The Wichita tribune., 1898-08-27
|FOES THANK THEIR V|CT0RS
Spaniards Issue Address to General
Shafter and Men.
GOOD WISHES AND FAREWELL.
Show High Appreciation of Treatment
by American Troops, Both During and
After Battle-Stigmatize Cuban Insur-
gents as CowardIy.

WASHINGTON, Aug. ga 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 fare
well address issued to the soldiers OF
the American army by Pedro Lopez de
Castillo, private Spanish soldier, on
behalf of the II, 900 Spanish soldiers.
No similar document, perhaps, was
ever before issued to a victorious
army by a vanquished enemy. The
President was very much impressed by
the address, and after reading it care
fully, authorized it's publication.
"Maior General Shafter, Command
ing the American Army in Cuba: Sir
The Spanish soldiers who capitulated
in this place on the 10th of July last,
recognizing your high and just posi-
tion, pray that through you all the
courageous and noble soldiers under
your command may receive our good
wishes and farewell, which we send
them on embarking for our beloved
Spain. For this favor, which we have
40 doubt you will grant, will gain the
everlasting gratitude and consldera-
tion of II 900 Spanish soldiers, who
are your most humble servants.
"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 toward the American nation.
We have been vanquished by you (so
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 re-
sentiment against the men who fought
us nobly and valiantly.
"You fought and acted in compll-
ance 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 quality
which we had not met during the
three wears that we have carried or
this war against people without
morals, without conscience and O.
doubtful origin, who could not con
front the enemy, but hidden, sho
their noble victims from ambush, ant
then Immediately fed. This is The
kind of warfare we had to sustain ii
this unfortunate land.
s'Yon have complied exactly with al
~ 49, KS - .-ssssass 80: as Escno
Il. ;. :. -. .A7sS<a[1Hflllf11fEf
nized by tfse armies of the most civil
lied nations of the world; have given
honorable burial to the dead of the
yanouished, have cured their wounded
with great humanity, have respected
and cared for your prisoners and their
comfort, and, lastly, to us, whose con
dition was terrible, you have glver
| freely VI lOOu, VI Jul SIONh W AAANN
icines, and you have honored us witt
distinguished courtesy, for after the
fighting the two armies mingled will
the utmost harmony.
With this high sentiment of appre
citation from us all, there remains bu
to express our farewell, and with th'
greatest sincerity we wish you all TIN
happiness and health in this lane
which will no longer belong to ou
dear Spain, but will be yours, VIII
have conquered it by force and watere'
it with your blood, as your consclenc
! called for, under the demand OF civil
ization and humanity; but the de
scendants of the Congo and OF Guinea
mingled with the blood of unscrupulou
; Spaniards and of traitors and adyer
turers-these people are not able t
exercise or enjoy their liberty, 10
they will find 1t d burden to compl
with the laws which govern clvlllze
communities.
From II, 900 Spanish soldiers.
PEDRO LOPEZ DE CASTILLO,
Soldier of Infantry.