiers now em-
barking for Spain:
Major General Shafter, Commanding
the American Army in Cuba
"Slr-Hhe Spanish soldiers who ca.
pitulated 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 embarking for our be-
loved Spain. For This favor, which we
have no doubt you will grant, you
will gain The everlasting gratitude
and consideration Of 11,OO0 Spanish
soldiers, who are your most humble
servants.
''Pl1DRO LOPEZ DE CASTILLO.
Private OF Infantry"
Also the following letter, addressed
to the soldiers OF the American army:
Soldiers Of the American Army
We would not be fulfilling our duty
as well-bOrn men, in whose breasts
there live gratitude and courtesy,
should we embark for our beloved
Spain without senalng to you our
most cordial and sincere good wishes
and farewell. We fought you with
ardor, with all our strength, endeav-
oring to gain the victory, but without
the slightest rancor or hate toward
the American nation. We have been
vanquished by you $50 our generals
and chiefs judged in signing the ca
pitulation), but our surrender and
the bloody battles preceding 1T have
left In our souls no place for resent
ment against the men who fought us
nobly and yaliantly,
"You fought and acted in compli-
ance with the same call Of duty as
we, for we all but represented the
power OF our respective states. You
fought us as men, face to face, and
with great courage, as before stated,
a quality which we had not met dur
ing the three years we have carried
on this war against a people without
morals, without conscience, and of
doubtful origin, who could not con-
front the enemy, but, hidden, shut
their noble victims from ambush and
then Immediately fled. This was the
kind of warfare we had to sustain in
this unfortunate land, You have COM
piled exactly with all the laws and
usages of war as recognized by The
armies Of the most civilized nations
of the world, have given honorable
burial to the dead OF tbe yanquished,
have cured their wounded with great
humanity; have respected ANA cared
for your prisoners and their comfort,
and, lastly, to MS, whose condition
was terrible, you have given freely or
food, of your stock of medicines and
YOU have honored MS with distln-
gushed courtesy, for, after the fight
ing, the two armies mingled with the
utmost harmony,
"With this high sentiment of appre-
citation from us all, there remains but
to express our farewell, and with the
greatest sincerity we wish you all
happiness and health in this land
which will no longer belong to our
dear Spain, but will be yours. who
have conquered 1t by force and wa
tered It with your blood, as your con-
science called for, under the demand
of civilization and humanity; but the
descendants of The Congo and of
Guinea, mingled with the blood of un-
scrupulous Spaniards and of traitors
and adventurers, these people are not
able to exercise or enjoy their liberty,
for they will find it burden to COM
ply with the laws which govern civil
lized communities.
"From 1000 Spanish soldiers.
"PDDR0 LOPEI DE CASTILLO,
Soldier of Infantry"
"Santlago de Cuba, Aug. q, 1885,"
Cumso: well. Lawker, did you