Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-23
KIND WORDS FROM SPANISH
Prisoners at Santiago Grateful for Their
Treatment.
Letter From the Vanqufshed to the
COnquerOrs-An Unprece-
denied Act.

General shafter has received a congratu-
fatory letter from Spanish soldier on be-
half of 11o00 others as follows:
Sir: The Spanish soldiers who capitu-
lated in this place on the 10th of July last
recognizing your high and just position
pray that through you all the courageous
and noble soldiers under your command
may receive our good wishes and farewell
which we send them on embarking for our
beloved Spain. For this favor, which we
have no doubt you will grant you will
gain the everlasting gratitude and con-
sideration of 11,000 Spanish soldiers, who
are your most humble servants
(Signed)
PEDRO LOPEZ DE CASTILLO,
Private of Infantry
Gen. Shafter also received a copy of the
following letter addressed to the soldiers
of the American army:
Soldiers of the American Army: We
would not be fulfilling our duty as we'll
porn men, in whose breasts there live graft
tude and courtesy, should we embark for
our beloved Spain without sending to YOU
our most cordial and sincere good wishes
and farewell We fought you with ardor
with all our strength, endeavoring to gain
the victory, but without the slightest ran
COT OF nate toward the American nation
we nave been vanquished by you $50 our
generals and chiefs judged In signing the
capltulation), but our surrender and tbe
oloooy battles preceding 1t have left I'm
~ souis no place for resentment against
IHe men VINO fought nobly and valiantIv
You fought and acted in compliance with
the same call of duty as We for we ali
put represent the power of our respective
go st.. lou Fought US as men face to face
ana with great courage, as before stated
qualty which We had not met with dur
ing .he three years we have carried NJ,
. .,ttS war AGAINST people without religion.
"i'iout morals, without conscience and
OF doubtful origin. who could not confront
the enemy, but hidden, spot their noble
Sctiihs from ambush and then Immediately
Hed. ihis was the kind of warfare we
Xau 70 sustain In this unfortunate land
You nave complied exactly with all the
laws and usages of war as recognized nv
tne armies or the most civilized nations of
the world; have given honorable burial r.
me oeao OF the vanquished: have cured
thelr wounded with great humanity. have
respected and cared for your prisoners and
their comfort, and, lastly to us. whose
condition was terrible. you have given
1reefy or food, of your stock of medicines
ana you have 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 all. there remains but to express
our farewell, and with the greatest sin
certify we wish you all happiness and health
in this land which will no longer belong
to our dear Spain, but will be yours who
nave conquered it by force and watered it
with your blood as your conscience called
for under the demand of civilization and
humanity. but the descendants of the Con-
60 and Guinea, mingled with the blood
OF INSCRIPTIONS Spaniards and of traitors
and adventures these people are not able
to exercise or enjoy their liberty, for they
Will find 1T a burden to comply with the
laws which govern civilized communities.
From 11,00O Spanish Soldiers.
(SignedD
PEDRO LOPEZ DE CASTILLO.
Soldier of Infantry.
Santiago de Cuba, August 81, 1898
Shafter Major General.