The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-09-15
GENERAL LiNARBs HAD URGED
SURRENDER or BANTIAGO.
Spanish goldlors Had Little 10 Eat ana
Were Poorly Clnd Unable 10
Cope win americans.


HAVANA. Sept g-fBpcclal Cores
pondence Of the Associated Press j-rhe
following Is a llterol translation Of ca
bic message sent W General Linares on
July " 70 captain Aunon. the Spanish
minister Of war. urging the surrender OF
Santiago de cuba. A. II was sent by way
VI Havana u 10 safe 10 assume that II
had the endorsement Of General BlaDcO:
"ro the Minister Of War.
"rO The General In Chief.
Although prOstrsted In bed by excess
I've weakness and sharp pains. I am pre-
occupied 20 such an extent by the terri
bic condition OF these long suffering
troops that consider Il my duty 70 ad-
dress your cxcellcpcy. the minister OF
war. in order 10 expose the true condition
Of afairs. The enemy's pohtlon is very
strong and h.B outpoAts are very close 10
the limits Of the city The natural for
nation OF tho surrounding country gives
our boaiegers real Advantages. Our lines
extend fourteen Kilometres. Our troops
are attcnuAtod and the proportion OF sick
cons derable. but they are not allowed
20 go 10 the hospital owing 70 the me-
ceanity OF Keeping them In the trenches. |
our horses have no grain or forage IN
der q yehlable deluge we remained for |
twenty hours al a stretch in the trenches |
aud breastwOrks. soaked 10 the marrow |
with no earthly shelter or protection pos
Hible Tor the unfortunate soldiers who eat |
nothing but rice and cannot even change 1
or dry their clothes. The great losses
among our officers. either dead. wounded.
sick or disappeared. deprive our men OF
the necessary direction and command al
critical moments Cnder such conditions
Il would be impossible 20 attempi to break
through the cnemy'S ranks. as One-tnird
OF our men are too weak TO walk ana |
would have to be left behind. while the /
rest would be decimnted and routed by |
the superior forces OF the enemy. The re-
suit OF such an attempt would be a
Wholesale slaughter and a national disas- |
ter. which would utterly fa.l In the OBJ I
jcct desired by your exeellency. which |
10 the salvation OF these eleven thinned I
and impoverished bsttalions. In order |
TO attempt a sortie under the protection |
OF the uolguin division. Il Is Ia the hrst |
place necessary FOR those forces 10 break
through the enemy's ranks and reinforce
ours before We could move. On the other
hand. the Holguin forces would have
ahead OF them eight days forced march |
Ing ana would have 10 bring a great guam |
uty Of commlssary supplies and rations
which II would be impossible for them 10
do, Altogether. the grayity OF the situa- |
lHN NNlE
town is inevitable prolonged resist' |
anue would simply mean protraetion Of
our death agency. The sacrifices would be !
sterile and fruitless. The enemy appre- |
ciateu our position perfectly and with
lines circumyenied and walled In as per-
fectly as they are. he Is able 10 drain and
wipe out our forces without exposing his
own. as he did yesterday. cannonading |
US at vertical iiTe. while We could not see
nor make out his batteries. Moreover, his
navy has our range down to so fine
point that his ships can lombard the /
town by sections with mathematical pre- |
clsion.
Santiago de Cuba. not CerOn. which |
was defended inch by inch TO the last drop |
OF blood By women and children, by the /
old ana BY the feeble, all moved oy the
sacred spirit OF independence and ami
mated and encouraged by the prize OF
relief which they did actually receive.
Here solitude alone remains.
The total population, native as well as
Spanish has left the city. Not only have
private individuals abandoned Il. but pub
!ic officials and government employees as
well, The clergy alone remains within our
wall, ana they, too. are preparing to hee
tomorrow. with their prelate at their head.
our troops are not starting today. fresh
and vigorous. full OF energy and enthusi-
asm. ON "a campaign. They are men who
have struggled three long years against
Ciinmtic perils, fatigue, hardships. disease
and hunger, and who today, when called
upon TO face these trying and critical
conditions, are wasted away In body and
soul. with no early means or possibility I
OF relief They are tghtlng without spirit
Or nerves. They have no sacred lire, no
deal to defend. for the very properly
which they are called upon to defend ana
protect has been abandoned before their
eyes by It's veritable owners, many OF
whom are allied to the American forces,
strengthening those ranks against our
selves.
The honors OF arms and Of war have
limits and l appeal to the Judgment OF
,he government, and Of the whole nation
as to whether these troops have not given
repeated illustratinos OF valor and cour-
age and devotion. and whether they are
10 be further sacrificed for lost cause,
II, for reasons Of which l am ignorant,
heir sacrifices demand IT, or II some per-
son is required who will assume respon-
slbility for the inglorious end already
predicted In my former dispatches, | offer
myself totally on the altar OF my country
10 assume command on the responsibility
N either case; and will, II necessary, be
alone responsible FOR the surrender OF
his place and my modest reputation is
of small value compared with the ma
.ional welfare. LlNARES."