The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-23

New York. July ga dispatch from
Santiago gives the following as being a
letter sent by General Garcia to Gen
eral Shafter:
"Sir-On May u 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 plans and obeying
! the orders of its commander. 1 have
! done my best, sir, to fulfill the wish of
/ my government and l have been until
/ now one of your most faithful subor-
! dinates, honoring myself in carrying
! out your orders as far as my powers
| have allowed me TO do it.
THE city of Santiago surrendered to
I the American army, and news of that
important event was given to me by
persons entirely foreign to your STATS.
| have not been honored with a single
word from yourself, informing me
! about the negotiations for peace or the
terms OF the capitulation by the Span
| iards. The important ceremony of the
surrender of the Spanish army and the
taking possession of the city by your
self took place later and 1 only knew
of both events by public reports.
Il was neither honored, sir, with a
y
or any officer Of my staff to represent
the Cuban army on that memorable
occasion.
Finally, 1 know that you have left
in power at Santiago the same Spanish
authorities that for three years l have
fought as the enemies of the independ-
ence of Cuba. l beg to say that these
authorities have never been elected at
Santiago by the residents of the city,
but were appointed by royal DEGREES
OF the queen OF Spain.
I would agree. sir, that the army
under your command should have
taken possession of the city, the gar
rison and the forts. l would give nv
warm cooperation to any measure you
may have deemed best under American
military law to hold the city for your
army and to preserve public order until
the time comes for you to fulfill the
solemn pledge to establish in Cuba a
free and Independent government,
MAGE by the people of the United
States.
But when the question arises of ap-
pointing officers in Santiago de Cuba,
under the peculiar circumstances of our
30 years strife against SPANS rule. l
cannot 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.
ana hence are ministers to defend
against the Cubans the Spanish sover-
eighty.
A rumor, too absurd to believe. gem
eral, ascribes the reason of your meas !
ure and Of your order forbidding NV
army to go into Santiago to fear of
massacre and revenge against the
Spaniards. Allow me. sir, to protest
against the shadow of such an idea. |
We are not savages. ignoring the rules /
of civilized war. We are poor, ragged |
army, as ragged and as poor as was the |
army of your forefSthers in their noble !
war for independence, but as did the
heroes of Saratoga and Yorktown. we |
respect too deeply our cause to dis
grace it with barbarism and coward !
ice.
In view of all these reasons, I |
regret to be unable to fulfill /.
any longer the orders OF my govern
ment and therefore I have today tend
cred to the commander-in-chi of the
Cuban army Major General Maxine
Gomez, my resignation as commander
of this section of his army
Awaiting his resolution. 1 withdraw
my forces to the interior. Very respect
fully. CALIXTO GARCIA"