The times., 1898-09-07
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 7. 1898.
Miles and Garcia.


The Congress Of the United States
has formally refused to recognize the
provisional government in Cuba. or
ganized under the plans OF the Junta.
and there is no reason now why it
should be accepted as the responsible
institution for the administration of
Cuban affairs. No doubt many of the
officers Of the Cuban army expected
that as soon as the Spaniards were ex-
PEELED. the island would be turned over
to the revolutionary party. Since they
are likely TO suffer keen disappoint-
ment in this. We are all the more bound
to do justice to the Cuban army.
This is a consideration that would
have received the attention of any
broad minded man in the position held
by Gen. Shafter. That he lacked tact
and did not show a proper sense of jus
tice in his dealings with Gen. Garcia
there is only too much reason to think.
Whatever may be said Of Garcia's SOL
diers-and they were seen at a great
disadyantage-ther can be no reason
able doubt Of the disinterested nature
of the old mans patriotism. He COM
mended himself TO all who saw him
before Santiago, except Gen. Shafter,
and was entitled to a degree of cour-
tesy which he did not receive. He did
not get even justice. As The Times
protested some time ago, no mention
was made of his capture of Admiral
Cervera and six hundred men who
were making their way to Santiago.
These prisoners he turned over to the
Americans, taking a receipt for them.
In no report is there hint Of this, but
the story is circulated that the Cubans
attempted to murder all the Spaniards
who escaped from the burning ships.
In no account that has been made
public until now have the Cubans had
credit for aiding in the landing of
Skaters army on the closely guarded
shores of Cuba. That they cheerfuIly
responded to the request of Gen Miles
for this service is shown by documents
now published without the consent of
and probably to the chagrin of the War
Department The American comman-
der, Miles, asked Garcia to have as
large a force as he could near Santi-
ago The Cuban replied that any re-
quest from the Americans would be
treated as an order. and explained
why ii would take some time to carry
out the plan-because the Cubans were
widely scattered and the roads were
bad. 1t is proved that Garcia instruct
ed all his officers and men to place
themselves under the orders of the
Americans.
There is no reason 70 doubt that the
old Cuban general did what he could.
What that was, Skaters reports do
not show. The American general ig-
nored the Cubans in his account of the
battle just as their capture of the six
hundred Spanish marines was ignored
Naturally, the American people have
been bitterly disappointed. assuming
that the allies took no honorable part
in the fight. Yet in his Statement to
Gomez, Garcia details the valuable ser
vices his men performed in a position
where they could not be seen by the
American soldiers. He has always
borne the reputation of a truthful
man.
At the least he was entitled to such
an invitation to take part in the sur
render ceremonies as he could accept
and enjoy. A little tact would have
saved the old mans feelings a cruel
wound which he has not deserved, aft
er giving the best years Of his life to
the cause of human freedom. We re-
peat that because the dearest hopes of
the Cubans in arms must be slain, the
American commander was doubly
bound to be not only just. but also gen.
erous toward them. 1t is apparent he
did not rise TO the occasion. Gen.
Garcia. especially. has cause to feel
that he was not treated fairly