The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-08-25
UNIQUE DOCUMENT.

Farewell Address to Am erican Troops by
Spanish Prisoners at Santiago.
WASHINGTON, Aug. "a "A document
entirely unique in the annals of war.
fare was cabled last night to the wal
department by General Shafter. It is
in the form of a congratulatory fare
well address issued to the soldiers OF
the American army by Pedro Lopez de
Castillo, q private Spanish soldier, on
behalf of the 1900 Spanish soldiers.
No similar document perhaps was ever
before issued to "a victorious army by a
vanquished enemy. The president was
much impressed by the address and
after reading it~carefully authorized ats
publication. The document was seat
to General Shafter as commander of
the American forces and in beginning
requested that the attached address be
communicated to his command. Whe
address is as follows:
SOLDIERS, OF THE AMERICAN ARMY: we
would:not be fulfilling our duty as well
born1aen, in whose breasts there lives
gratitude and courtesy, should we embark
for Our beloved Spain without sending to
you our most cordial and good wishes
and farewell. We fought you with ardor,
with aall our strength, endeavoring to
gain.the victory, but without the Slight
sest:rancor or hate towards the American
nation. We have been vanquishea by
you ESQ our generals and chiefs judged in
signing the capitulation), but our surren-
der and. the bloedy battles preceding it
left in our souls:no place for resentment
against the men who fought us nobiy and
valiantly. You fought and acted incom-
.pliance with the same call of duty as we,
for we all but represent the power Sof Oul
respective states You fought us as.men,
Face, to Face With Great Courage,
a. quality we had not met with during the
three wears we had carried On this war
against a people without religion, with
out morals, without conscience and OF
doubtful orr gin, who could not confront
the enemy, but hidden, shot their noble
victims from ambush and Immediately
fled. This was the kind of war we had to
sustain in this unfortunate land. You
have complied exactly with all the lawsand
usages of war as recognized by the armies
of the naest civilized nations of the world;
have given honorable burial to theSdead
of the, vanquished; have cared for their
wounded with great humanity; have re-
spected and cared for your prisoners and
their comfort, and lastly, to us, whose
condition WAS terrible, you have given
zfreely.sf food, of .your stock of medicines
land you have honored us with distinction
and courtesy, for after the fighting 1.-The
two armies
Mingled With theaU tmost Harmony.
With this High sentiment of appreciation
from us all, there remains but to express
our farewell, and with great sincerity we
wish you all happiness and health in this
land which will no longer belong to our
dear Spain hut will be yours, which yon
conquered by force andswatered with yonr
blood, as your conscience called fOr, un-
der the demand of civilization and hui
mainly, but sthe descendants of Congo
and of Guinea, mingled with the blood of
unscrupulous Spaniards and of traitors
and adyenturers, these people are not able
to exercise or enjoy their Liberty, for they
will find it burden to comply with the
laws which govern civilized communities.
From II 900 Spanish soldiers.
PEDRO LOPEZ BE CASTILLO.