The evening times., 1898-07-23

The Government has not been officially
advised concerning the reports that Gen.
Garcia attacked a force of Spanish sol
diers on their way to surrender to Gen.
Shafter, under the terms of the capitula-
tion agreed upon with Gen. Toral.
These reports are. In substance, that
Gen. Garcia, acting independently In a
move on Holguin. refused to respect the
circumstance that the Spaniards, virtual
ly were prisoners to Gen. Shafter, and
without much parley opened an engage
ment from which he was forced to retire
after suffering very severe losses. To
say that the report was amazing to the
American officials is but to speak lightly.
1t is topic of very serious comment. not
only here, but at every point where the
advices have been made known.
1t is very safe to say that If Garcia
has thus utterly ignored all rules of civil
lied warfare. his proceeding will be
very detrimental to the Cuban cause, as
1t will inevitably bring abouf a change
in the relations between the American
and Cuban forces, even II Garcia's course
should be disavowed by Gen. Gomez and
TIC olAcI Suudh AhS SoooAs't -
such.is the=cas will be allowed to go
their own way, as no confidence could be
placed in them by the American COM
manders.
II official adyices confirm the state
ments as to a9arcia's action, one of the
results win be great damage to the Gu
bans cause in the eyes OF the Admins
tration, and win be regarded as justify
ing Gen. Shafter in neglecting to consult
Garcia as to the surrender OF Santiago.
In the absence of official information
regarding this attack on the Spanish
troops, the Administration has been dis
posed to believe that Gen. Shafter had
made mistake in his dealings with the
Cuban general.
The matter of Garcia's -tlisaffection was
discussed a. the meeting of the Cabinet
yesterday, and 1t was then declared to be
the policy of the Administration to treat
the insurgents with the greatest consid-
GRAFTON. Allowances were to be made
for them, on account of the long con-
test they had maintained against great
odds, and without proper arms, clothing
or food.
There will be no change in the policy
OF delivering arms, ammunition and sup
plies to the Cuban insurgents. In fact is
Is now too late TO make any change as
to the arms and ammunition, as practi-
cally all that had been set aside for dis
tribution to the Cubans had either been
delivered or were now on the way to
them.
Gen. Garcia's resignation of his COM
mand would not make any change In the
situation as far as the United States was
concerned He would become a private
citizen of Cuba, If il should be accepted,
and his command would devolve upon
the next in rank.
Senior Quesada, the Cuban representa-
tive here, very much deplores the friction
that has grown up between Gen. Shaft
er and Gen. Garcia.
He regards America as the trustee for
Cuba, and he feels every confidence in
whatever course the Administration
might see fit to adopt.
Gen. Garcia's letter to Gen. Shafter has
been discussed by public men generally,
and it produced very good impression
and led to the general opinion that he
had not been properly treated by Gen.
Shafter. Should 1t appear, however, that
he attacked Spanish soldiers on their way
to surrender to Gen. Shafter as prisoners
of war there would be a reaction against
him and the cause of the Cubans would
be much damaged.
A high official of the War Department
says he is unwilling to credit the report,
but If it should prove true there would
no longer be any criticism of Gen. Shaft
er for his action in ignoring Gen. Garcia,
and 1t would justify the reports that have
come from Santiago as to the general in
efficiency and unreliability of the Cuban
forces.