The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-23
Sends a Letter of Thanks and
Good Will
TO THE CONQUERORs
Praises the Fighting Qualities
of the VictOrs
And Their Kindness and HUI
mainly on All Occasions.

Washington, Aug 23.-A document
entirely unique in the annals of war
fare was cabled last night to the war
department by General Shafter. 1t is
in the form of a congratulatory farewell
address, issued to the soldiers of the
American army by Pedro Lopez de Cas-
tillo, private Spanish soldier on be-
half of the 1900 Spanish soldiers. No
similar document perhaps was ever be-
fore issued to a victorious army by a
vanquished enemy.
The president was very much i'm
pressed by the address and after read
ing it carefully. authorized its pubIca-
ton. Following is the text of the ad
dress as cabled by General Shafter:
Santiago, Aug. p, H. V. Corbin, Ad
jutant General, U. S. A, Washington
The following letter has just been re-
ceived from the soldiers now embarking
for Spain:
General Shafter.
Sir:-The Spanish soldiers who capt.
tulated in this place on the 18th, pray
that through you all the soldiers under
your command may receive our good
wishes and farewell, which we send
them before embarking for Spain.
Signed)
PEDRO LOPEZ, DE CASTILLO,
Private of Infantry.
Also the following letter addressed to
the soldiers of the American army:
Soldiers of the American Army
We would not be fulfilling our duty as
well born men in whose breasts there
live gratitude and courtesy should we
embark for our beloved Spain without
sending to you our most cordial and
sincere good wishes and farewell. We
fought you with ardOr, with all our
strength. endeaVOring to gain the vic
tory, but without the slightest rancor
or hate towards the American nation.
We have been vanquished by you $50
our generals and chiefs judged in sign
ing the capitulatiOn) but our surrender
and the bloody battles preceding it have
left in our souls no place for resentment
against the men who fought US nObly
and valiantly. You fought and acted
in compliance with the same call of
duty as we, for we all but represent the
power of our respective states. You
fought US as men face to face and with
great courage, as before stated, a. quail
ity which we had not met during the
three years we have carried on this war
against a people without morals, with
out conscience and of doubtful origin
who could not confront the enemy, but
hidden, shot their noble victims from
ambush and then Immediately fled.
This was the kind of warfare we had
to sustain in this unfortunate land. You
have complied exactly with all the laws
and usages of war as recognized by the
armies ofthe most civilized nations of
the world, have given honorable burial
to the dead of the VanQuiShed, have car
ity have respected and cared for your
prisoners and their comfort, and, lastly,
to US, whose condition was terrible, you
have given freely of food, of your stock
of medicines and you have hOnOred US
with distinguished courtesy for after
the fighting the two armies mingled
with the utmost harmony.
With this high sentiment of apprecia-
ton from US, all that remains is but to
express our farewell, and with the
greatest sincerity. we wish you all hap
piness and health in this land which
will no longer belong to our dear Spain,
but will be yours, who have conquered
it by force and watered it with your
blood, as your conscience called for,
under the demand of civilization and
humanity, but the descendants of the
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 a burden to
comply with the laws which govern civ
ilized communities.
From 1000 Spanish soldiers.
PEDRO LOPEZ DE CASTILLO.
Soldier of Infantry.
Santiago de Cuba, August q. 1898.
SKATER,
To-