The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-25
Reply to the Cuban Generals Remon-
STRANGE Against the Treatment
of Insurgent Allies.
SITUATION IS MUCH MIXED
BUT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL
TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Everything Possible Wili BE Done to
Close the Breach-Shafter n Bet
ter Fighter than Diplomat.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. July A.-General Shafter
has Joined issues squarely with General
Garcia or a question of fact. Garcia COM
planned that he had been snubbed and
slighted by not being invited to participate
or be present at the ceremonies of the
render of Santiago. General Shafter states
without qualification that he had extended
an invitation to the Cuban general to be
present, which the latter had declined. The
Shafter letter is a great relief to the ad-
ministration. 1t apparently sets at rest the
charge that the governments representa-
tive in Cuba had wantonly given offense to
the insurgent leader and places the blame
for the split or misunderstanding which has
taken place on General Garcia. In the es-
timation Of the administration that means
everything. 1t sets this government right
before the world.
Whatever doubt may have existed as to
the authenticity of the published letter pur-
porting to have been sent by General Gar
cia to General Shafter, in which the Cuban
commander complained of the treatment
extended him by the American commander
has been set at rest by the publication of
General Skaters reply. 1t may be true
that somebody else wrote the letter. but
Shafter replying to it shows that it reached
him in such a way as to leave no doubt in
his mind that 1t came from Garcia and
represented his feelings and sentiments at
the moment 1t must therefore be treated
as authentic. Dispatches from Santiago
also confirm it by saying that Garcia has
actually withdrawn his forces from the vi
cinity of the Americans and retired to the
interior, where, according to his letter, he
will act independently, as of yore So far
as mere military operations against the
Spanish are concerned, Garcia's withdrawal
will do no harm; in fact it is regarded in
some quarters as good riddance, BECAUSE
so far as can be judged from the reports
which come from Santiago, Garcia's men
were formidable only in attacks upon COM
missary stores. This may be an injustice
to the Cubans, but Skaters kilograms. the
reports of newspaper correspondents at
Santiago and interviews with officers and
men returned from there all agree that this
particular band of Cuban insurgents did
not fight and would not work between
meals
In spite of all this, however, the admin
1stration takes serious view of the breach
OF friendly relations between Shafter and
Garcia The former is the representative OF
this government in Cuba at this time and
has been ever since he landed Whatever
mistakes he may make in either war or
diplomacy will recoil upon his government.
That he has made mistakes in his inter.
course with Garcia, in diplomatic way at
least, is evident from Garcia's action in
withdrawing his forces to resume an inde-
pendent course. Garcia no doubt is SUPER
sensitive, and demanded more than possibly
could be accorded to him, but if Shafter had
been half as much of a dipIomatist as he is
fighter he would have recognized this SEN
sitiveness of the Cuban, and would have
been scrupulously careful to do nothing TO
offend it. Instead, he was confessedly in
different to the feelings Of the Cuban on
occasions, very strained relations between
the two commanders and their forces being
the result. Garcia has communicated his
action to Gomez, who is in Santa Clara
province with his men, and suggested a
junction of forces and an independent cam
paign.
The situation in Cuba is novel and anoma-
lous. We have sent an army there to expel
the Spanish, who have ruled the island for
centuries The necessity as well as the
occasion for sending this army to the island
was created by the Cuban insurgents, who
claim to have created a republican form of
government in the interior of the island.
Gomez and Garcia assert their support of
this Cuban republic and claim to be acting
under it's authority. We have recognized
the independence of the people of Cuba, but
not the existence of the alleged Cuban re-
v@.aIl B.
force of Cuban insurgents under Garcia.
who claims authority from the Cuban re-
public. This force is not enlisted under
our flag, but acts independently under the
command of its own officers and under its
own flag. It's commander claims that he
should be treated as an ally and have as
much to say about affairs military and civil
In Cuba as our commander. AS matter of
fact, he has been treated as an ally in some
respects, almost as a subordinate in others.
and as a rank outsider in yet others.
Garcia probably never heard of Judge
Cobb's celebrated inquiry, Where am /
at?" but he is doubtless busy thinking the
Spanish equivalent of it, What he and the
other Cuban leaders wanted was for the
American government to recognize the Gu
ban republic, as it claimed to exist some
where in the mountains of the interior, and
then to send an army down there to act as
allies of the Cubans. This would have left
the management of everything in the hands
of the Cubans. They would now be in pos
session of Santiago if that had been the
plan pursued. That the plan was not pur-
sued is the real grievance of Garcia and
those who sympathize with him. He and |
they now believe beyond doubt that though |
Spanish rude in Cuba win be ended by this |