Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-07-30

been acting on the staff of General Cas-
tillo. 1t is not clear that Garcia ever
saw the letter.
The Reported Battle.
New York, July pa dispatch to
the Herald from Santiago says:
Great excitement was caused at Santi-
ago today Thursday by story
brought in by Cubans that 1000 Cuban
insurgents, composing General Garcia's
forces, were routed by fierce engagement
with detachment of Spanish troops
numbering about 5000 bound for Santa
90 to surrender.
In this battle, which they say took
place at point several miles to the
north of this city, Al Cubans were killed,
the Cubans say, and many more were
wounded. The Spanish loss was much
smaller, it is said.
Both Tales UnVerified.
Washington, July 23.-It is stated
positively at the war department that the
letter which General Garcia is represent
ed to have addressed to General Shafter,
announcing his withdrawal from further
has not reached the war department.
No word has reached the department
from any official source relative to the
reported attack by Garcia's Cubans upon
a body of Spanish soldiers while march
ing into Santiago to surrender to Shat
ter.
In the absence of a reliable report on
: M
fraught with gravest consequences and
affect the attitude of the United States
government toward the Cubans, there is
a decided disposition to refuse discussion
of the matter at the war department.
The Garcia Letter.
New York, n. Y, July pa dispatch
from Santiago gives the following as a
letter sent by General Garcia to General
Shafter:
"Sn-On May y the government Of
the republic of Cuba ordered me, as com
mander of the Cuban army in the east,
to cooperate with the American army,
following the plans and obeying the or
ders of its commander. / have done my
best to fulfill the will of my government
and / have been, until nov, one of your
most faithful subordinates, honoring my
self in carrying out your orders 50 far as
my powers have allowed me to do it.
The city of Santiago surrendered to
the American army and news OF that I'M
portant event was given to me by per
sons entirely foreign to your stalls l
have not been honored with a single word
gotiations for peace or the terms Of the
captulation by the Spdniards. The inn
portant ceremony of the surrender Of the
Spanish army and the taking possession
of the city by yourself took place later
and | only know of both events by pub
lie reports
II was not honored. sir, with kind
word from you inviting myself OF any
officer OF my staff to represent the Cuban
army ON that memorable occasion.
Finally | know that you have left in
power at Santiago the same Spanish au-
thorities that for three years have
fought us the enemies of the indepen-
dance of Cuba. | beg to say that these
authorities have never been elected at
Santiago by the residents of the city,
but were appointed by royal oecrees of
the queen of Spain.
Il would agree that your army should
have taken possession of the city, the
garrison and the forts. | would giev my
warm cooperation to any measure you
NAV have deemed best under American
military law to hold the city for your
army and to preserve public order until
the time comes for you to fulfill the sol
emn pledge to establish in Cuba a free
and independent government made by the
people of the United States.
Defenders of Spain Appointed.
but when the question arises of APP
pointing officers in Santiago de Cuba, UNI
der the peculiar circumstances of our 80
years strife against SPANS rule, l can
not see but with the deepest regret that
such authorities are not elected by the
Cuban people but are the same ones Sc
lected by the queen of Spain and hence
are ministers to defend against the Gu
bans the Spanish sovereignty.
"A rumor too absurd to believe, gen
eral, ascribes the reason of your mea-
sure and OF your order forbldding my az
my to 90 into Santiago to be fear of mas
sacre and revenge against the Spaniards.
Allow me, sir, to protest against the
shadow of such an idea. We are not
savages, ignoring the rules of civilized
warfare. We are poor, ragged army,
as ragged and as poor as were your fore
fathers in their noble war for indepen-
dence. but as did the heroes of Saratoga
and Yorktown, we respect too deeply our
cause to disgrace it with barbarism and
cowardice. In view of all these reasons,
| sincerely regret to be unable to fulfill
a. lo,., of my Government