The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-14
LINARES APPEAL TO AUNoN.
HIS CABLE MESSAGE TO THE MINIS
TER OF WAR ON JULY IL.

A Fervent Appeal for the Surrender
of SantiagO-It Passed Through
Havana, and Consequently Had
the Endorsement of Captain Gener-
al BInncO-Sick in Bed at the Time
of His Writing-The Eneny's POSI-
ton strong and the Then Immi-
nent Battle Was Mercflcss
Slaughter of His Mon Who Were
Unfit to Fight.
Correspondence of the Associated Press:
Havana. Sept 1S.-Following is a literal
translation Of a cable message sent by
Gen. Linares on July Z to Capt Aunon,
the Spanish minister of war, urging The
surrender of Santiago de Cuba. AS il was
sent by way of Havana, il is safe to as
sumo that 1t had the Endorsement of Gen.
Blanco:
The General-in-Chief to the Minister of
War: Although Frustrated In bed by ex-
ceseive weakness and sharp pains, I Pm
preoccuped to such an extent by the ter
rible condition of these long suffering
troops that 1 consider it my duty to ad-
dress your excellency, the minister of war,
in order to expose the true condition of at
fairs
The enemys position is very strong and
his outposts are very close to the limits
of the city. The natural formation of
the surrounding country gives our be-
segers great advantage. Our lines ex-
tend fourteen kilometres.
Our troops are attenuated and the pro-
portion of sick considerable, but they are
not allowed to so 10 the hospital owing
to the necessity of keeping them in athe
trenches. Our horses have no grain or
forage. Under a veritable deluge We re-
NAMED for twenty-four hours at a stretch
in trenches and breastworks, soaked to
the marrow, with no earthly shelter or
protection possible for the unfortunate
soldiers, who eat nothing but rice and
cannot even change or dry their clothes.
The great losses among our officers,
either dead, wounded, sick or disappeared
deprive our men of the necessary direction
and command at critical moments.
Under such conditions Il would be inn
possible to attempt 10 break through the
enemys ranks, as one-third of our men
are too feeble to walk and would have to
be left behind, while the rest would be
decimated and routed by the superior
forces of the enemy. The result of such
an attempt would be a wholesale slaugh-
ter and national disaster, which would ut
terly fail in the object desired by your ex-
celleucy, which is the salvation of these
eleven thinned and impoverished battal-
ions.
in order to attempt a sorte under the
protection of the Holguin division IL is IN
the first place necessary for those forces
to break through the ranks and reinforce
ours before we could move. On the other
hand the Holguin forces would have ahead
of them three days of forced marches and
would have to bring great quantity of
commssary supplies and rations which il
would be impossible for them to do.
Altogether the gravity of the situation
Is appalling, The surrender of the town Is
inevitable, a prolonged resistance would
simply mean protracton of our death
agony. The sacrifice would be sterile and
fruitless.
1.-THE enemy appreciates our position per-
fectly and with our lines circumvented and
walled in as securely as they are he Is
able to drain and wipe out our forces with
out exposing his own, as he did yester-
day, cannonading us with vertical fire
while we could not see or make out his
batteries Moreover, his navy has our
range down to so fine point that his
ships can lombard the town by sections
with mathematical precision
Santiago de Cuba is not Corona, which
was defended inch by inch to the last drop
OF blood by women and children. by the
opi diiN lFtDitt all moved Dy Ile sacred
spirit of independence, and animated and
encouraged by the hope and promise of re-
lief which they did actually receive.
Here solitude alone reigns. The total
population, ma ives as well as Spanish, has
left the city Not only have private indi-
Viduals abandoned it, but public officials
and government employees as well The
clergy alone remains within our walls, and
they too, are preparing to flee tomorrow
with, their prelate at their head.
our troops are not starting to-day, fresh
and vigorous, fun of enthusiasm, on
campaign. They are men who have strug-
gled three long years against climatic per-
lis, fatigue. hardships, disease and hunger
and who to-day when called to face these
trying and critical conditions are wasted
away in body and soul. with no earthly
means or possibility of relief.
"They are fighting without spirit or
nerves. They have no sacred fire. no ideal
to defend, for the very property they are
called upon to defend and protect has been
abandoned before their eyes by it's VERT
table owners. many of whom are allied TO
the American, strengthening those ranks
against ourselves.
1.-THE honors of arms and of war have
limits. and I appeal to the judgment of
the government and of the whole nation
as TO whether these troops have not given
repeated illustrations of courage, valor
and devotion. and whether they are to be
further sacrificed for a lost cause.
If for reasons, of which l am ignorant,
the sacrifices demand It, OF If some per-
son Is required who will assume the re-
sponsibility for the inglorious end already
predicted in my former dispatches, / offer
myself Loyalty on the altar of my country
to assume command and responsibility in
either case, and / viii, If necessary be
alone answerabe for the surrender Of this
place. as my modest reputation is Of small
value compared with the national well
fare Linares."
"Portugee" English.