Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-12-06
CAPTAIN JOSE LUNA.
The Cuban Army Captain Whose Name Got
Him Mixed Up with Captain Luna, Of
the Rough Riders, in Town,

Captain Jose Luna, of the Cuban cav
airy service Immediately under General
GaliXto Garcia, was a guest at the Pal
where he hopes to secure a captains
commission in the American army and
be sent to Manila. This is the young
officer whose supposed death at the
battle Of Ell Caney gave rise to the re-
port hat Captain Max Luna. of the
Rough Riders, had been killed. These
two officers are not related to each
other, and until this morning they had
never met. They were introduced in
the New Mexican office, and We're de-
lighted to make each others acquaint-
ance. Captain Max Luna said it was a
revelation to him, and he had not be-
lieved there was really another Captain
Luna. Captain Jose Luna was wound
ed in the head at Ell Caney and for
three days lay in the weeds and rank
grass two and a half miles from the
town, part of the time unconscious and
part of the time wandering around with
only his wits partly recovered on ac-
count of the close call he had. On the
third day the young officer was discoV-
cred and cared for in the American hos
pitfalls, and three weeks ago came to this
country.
He says he was given a commission in
the Cuban service two years g as
lieutenant of cavalry, and in a few
weeks thereafter was promoted to be
captain under Garcia. He fought brave-
" and we'll, and, like every other Cuban
patriot, has no use for the Spaniard
whose mucho %tyranno, as he expressed
it, had done so much to Cypress Cuba
The captain says his countrymen nat
uraliy expect independence for their isl
land as they have shed so much blood
fighting the Spaniards and for indie
pendence, and General Garcia is now il
Washington comforting with Presiden1
| Mckinley with that end in view. The
| Cuban army at present is divided up
many of the troops having returned tt
| their homes to rebuild them after wars
| desolation, and to re-engage in the pur'
| suits of peace, while the remainder o.
the army is more or less associated witt
| the American troops. The captain is
| pleased to say that the American fiae
still waves over Santiago, and the Gu
| ban people are we'll pleased with the ac'
| tons of the American soldiers, who's
| bravery has been the admiration OF al
| Cubans. AS to annexation, Captain
Luna thinks that if, after a few year:
of experiment, a separate and indie
| pendent republic is found not feasible
| the Cuban people will vote for annexa
| ton to the United States. Anything
would be preferable to Spanish control
| There can never be any more of that
The captain, when asked relative tt
| President McKinley's recommendation
| with reference to payment OF Cubaf
| troops by the United States after the
beginning of the war, said the sugges'
ton certainly met with his approval
He spoke in a complimentary VEN Of
| General Wood, and said his government
in Santiago was very popular. The Gu
| ban government is indebted to Captain
Luna, for services rendered, 81, 400. TIT
| Young officer was introduced arount
town today by Hon. Alex. Read, ant
everybody was pleased with him.