The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-24
SHAFTER AND GARCIA SPAT.
BRIG. GEN. JOAQUIN CASTILLO
GIVES HIS VERSION OF 1T.

Specified Promises Had Deen Given
Gen. Garcia In CnstIIIO's Presence
as to the Surrender of Santiago.
Report That Cubnns Did Not Fight
Not In Accordance with the views
of Gems. LnwtOn and LudlOv-LoOt-
ing Charges Were Based on Mis-
understandInE-NoF Friction Would
Exist In Cuban Camp Had Gen.
shafter Been Less Brusque.
New York, Aug. 2S.-Brig. Gen. Joaquin
Castillo, who accompanied Gen. Shafter to
Cuba as "A representative Of the Cuban
army and the Cuban civil government, has
just returned to this city. He was at the
Cuban junta here to-day. and when asked
as to the friction existing between Ameri-
cans and Cubans at Santiago, ne said that
the matter had been grossly exaggerated.
and that so far as the Cubans are con-
cerned they have the highest faith in the
American government and are confident
that the pledges made in their behalf will
be carried out
He said that Gen. Skaters misunder-
standing with Gen Garcia was OCCASION
ed by the fact that specified promises had
been made to the latter, which Gen. Shat
ter either would not or could not carry
out.
Before the American forces landed,s
he continued Gen. shafter and Admiral
Sampson met Gen. Garcia at Aseraderos
for conference, at which was present.
Gen. shafter there. of his own accord,
promised Gen. Garcia that on the sur
render of the city IL would be turned over
/ TO him. So late as the day before the sur
| render, Gen. Shafter told me that the
| Spanish prisoners would be marched out
of the city and the Cubans would be al
/ lowed to enter"
However. when the surrender was made
we were told that we could not enter Cen
| Shaftcr summed up the situation finally by
/ saying After all, this Is an American
| country captured by an american army
This statement, taken in connection with
the fact that not a single Cuban flag was
allowed TO be raised, and that Gen. Gar
| cia was not invited to be present at the
surrender, naturally caused Indignation
among our forces. 1t appeared that an
i consideration was being paid to the wishes
OF Spaniards. and the Cubans treated as
outcasts. The only words said by Gen.
/ Shafter to Garcia concerning the surren-
| der General, l guess you will be glad to
| see some Of your friends Tomorrow
"The failure to invite Garcia was as de-
liberate as the failure to invite Admiral
| Sampson.
After the surrender Gen Garcia told
Gen. Shafter that there did not appear to
be any necessity for his remaining near
! Santiago and he would withdraw his
forces, to lead them against the Spaniards
| in other parts of the province. He also
wrote a letter which has already been
published. 1t is absolutely certain that
there could have been no fear of lootlng
or outrage by the Cuban forces.
TT Is said that the Cubans did not fight,
but only attacked the provisions Gen.
| Garcia had no pack animals and had to
feed his 5000 men, who, under orders from
Gen. Shafter, were always 10 occupy the
| right of Gems Lawton and Ludlows
| forces. He detailed go men to carry the
provisions from SibOney. eight miles to
the front The result was that a continu-
| Gus stream of Cubans appeared walking
| through the American lines heavily laden
| with supplies. The American soldlers, ig-
| norant OF the mission of these carriers,
| naturally charged them with selhshness
| when they themselves were wanting COM
| mlssary supplies at the front As to the
| Cubans not fighting or working, we have
| the letters of Gems. Lawton and Ludlow.
/ who alone are able to judge, because their
| forces only were near the Cubans, that
the latter worked hard and fought well.
THAT the Cubans fought Is proven by
the large number OF Killed and wounded.
| Another charge has been made against US,
that we acted iuhumanely towards the sail-
| ors of Cervera's s. fleet. AS a fact, however,
| Cervera and 600 sailors were captured by
! the Cuban forces while they We're trying
to escape 10 the city. They were turned
over 10 the American naval authorities,
and a receipt for them taken. Cervera him
| self testified as to the great treatment he
! received at the hands of the Cubans. On
| the whole 1t viii be seen that the charges
made against the Cubans have been un-
just.
whatever friction there was has been
unfortunate and unnecessary and could
have been avoided by Gen. Shafter If, in
carrying out his plans, he had been less
| bruscue."