Evening star., 1898-07-21
Blanco Says the Surrender Was With
out His Sanction.
COURT MARTIAL TO INVESTIGATE
Assertion That the Letter to Gen.
Shafter is ApocryphaI.
THE OFFICIAL DISPATCHES

In connection with the dispatch from
Blanco, published in The Star yesterday,
stating that Tora1 surrendered upon his
own responsibility a sem-official note has
been circulated in Madrid explaining, from
a Spanish standpoint, the circumstances
of the surrender. 1t declares that the let
ter which General Toral lis alleged to have
written to General Shafter'' is apocryphal,
as the telegraph version contains a state
ment which it is impossible for General
Toral to have made, because it is untrue
that his government authorized him to
capitulate."
The note continues:
What happened was that the war min
lister received two kilograms from Captain
General Biauco. The first described Cen
eraI Torars position, which was most pitt
full because of the want of provisions and
ammunition. 1t also detailed the enemy's
proposals.
in the second telegram Captain General
Blanco gave the terms of the capitulatlon
and requested instructions. The war MIN
lister replied to both by telling Captain Cen
eral Banco to leave every initiative to
General Toral, for it was impossible to
recommend any other line of conduct.
General Toral accordingly acted as he
thought advisable. and would explain be-
fore a court-martial the motives which in
duced MN 10 cipltulale.
Linare's Message.
General Linares cabled to Madrid on July
3. before General Skaters demand for the
surrender of Santiago, a long message set
ting forth the inability of the city to hold
out against an enemy superior in num-
bers, with the Spaniards dying of fever
and starvation and demoralized by the
loss of the fleet. He urged the government,
for the sake of humanity, to offer to capit-
ulate but added that if ordered to remain
to die like a rat in trap he would DO
So as his soldiers were doing their duty
although realizing that a mistake had been
made.
Somehow information in regard to the
message leaked out, and the Spanish OFF,
GERS at Madrid are loud in their condem-
nation of General Linares, whom they ac-
cuse of faintheartedness throughout the
war, to the extent of, under the plea of
a slight wound laying the mantle of
the shame of surrender upon General
Torais shoulders, instead of facing the
disgrace himself. This feeling is general
among the men who are passing the pal
ace where the stars and stripes are fly
ing. They clench their fists and mutter:
Que varguenza para la patria. Pero 10
n2ereces bien. C'What a shame to our
country. But she deserves it weH.')
There seems to be race hatred, the
bitterness being all directed against the
Madrid government, which is charged with
gloss mismanagement Of Cuba and bung-
ling during the conduct of the war.
Officers of high rank in the Spanish army
condemn their governments policy in di-
viding its forces in Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippine Islands. instead of concen-
trating them and possibly saving one
colony The cutting of the fleet is also
strongly censured, and the Spanish naval
officers all argue that it is impossible under
the present crippled condition of Spain to
make a successful resistance anywhere.
Mon Of 2 SrNa a,1iSh nj, 5in~
to become American citizens and are ap-
plying for naturalization.
London Times Criticism
The London Times, editorialy reproach-
ing the Spanish government with moral
cowardice in endeavoring to screen its own
mismanagement by pretending that Gen
eraI Toral has betrayed his country" says:
1T is incredible that Spain can hope any
thing from Cuba, as it Is as impossible for
BIanco as it was for Toral to fight against
SpaniardS; and 1t is unlikely that the for
mer will have anything else to fight with
for some time to come. Neither can any
thing be hoped from European Intervention,
even if Commodore Watsons squadron
comes. though its arrival would be a well
come spectacle TO more than one European
power.
1T may be assumed that Commodore
Watsons authorization to visit the Phil
ippines will not weaken the disposition al
Berlin to cultivate friendly relations with
America and to make light of the esca-
pades of German ships at Manila
An official dispatch to Madrid from Cap
tain General Blanco announces that the
greatest enthusiasm prevails in Havana
and that the feeling in favor of resisting
the Yankees is universal.
1t further asserts that the commanders of
the volunteer forces at a conference under
the presidency of General Arolas, military
governor of Havana, resolved to exhaust
their resources and die rather than surren-
der
The American warships, the dispatch
says, are off ManZanillo apparently await
ing instructions. but the bombardment has
not been resumed.
The captain general of Madrid has pro-
hibited meeting of officers called to ex-
anime a new projectile.
Orders have been issued to close the
Carlist Club.
Duke Almodovar de Rio, minister of for
eign affairs, learns that a French squadron
is cruising in the vicinity of the Ba}earic
Islands.