The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-02
LINARES' DESPAIR.
Spanish Commanders Pathetic Des-
cription Of the Situation.

Correspondence of the Associated Press
Guantanamo, Province of Santiago de
Cuba, July 25.-An official report of Cen
eral Linares to the Madrid government,
transmitted on July Is, is full of pathos
as it tells of SDaniardS thousands of miles
from home, striving to defend property
which the owners have deserted. The re
FORT sent by cable on July IL was ad-
dressed to the minister OF war. 1t was
translated for the Associated Press by
Commodore Schley. The text in full is as
follows:
Official cablegram July u 1898. to the
minister of war, from the general in chief
of the division of Santiago de Cuba: AL
though confined to my bed by great weak
ness and in much pain. the situation of
the long suffering troops here occupies
my mind to such an extent that / deem
Il my duty to address your eXcellency,
that the state of affairs may be explained.
The enemy lines are very near the town.
-On account of the nature of the ground
2ur lines are in full view from them
Troops weak; sick in considerable proper
ton not sent to hospitals, owing to the
necessity for keeping them in the en-
uenchments;. Horses and mules without
the usual allowance of forage In the
midst of the wet season, with "a hours
daily fall of rain in the trenches. which
are simply bitches dug in the ground
without any permanent shelter for the
men. The men have nothing but rice TO
Eat and no means of changing or drying
6 nftfnr clothing. Considerable losses field
OIncerS and company officers Killed
wounded, sick, and troops deprived of
necessary orders in critical moments
Under these circumstances it is i'm
possible to fight our way out because in
attempting to do so our forces would he
lacking one-third of the men, who could !
aot leave, and we would be weakened be- |
ndes by casualties caused by the enemy |
resulting finally in a veritable disaster
without saving our diminished battalions
In order TO get out protected by the Hol- !
guin division. it will be necessary for !
hem 70 come and break the enemy's lines |
N one place, so that my forces may break
IN another and act in conjunction. For I
This operation the Holguin division viii |
require eight days and will have to bring |
large amount of rationS which it is i'm |
possible to transport. The solution of the |
question IS OminOuSly imposed upon us |
our surrender is inevitable and we can |
only succeed in prolonging the agony. The /
Gacrihce is useless and the enemy under
stands this. They see our lines and theirs
being wei established close up. They
tire out our men without exposing them
Jelves. Yesterday they cannonaded rs
bn land with such an elevation that we
we're unable to see their batteries and
rom the sea by the squadron which had
perfect range and bombarded the town /
n sections with mathematical precision !
1.-The complete exodus of the inhab-
tants. insular well as peninsular. in
sludeS the occupants of the public offices {
With few exceptions. There only remains
head '''e'i
THE defenders here cannot now begin
1 campaign fuH Of enthusiasm and en-
.rgy. They came here three years ago
against the climate, privations
md fatigues, and now they are placed in
these sad circumstances, where they have
40 food, no physical force and no means
property OF those that have abandoned il
md of those that are now being fed nv
.he American forces. The honor of arms
aas its limits, and appeal to the opinion