The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-14
URGED SURRENDER.
Correspondents Find Gen. Linares'
Letter Pertaining to Santiago.


Letter Pertaining to Santiago
Correspondence of Associated Press.)
Havana, Sept. S.-The following is a
literal translation of a cable message
sent by General Linares on July II to
Captain Aunon. the Spanish minister
of war, urging the surrender of San
tiago 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 GeneraI-in- Ghetto the
Minister of War: Although Frustrated
in bed by excessive weakness and
sharp pains, am pre-oceupied to such
an extent by the terrible condition of
these long suffering troops that 1 con-
slider it my duty to address your excel
1ency, the minister of war, in order to
expose the true condition of affairs.
The enemy's position is very strong
and his outpOsts are very close to the
limits of this city The natural fOrma-
ton of the surrounding country gives
our besiegers real advantages. Our
lines extend fourteen kilometers. Our
troops are attenuated and the proper
ton of sick considerable; but they are
not allowed to go to the hospital owing
the trenches. Our horses have
grain or forage. Under a Veritable
deluge we remained for twenty hours
at a stretch in the trenches and breast
works, soaked to the marrow, with no
earthly shelter or protection possible
for the unfortunate soldiers, who eat
nothing but rice and can not even
change or dry their clothes. The great
losses among our Officers-either dead,
wounded, sick or Misrepresentation
our men of the necessary direction and
command at critical moments. Under
such conditions it would be impossible
to attempt to break through the
enemy's 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 super
iOr forces of the enemy. The result of
such an attempt would be a wholesale
slaughter and a national disaster, which
would utterly fail in the object de-
sired by your excellency, which is the
salvation of these eleven thinned and
impoverished battaliOns. In order to
attempt a sortie under the protection
of the HOlguin division, it is in the first
place necessary for those forces to
break through the enemy's ranks ana
reinforce our before we could move
On the other hand, the Holguin forces
would have ahead of them eight days
forced march and would have to bring
a great quantity of cOmmissary sup
plies and ratiOns, which it would be i'm
possible 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 a protractiOn of our death agony.
The sacrifice would be sterile and fruit
less. The enemy appreciates our posi-
ton perfectly and with our INES CIR
cumVented and walled in as securely as
they are, he is able to drain and wipe
out our forces without exposing ms
own as he did yesterday, cannOnad1ng
US with vertical fire, while we could not
see nor make out his batteries. More
over his navy has our range down to
so fine a point that his ships can bonn
bard the town by sections with mathe-
NAUTICAL precision.
Santiago de Cuba is not Corona,
which was defended inch by inch to the
last drop of blood by women and emil
dren by the old and by the feeble, all
moved by sacred spirit of independence
and animated and encouraged by the
prize of relief which they did actually
receive.
THE total population native as well
as Spanish, has left the city. Not only
have private individuals abandoned 1t
but public officials and government en-
ployes as we'll. The clergy alone re-
mains within our walls, and they, 100
are preparing to flee tomorrow with
their prelate at their head
Our troops are not starting today,
fresh and vigorous, full of energy ana
enthusiasm on a campaign; they are
men who have struggled three long
years against climatic per1ls, 1atlgue'
hardships, disease and hunger ana VINO
today when called to face these trying
and critical conditions, are wasted
away in body and SOUL with no eartnly
means or possibility of relief They are
fighting without spirit or nerves. They
for the very property they are called
upon to defend and protect has been
abandoned before their eyes by us
veritable owners, many of whom are
allied to the American forces, strength
ening those ranks against ourselves.
The honors of arms and of war have
limits; and I appeal to the judgment OF
the government and of the whole ma
ton as to whether these troops nave not
given repeated illustrations of courage
valor and devotion and whether they
are to be further sacrificed for a IOsC
cause.
IF, for reasons Of which I am lg-
norant, their sacrifice is demanded. or IL
some person is required who will re-
sumo the responsibility for the inglor-
fous end predicted in former dispatches
offer myself totally on the altar OF
nv country to assume command OF
the responsibility in either case; ana 1
will if necessary, be alone answerable
for the surrender of this place and my
modest reputation is of small value
compared with the national welfare:
(Signed), L1EN-Afef4S9'