The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-14
LINARES To AUNON.
The Generals Message Urging the
Surrender of Santiago de Cuba.

Correspondence of the Associated Press
HAVANA, Sept S.-Following is a literal
translation of a cable message sent by Gen.
Linares, on July r. to Captain Aunon, the
Spanish minister of war, urging the surren-
der of Santiago de Cuba AS it was sent by
way of Havana, it is safe to assume that it
had the Endorsement of General Blanco:
ITO the Minister of War-Although pros
trated in bed by excessive weakness and
sharp pains, | am preoccupied to such an
extent by the terrible condition of these
long suffering troops that | consider it my
ter OF war, in order to expose the true con-
dltlon of affairs.
The enemys position is very strong, and
MS outpcstS are very close to the limits of
the city The natural formation of the sur
rounding country gives our besegers great
advantages Our lines extend fourteen kilo-
meters. Our troops are attenuated, and the
proportion of sick considerable; but they
are not allowed to go to the hospital, owing
to the necessity of our keeping them in the
trenches; Our horses have no grain or
forage. Under veritable deluge we re-
NAMED for twenty hours at a stretch in the
trenches and breastworkS, soaked to the
marrow, with no earthly shelter or pro-
lection possible for the unfortunate SOL
dlers who eat nothing by rice, and cannot
even change or dry their clothes The great
losses among our officers-either dead
wounded, sick or disaDpeared-deprive our
men OF the necessary direction and COM
mand at critical moments
Under such conditions it would be inn
possible to attempt to break through the
enemy's ranks, one-third of our men are
too feeble to walk and would have to be
left behind, while the rest would be deci-
mated and routed by the superior forces of
the enemy. The result of such an attempt
would be a Wholesale slaughter ard ma
tional disaster, which would utterly fail in
the object desired by your excellency, which
is the salvation of these eleven thinned and
impoverished battalicDs."
In order to attempt sortie under the
protection of the Holguin division it is in the
far fIncA
break through the enemys ranks and re-
lnforce ours before we could move. On the
other hand. the Holguin forces would have
ahead OF them eight days of forced marches
and would have to bring a great quantity
OF commissary supplies and rations, which
1t would be impossible for them to do.
Altogether the gravity of the situation is
appalling. The surrender Of the town is in
evitable; a prolonged resistance would sim
ply mean protraction of our death agony.
The sacrifice would be sterile and fruitess.
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 yesterday
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 a 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
old and by the feeble all moved by the
sacred spirit of independence and animated
and encouraged by the hope and promise
of relief which they did actually receive.
Here solitude alone reigns. The total pop
ulation, native as well as Spanish has left
the city. Not only have private individuals
abandoned it, but public officials and gov
eminent 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
ana vigorous, full of energy and enthusiasm
on campaign; they are the men who have
struggled three long years against china tic
per1ls, fatigue, hardships. disease and hun
ger, and who to-day, when called to face
those trying and critical conditions are
earthly means or possibility of relief. They
are fighting without spirit or nerves. They
nave no sacred fire, no ideal to defend: for
the very property they called upon to
defend and protect has been abandoned be-
fore their eyes by its Veritable owners
many of whom allied to the American
! forces. strengthening those ranks against
ourselves.
THE honors of arms and of war have
limits. and appeal 10 the Judgment of the
government and of the whole nation as to
whether the troops have not given repeated
illustrations of courage, valOr and devotion,
and whether they are to be further sacri-
feed for a lost cause.
IF, for reasons of which 1 am ignorant,
the sacrifice demand 1t: or. if some person
IS required who will assume the RESPONSE
billty for the inglOriOus end already pre-
dicted in my former dispatches, | offer my
self loyalty on the altar of my country TO
assume command and responsibility in
alone answerable for the surrender of this
place as my modest reputation is of small
value, compared with the national welfare
'LINARES.'