Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-07-30
GENERAL GARCIA'S
LETTER To SKATER
Denotes That the Trouble Existing
Between the Forces Is Quite
Serious.
GARCIA'S CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT
Dignity Badly Rufled by Alleged
Neglect on the Part of
Shafter.
GARCIA's CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT
DETEST The SPANISH OFFICERS
Denies That There Was Any Danger
OF the Cubans Committing
Robberies IL Admitted
10 Santiago.

among the Cuhans as the result of the
recent orders of General Shafter has
Leen growing rapidly, and the letter
from Garcia was the elimination. The
rupture between Garcia and Shafter
is said to be of the most serious ma
ture. When the Cuban general lost
his temper he at once withdrew his
troops and departed by the road that
leads to Jiguani.
That Garcia was greatly in earnest
is shown by his action just previous
10 his departure. lie called his Off
GERS together and there was a hurried
consultation. lie then rendered his
resignation as commander Of the Gu
ban forces in the east to General Co
mex, the commander in chief Of the
entire insurgent army. In order that
the action of Garcia might be made
known as carly as possible 10 Gomez
q special courier was dispatched to
the other commanders headquarters
with the resignation Of his ~disgrun-
tied subordinate.
Text Of Garcia's Letter.
The letter referred TO above as hav-
ing been sent to General Shafter was
couched in the most bitter terms, and
was as follows:
"Sir-On May 12 the government Of
the republic Of Cuba ordered me, as
commander of the Cuban army in the
east, to cooperate With the American
army, following the plans and obeying
the orders Of its COMMANDER. l have
done my best, sir, to fulfill the wishes
OF my government, and | have been I'M
til now one of your most faithful sub
ordinates, honoring myself in carry
ing out your orders and instructions
as far as my powers have allowed Inc
TO do it.
1.-The city of Santiago surrendered TO
the American army, and news OF that
Important event was given 10 me by
persons entirely foreign to your stair.
i have not been honored with a single
word from yourself informing me
about the negotiations for peace, nor
the terms of capitulation by the Span
ards. The important ceremony OF the
surrender Of the Spanish army and the
taking possession Of the city by your
self tooS-p place later on, and l only
knew Of both events by public reports.
II was never honored, sir, with n
kind word from you, inviting myself
or any officers of my stan 10 repre-
sent the Cuban army on that III
able occasion.
FINALLY, l know that you have left
in power at Santiago the same Spanish
authorities that for three years | have
fought as enemies of the independence
of Cuba. | beg to state that these au-
thorities have ncvcr been elected at
Santiago by the residents Of the cit.s
but were sppointd by royal decree 81
the queen Of Spain.
81 would have agreed, SIR, that the
army under YOUR command should
have taken posses ion Of the city, the
garrison and the forts. / would have
given my w.rm cooperation to any
you might have deemed best
under American military law To hold
the city for your army and TO preserve
public order until the time to
fulfill the solemn pledge Of the people
Of the United States to establish in
Cuba a free and independent govern
ment, but when the question arises OF
appointing authorities in Santiago de
Cuba, under the peculiar clrcum-
stances OF cur thirty years strife
against the Spanish rule, cannot see
but with the deepest regret that such
authorities are not elected by the Gu
ban people, hut are the same ones Sc
lected by the queen of Spain, and
hence are ministers to defend against
the Cubans tlc Spanish sovereignty.
~ IN TOO absurd to be believed,
General, ascribcs the reason of your
easur and of the orders forbidding
army to enter Santiago to fear Of
aud revengcs against the
Spaniards. Allow me, sir, 10 protest
AGAINST even the shadow of such an
idea. We are not savages, ignoring
the rules of civilized warfare. We are
a POOR, ragged army, as ragged and as
as was the army of your fore
fathers in their noble war for indie
peudence, hut, as did the heroes OF
Saratoga and Yorktown, we respect
deeply our cause to disgrace it with
| arbarism and cowardice.
"In view of these reasons | sincerely
to be unable to fulfill any longer
the orders of my government, and
therefore | have rendered today to the
commander in chief of the Cuban
army. Major General Maxine Gomez,
nv resignation as commander OF this
section of our army.
nk-......n IL. ,.arnlnlinn Withdraw