Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-08-26
UNIQUE DOCUMENT.

Spanish Prisoners at Santiago.
WASHINGTON. Aug. PA document
entirely unique in the annals of war.
fare was cabled last night to the war
department by General Shafter. It is
in the form Of a congratulatory fare.
we'll address issued to the soldiers of
the American army by Pedro Lopez de
Castillo, private Spanish soldier, on
behalf of the 1900 Spanish soldiers.
No similar document perhaps was ever
before issued to victorious army by a
vanquished enemy. The president was
much impressed by the address and
after reading it carefully authorized its
publication. The document was sent
to General Shafter as commander of
the American forces and in beginning g
requested that the attached address be
communicated to his command. The
address is as follows:
SOLDIERS OF THE AMERICAN ARMY: We
would not be fulfilling our duty as well
born men, in whose breasts there lives
gratitude and courtesy, should we embark
for our beloved Spain without sending to
you our most cordial and good wishes
and farewell. We fought you with ardor
with all our strength, endeavoring tc
gain the victory, but without the slight
est rancor or hate towards the American
nation. We have been vanquished by
you $50 our generals and chiefs judged in
signing the capitulation), but our surren
der and the bloody battles preceding it
left in our souls no place for resentment
against the men who fought us nobly and
valiantly. You fought and acted in com
pliance with the same call of duty as We
for we all but represent the power of ou1
respective states You fought us as men,
Face to Face With Great Courage,
a quality we had not met with during the
three years we had carried on this wal
against people without religion, with
out morals, without conscience and Of
doubtful orr gin, who could not confront
the enemy, but hidden, shot their noble
victims from ambush and immediately
fed. This was the kind of war we had tc
sustain in this unfortunate land. You
have complied exactly with all the lawsan
usages of war as recognized by the armies
of the most civilized nations of the world;
have given honorable burial to the dead
of the vanquished; have cared for theil
wounded with great humanity; have re
spected and cared for your prisoners and
their comfort, and lastly, to us, whose
condition was terrible, you have give1
freely of food, of your stock of medicines
and 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 great sincerity We
wish you all happiness and health in this
land which will no longer belong to ou1
dear Spain but will be yours, which you
conquered by force and watered with YOU
blood, as your conscience called for, I'M
der the demand of civilization and hui
manity, but the descendants of Congo
and of 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 it burden to comply with the
laws which govern civilized communities
From Il, 900 Spanish soldiers.
PEDRO LOPEZ DE- Castillo