Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-26

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Sept. 2o-Just be-
fore General Garcia's official reception at
the Club San Carlos he granted an inter-
view. in which he discussed with much an
| imation the present situation. The general
was found surrounded by his staff in a
large drawing room in his house in Gale
de Basilio, seated in a roomy rocking chair,
with the insignia of his rank in the Cuban
army still on his uniform, chatting cheerily
with his aides. With him was his son, Colo
mel Garcia, who acted as interpreter dur
ing the interview. First of all was asked:
General, what have you to say regarding
your resignation from the Cuban army and
| the dispute with General Shafter leading up
to it?'
Had No Quarrel With Shafter.
81 should like it clearly set out" Garcia
replied, that 1 had no personal quarrel
with General Shafter. He had given me a
distinct promise that the American and Gu
ban troops should enter the town together.
That promise he has denied, but, neverthe-
less, it was so. l felt keenly the indignity
and neglect of the Cuban troops, and still
more strongly the fact that the Spanish
officials still retained office in Santiago.
could no longer obey instructions to CO.
operate with the American army, and as
this feeling was antagonistic to the orders
1 had received from the commander-in-cflief
1 resigned my command, writing letter to
General Shafter, which has been pub
lshed."
What, in your opinion, General Garcia,
your resignation?"
General Garcia rose from the table where
he was seated, exclaiming. excitedly
Provisional government! What govern
ment? There is no government. 1 sent my
resignation to General Gomez as my COM
mander-in-chief. 1t was accepted by Gen
eraI Gomez in his military capacity.
L deny the legality of the actions of the
present so-called provisional Cuban govern
ment. According to the constitution the
government should be composed of a presi-
dent, vice president, four secretaries and
four subsecretaries. The government to-
day is composed of only two persons. They
cannot form quorum. Their acts are not
legal.
Denies Maso's Authority.
I'm the army we do not pay much atten-
ton to this little clique playing at govern
ment. So long as they keep quiet and
don't interfere with us it is all right and
they may sit up at Camaguey and make
laws, but we pay no attention to them.
They are not fighters, and the real revolu-
tionary party in Cuba is the fighting party.
Have you ever heard of Bartolome Maso as
fighter, or of Senior Capote in a battle?
Maso was once colonel under me, but he
has never been in a fight. Faugh! These
men are not the leaders in Cuba.
How does the government now stand?
1t is supposed to be in Santa Cruz. Maso is
i'll. Capote is vice president and secretary
of war. There are with him two secre-
taries. His assumption of the secretary
ship of war is illegal. There is no quorum
to give weight to their acts.
My resignation was accepted. Probably
the cause was that it was feared on the
publication of my letter to General Shafter
some feeling might be stirred up against
me in the United States. and therefore it
would be impolitic to continue me in MY
command but my letter caused exactly the
reverse result.
Il have received from the United States
thousands of letters of congratulation.
don't think it has caused me to be in any
way persona non grata to the American
people or the American government.
United States in Control.
'I do not recognize any government on
this island save that of the United States.
From the moment the American troops
landed on this soil but one government is
represented in Cuba. There was Cuban
revolutionary army in arms against Spain,
acting under orders of General Gomez. The
so-called provisional government We do not
recognize.
IF General Gomez has resigned, as un-
derstand he has; | regret it very much. as
ative head. We deny the power and author
ity of the provisional government IN any
way to wth b ue Of ov one
eminent has been and is a figurehead.
nothing more.
MY resignation was the military resig-
nation to my commander. His instructions
were to cooperate and put myself under
the orders of the American commanders.
These orders I transmitted to my divisional
commanders. with the additional instruc-
tions to carry them out, even if opposed to
my own orders. Finding the situation at
Santiago such that it would have been a
personal insult to me and to my army to
carry them out, L resigned.
Il should have liked to continue In COM
mand until the island was settled, but my
work was over. The war was ended. and.
as said in my speech tonight, the duty
of the soldier is to lay down his arms, TO
resume work and to endeavor. under the
protecting arm of your great and good gov
l,,,ild fra i,llha -