The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-26
GEN. GARClA'S ALLEGED INDIGNATION.
Claims 10 Have Been Mlsireated by Gen. Shatter
at the Surrender of Santiago.

New York. July 22.-A dispatch from
Santiago gives the following as being
. letter sent by General Garcia 10 Gen
eral Shafter:
Sir: On May -. the Government OF
the Republic Of Cuba ordered me as
commander Of the Cuban army in the
East to cooperate with the American
army. following the platDs and obeyinS
the orders Of its commanders. have don"
nv best. sir. to fulfill the wishes Of my
Government. and | have been until now
one of your most faithful SubordlnateS
honoring myself in carrying out your or
derS as far rs my powers have allowed
me to do it.
The city of Santiago surrendered to
the American army, and news of that
important event was given to me by per
sons entirely foreign to your staff. | haEe
not been hOnOred with Il single word
from Yourself informing me about the
NEGOTIATIONS for peace or the terms OF
the equalization by the Spaniards. The
important of the surrender OF
the SaniSh army and the taking posses
sion Of the city by yourself took place
later on. and | only knew of both events
by public reports.
Il was neither honored. sir. with Il
kind word from YOU inviting myself fr
any officer of my staff to represent the
Cuban army on that memorable occasion.
'Finally. | know that You have left in
power ut Santiago the same Spanish au-
thOritieS that for three years | have
fought as enemies of the independence
of Cuba. | beg to say that these authOrl-
ties have never been elected at Santl-
ago by the residents of TIE city. but were
appointed by royal DEGREES of the Queen
of Spain.
81 would agree. sir. that the army un-
der your command shOuld have taken
possession of the city, the garrison and
the forts.
Il would give my warm cooperation
to any measure you may have deemd
best under American military law to hold
the city for yOur army and to preserve
public order until the time comes to full
fill the solemn pledge Of the people of the
United States to establish in Cuba q free
and independent government. But when
the question arises of appointing authOri-
ties in Santiago &c Cuba. under the pc
cEliar circumstances of our thirty years
strife against Spanish rule, | can not
see but with the deepest regret that such
authorities are not elected by the Cuban
people. but are the same ones selected by
the Queen of Spain. and hence are min
listers to defend against the CHbanS the
Spanish sovereignty.
"A rumOr. too absurd to be believed.
! General. ascribeS the reason of your
measures and of the orders fOrbidding
my army to enter SantiagOshrdluUexmry
massacres and revenge against the
Npaniards. Allow RE. sir. to protest
against even the shade of such an idea.
We are not Savagcs ignoring the rules of
civilized warfare. We are Il poor. ragged
army rs ragged and as poor rs was thu
army of yOur forefathers in their noble
war for Independence. but. as did the he
r0es of Saratoga and Yorktown. we re
snhct too deeply our cause to disgrace
it with barbariSm and cOwardice.
In view of all these reasons I sincere
~ regret to be unable to fulfill any long
or the orders of my Government and
therefore | have rendered today to the
comamnder-in-chief of the Cuban army,
Major Maxine Gomez. my resignation
as commander of this section of oul
army.
"Awaiting his resolution. I withdraw
my forces to the interior.
Very respectfully yours.
"CALINTO GARCIA"