The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-02
FULL OF PATHOS.
General Linares's Report on the Sit
uatiOn at Santiago on July 13.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
GUANTANAMO Province of Santiago de
Cuba, July 25.-An official report of General
Linares to the Madrid government, trans
mitted on July 49, is full of pathos, as it
tells of Spaniards thousands of miles from
home striving to defend property which the
owners have deserted. The report, sent by
cable on July 10, was addressed to the min
lister of war. 1t was translated for the AS
ISOLATED Press by Commodore Schley. The
text in full follows:
"(Oficial Telegram, July 12)
ITO the Minister of War, from the Gen
Cuba-Although confined to my bed by
great weakness and in much pain, the sit
uation of the long-Suttering troops here &C.
deem it my duty to address your Excel
lency, that the state of affairs may be ex-
planned. The enemy's lines are very near
the town; on account of the nature of the
ground our lines are in full view from
them. The troops are weak; sick, in con-
siderable proportion, not sent TO hospitals
the Entertainments. Horses and mules with
out the usual allowance of forage. We are
in the midst Of the wet season, with twenty
hours daily fall of rain in the trenches,
which are simply bitches dug in the ground.
without any permanent shelter for the men;
The men have nothing but rice 10 eat, ana
no means of changing or drying their CLOTH
ing. Considerable losses; field officers and
company officers killed wounded, sick, de-
prive the troops of necessary orders in crit
zeal moments.
Under these circumstances it is impossi-
BILE to fight our way out, because, in att
ing one-third of the men, who could not
leave, and we would be weakened, besides,
by casualties caused by the enemy, result
ing finally in a veritable disaster without
saving our diminished battalions. In order
to get out, protected by the Hoguin divi-
sion, it will be necessary for them to come
.. So ID. ,~1,.1
so that my forces may break through in
another, both acting in conjunction. For
this operation the Holguin division will re-
Quire eight days, and will have to bring
large amount of rations, which it is impos-
sble to transport. The solution of the ques-
ton is ominously imposed upon US. Surren-
der is inevitable, and we can only succeed
in prolonging the agony. The sacrifice is
useless, and the enemy understands this.
They see our lines, and theirs being we'll
established close up, they tire out our men
without exposing themselves. Yesterday
they cannonaded us on land with such an
elevation that we were unable to see their
batteries, and from the sea by the squad
ron. when had perfect range, and lombard
ed the town in sections with mathematical
precision.
THE complete exodus of the inhabitants.
inSular as well as peninsular includes the
occupants of the public offices. with few ex-
ceptions. There only remain the clergy and
they to-day started to leave the town with
the archbishop at their head
THE defenders here cannot now begin
campaign full of enthusiasm and energy.
They came here three years ago. struggling
against the climate, privations and fatigue
and now they are placed in these sad cir
cumstances where they have no food, no
physical force and no means of recuperat-
ing. They are defending the property Of
those that have abandoned 1t, and of those
that now are being fed by the American
forces. The honor Of arms has it's limits.
and | appeal to the opinion of the whole
troops have not kept IL safely many times
since May Is. when they were subjected TO
the first cannonade. If IL is necessary that
the sacrifice be endured for reasons of
which am Ignorant. or that some one shall