The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-23
AREMARKABLE DOCUMENT.

Un,uuo In tho Annals or Wsrfars-A Csn'
rratulatory Address to the American
Army From spanIah Soldiers Returning
Home.
WASHINGTON, D. c., August PA
document entirely unique in the annals
Of warfare was cabled tonight to the
war department by General shafter It
is in the form of congratulatory fare
well address issued to the soldiers of
the American army by Pedro Lopez DE
Castillo, a private Spanish soldier, on
behalf Of the 1900 Spanish soldiers. No
similar document. perhaps, was ever
before issued to victorious army by
vanquished enemy. The President was
much impressed by the address, and af-
ter reading it carefully, authorized It's
publication. Following is the text OF
the address as cabled BY General Shat
ter:
SANTIAGO, August %, 1898.
n. C. Corbln. Adjutant General U. s.'A.,
Washington.
The following letter has Just been re-
ceIved from the soldiers now embark
Ing for Spain;
"To Major General Shaster. Command
ing the American Army in CUBA;
sIR:-The Spanish soldiers who capl-
tulnted in this place on the 18th OF July
last, recognIZlng your high and just po-
sltion, pray that through you all the
courageous and noble soldiers under
your command may receive our good
Sgisbes and farewell, which We s0nd
them on embarkIng for our beloved
spain. For this favor, which we have
no doubt you will grant, you VIII gain
the everlasting gratitude and consider
alton Of eleven thousand Spanish sol
dIers who are your most humble SER
wants.
(Slgned.)
PEDRO LOPEZ DE CASTILLO,
Private Of Infantry"
Also the following letter addressed to
the soldiers of the American army:
SOLDIERS OF the American army: We
should not be fulfilling our duty as well
born men, in whose breasts there live
gratitude and courtesy should we en-
bark for our beloved Spain without
sending to you our most cordial and
sincere good wishes and farewell. We
fought sou with ardOr, with oil our
strength, endenvorinG 10 gain the vic
tory, but without the slightest rRncor or
hate towards the American nation. We
have been vauquished by you $50 our
generals and chiefs judged In signing
the capltulatIon), but our surrender and
the bloody battles preceding It, have
left in our souls no place for resentment
against the men who fought US noblH
and VnlIantly. You fought and acted
in compliance with the same call OF
duty as we, for we all but represent the
power OF our respective states. You
fought us as men face to face and
with great courage as has been stnted,n
quality which we had not met with
during the three gears we have carried
on this war against a people without
religion, without morals, without con-
science and OF doubtful origin, who
could not confront the enemy, but hid
den, shot their noble victims from am
bush and then Immediately fled. This
was the kind OF warfare we had to sus-
tain in this unfortunate land.
You have complied exactly with all
the laws and usages Of war as recog-
nized by the armies OF the most civlliZ-
ed nations OF the world; have given
honorable burial to the dead OF the
vanqulshed; have cured their wounded
with greet humanity; have respected
and cared for your prisoners and their
comfort. Lastly, 70 us whose condition
was terrible, you have given freely OF
food, OF your stock of medicines, and
you hnVe honored us with distinction
and courtesy, for after the fighting the
two armies mingled with the utmost
harmony. With this high sentiment OF
appreciation from us oil, there remains
but our farewell. and with the great
est sincerity we wish you all happiness
and health In this land which Will no
longer belong to our dear Spain, but
Will be yours who have conquered II bH
force and watered It with your blood,
as your conscience called for, under the
demand OF civilization and humanity,
But the descendants of the Congo and
Guinea mingled with the blood OF un-
scrupulous Spaniards and of traitors
and adventureres these people are not
able to exercise or enjoy their liberty for
they will find II burden 10 comply with
the laws which govern civilized commu-
mites. From 1900 Spanish soldiers,
PEDRO LOPEZ DE CASTILLO.
Soldier of Infantry
Santiago do Cuba, August q, 1898.
(sIgned.) shafter, Major General