The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-18
GEN. LlNARES' LETTER.
His PitifuI Message to Blanco From
Shocking state Of Affairs

santiago SHOCKING nih'''' -'''''
OMAHA. oct. ls.-The army and navy
officers attending the Peace Jubilee are
to-day discussing a letter relating to the
war. which was left in the hands Of
DIR. ". J. Gabraith by General shatter
lust before the latter took his departure
for Chicago yesterday afternoon. us
value lies I'm the fact that II gives a
clue 10 a mystery that has considerably
puzzled both army officials ana QUEENS
the reason why the Spaniards so readily
surrendered Santiago de cuba 20 the
army under General Shafter.
The document is a copy Of letter sent
TO Captain General Blanoo and the Minis
ter of War az Madrid by General Linares
the original commander of tho forces M
Santiago. II was written on July lzth'
five days before the surrender Of the city.
IL tells of the desperate straits 10 which
the Spanish soldiers were reduced, and
shows that their sumerngs led TO the sur
render of the city before it was expected.
The final fines Of the letter also indicate
that the Spanish Government had been
considering the question Of surrender,
but was afraid apparently 10 take the
step. The letter, an extract from when
has been printed. follows I'm full:
Santiago de Cuba, July II. 1seS.
ITO the General--in-Chief, Havana:
ITO the Minister OF War, Madrid:
Although Frustrated ia bed by an acute
Illness. and suffering severe pains, the
situation Of our suffering troops so pre-
occupies me that ] believe IT my duty 10
address your Emnence and the Minister
Of War i'm order 90 explain the actual
situation.
"The enemys lines are very near 10
this place. our lines are extended four
teen kilometres a considerable proper
ton of our troops are sick and enact
ated. but do not cn.cr the hospital be-
cause it IS necessary 10 have them in
the trenches. The animals have been
without forage in the midst of rain
which has fallen for twcnty-i0ur hours,
I'm the bitches.
Tho soldiers remain permanently I'm
the trenches with nothing but rice and
they cannot leave 20 change their clothes.
We have lost considerable number Of
field officers dead. wounded sick and
missing. which deprives the force OF the
necessary directions I'm these critical mo-
ments
Under these conditions IL is impossible
10 move a STEP because when attempting
90 do so our forces will be diminished hy
n third part that are not able TO leave,
and. Furthermore boy the wounded lhAi
the enemy viii produce. The end VIII joe
disaster without accompl ishins the sa'NA-
ton Of the eleven hatta.ions.
In order 20 leave. protected 10y the dl-
vision Of Holguin. &c is necessary lh'-
we break the enemy lines in compiilH-
ton. This fOrce-breakng is on one sldr'
and I'm order To- accomplish this thc
force at Iioiguin must employ ei5hl Gay
Journey and bring numarous ratona ll"'
they will not bc able 90 transport. Inc
solution seems inevitable. the SURRENDER
unavoidable. ana We are only able 10 pro
long the agony.
"The sacrifice Is useless The enemy
understands this knows our situation.
has lines Well established around our
forts. and without exposing his own. As
he did yesterday. he is able go cannon
AIDE as from elevated places without Our
seeing his batteries ~ all. The fleet now
has perfect range and can lombard the
CITY on sections with mathematical pre-
ci~ion
Santiago dc cuba IS not like Corona,
"a walled city. a piece or the territory OF
the metropolis defended step by step by
her proper inhabitants without distinction
OF age or sex. exposing their lives. moved
by the sainted idea Of independence with
the hope OF succor which they receive
Here we are alone and Isolated. The
citizens and the public officials. with rare
exceptions are gone The clergy alone
remain, and they to-day wish 10 leave
with the Bishop a. their head. The de
tenders do not now begin a campaign full
Of enthusiasm and energy. They are
exhausted by struggles with the climate
privation and fatigue, and In these criti
cal circumstances have neither food MOI
physical force nor friends 20 hep them
They are in q critical condition. They
lack the spirit to defend this property
because in defending this property they
are abandoned % the American force by
those who were their allies.
THE honor Of an army has It's limits
and l appeal 10 the judgment OF the Gov
eminent or Of the entire nation in order
10 decide II those suffering troops thai
have been bOmbarded repeatedly Sine
the 18th Of May. when they suffered the
first bombardment. shall be abandoned
If IL Is necessary that this sacrifice b,
made, that We may go / know not where
or II IL IS necessary that some one as
sumo the responsibility OF foreseeing tn,
disaster announced by me In several tele
grams, / offer myself Loyalty on the altar
Of my country. and ! viii charge myself
with the order TO make the surrender
because my modest reputation Is worth
very little I'm comparison with the ma
tional interests "LINARES."
New York sun.