New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-05
rAvORING ANNEXATION.
cnov1NC SENTIMENT AMONG CCBANS
FOR UNION WITH THIS CouNTRh
re,y,rrvp Garcia TROUBLE.
THE SHAFTER-GARCIA Tlto' BILE


yynoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF ZEE iN'hV"H.'
Santiago de Cuba. July 23.-Amons 'he amt
lean citizens Of Cuban birth, and pe'"aps'
eraly among those who desire ah'eN"'0"
the United states. the rift between the Arner'-
can and Cuban forces has been source vi cur
Germ. What has made this breach OF especial
v,ousn, ;ust At this time Is the surprising senu-
wan, IN favor Of union that has grown IN the
~,,n.r Arnv itself Not that the men 81 Ten
anal Garcia. troops are giving any particular
Thought TO the political future OF their isiaho'
rh.v are chiefly negroes Of limited education
and Intelligence. who are more interested IN nh-
ing their stomachs than In questions OF govern
ment But among the officers there has oeeh
q remarkable shift Of feeling.
GARCIA FOR ANNEXAT1oN.
Moe, Astonishing and significant is the change
IN General Garcia himself. He had been known
az most uncompromsing foe to annexa'ioh
Nor was this strange As one Of the most I'M
portant leaders OF the insurgents ne "ou'N
naturally prefer the fruition OF MS iaoois
and risks the establishment or on moepe""
nation to the merging with larger coun'S
=, c,ha, ronrblic the rewards Of all military
haroos would no more elittering than IN one
State q. a union with only small voice IN
national and international affairs Wr'hih th~
last few days. however. General Garcia mas
expressed his opinion that the welfare OF Cuoa
depended on her joining the sisterhooo OF 'ns
rri.ea states Partly on account Of his at'i-
tuda and partly on account OF the same ieaso"'
which led to his conversion many OF his Officers
nov side with him
THE SHAFTER-GARC1A TROUBLE
The irritation due 70 tho feeling between 'ne
allied armies will. Of course. tend TO check TINS
-nei0
command on account Of his unwillingness 10
,o.o,erata further with the Americans. He
continues a. the head If his forces only unt'i
,,s successor is named and reaches the army
Some conservative Cubans. residents or the
United States think that the whole trouble has
Neen personal and can yet be Strengthened OUT
Santiago surrendered only week ago ana "a
tional creatures could not expect the estapish-
n1ent ~ anything like permanent iorm vi
government in that time. But the interview
between General Shafter and Generai OaTcia
and the two Generals Castillo was marked by
considerable acerbity. The American spoke as
the commander Of army and not as poll
tician 1t Is known that he could hardI% De
classed as a suave person at any time. ana the
Cuban climate brought out the govt in his foot.
Furthermore he shared with virtually all the
Officers Of his army an extremely low OPINION
o. the qualities OF the Cuban soldier
NECESSARY TO RESTRAIN CUBANs.
With all this there is feeling among inteHh-
gen. American citzers Of Cuban birth that the
programme OF General Shafter could have neen
carried out without arousing the annosity that
is now so apparent The advisabilty OF his
course IS clear He refused to let the Cuban
forces enter the city AT the same time he kept
out his own army. only one regiment
tor
fever in the city and communication between
Il and the surrounding country has been cut
off as much as possible. Then there Is the I'M
questioned fact that robbery and violence would
have attended the entrance Of any considerable
body OF Cubans into the city. Perhaps the SOL
diers themselves might have been restrained TO
some degree. but the gucrillas and camp follow
ers would certainly have taken advantage OF
the opportunity to plumber. The taking OF cat
tie from refugees Of which General Shafter
complained TO General Garcia. the theft or
horses and other crimes committed In spite OF
all precautions are indications enough OF what
would have happened had free access to Santi-
ago been given to the Cuban Army.
ALLIES STEAL FROM THE SOLDIERS.
Resides the experience of the American SOL
diers themselves sufficient reason for
keeping the Cubans where they would not be
tempted TO break the Eighth Commandment.
The animated footing Of the houses at Ell Caney
the night OF its capture. by the insurgents was
a lesson not TO be forgotten. Even worse was
the theft Of blankets and poIchos belonging to
Americans who were fighting The list New
York suffered notably from these depredatons
on July /. All baggage was left behind before
the regiment went into action. While the men
were thus risking their lives for Cuba Libre
(,b vi ma helDing
b themselves TO choice assortment OF articles.
Other regiments suffered similarly. Some Of
the robbers were of the insurgent army, al
though others were not. 1t is easy to imagine
what would have happened If men who treated
their friends and allies thus had been permitted
In the city of their enemies. General Skaters
course was the only possible ore.
sCURRILOUs PLACARDs ISSUED.
There is one point which is not entirely clear.
General Shafter sent an invitation to General
Garcia to be present with his staff at the
render OF Santiago. General Garcia says he re-
ceved TO such message. Just where the break
came is not evident. but II unfortunate
one. In continuing in temporary authority the
existing government Of the city General Shafter
acted only on civilized precedent. But here he
again had 10 disregard the wishes Of his allies.
They We're for establishing a Cuban municipality
at once. With Southern ferVor they thought
that no Spaniard should be kept in office for an
hour. They had translations made Of scurrilous
placards issued by the municipality. in which
the Americans wera roundly abused. General
Shafter too broad minded however. TO be
affected by these things, but they TO be pre-
sen.ed az Washington With the Cuban plea.
CUBANs EAGER TO GET CONTROL
What was asked was the immediate election
Of city officials 10 replace these holding their
appointment from Spain. In this. Of course
no Spanard was 20 have voice His allegiance
to foreign Power. so carefully preserved