Evening star., 1898-08-24
CASTILLO ACCUSES sHAFTE
l. FfsIfi
His Brusqueness Alleged + Cause of Friction
With CuBans.
American General Afso Charged with.
Failure Specific Promises
l.! u
Made to Garcia
from the New York Herald Today.


Brigadier, GeneraC Joa4uin de Castillo,
who accompanied General Shafter to Cuba
as a representative 9of the Cuban army
and the Cuban civil government, has just
returned to this city! He was al the Cuban
junta yesterday afternoon. Asked as to
the friction existing between Americans
and Cubans at Santiago, he said the mat
ter had been grossly Exaggerated, and that
so far as the Cubans are concerned they
have the utmost faith in the American
government and are, confident that the
pledges made, in their behalf will be car
ried out.
while deeply GRATEFUL he safd "for
what the Americans have done, for us. we
are desirous Of disproying the charges that
have been brought against US as a people.
General Shafter has always treated me
with the greatest courtesy. His misunder-
standing with General Garcia was occa-
stoned by the fact that specific promises
had been made to the latter which Cen
eral Shafter either would not or could not
carry out. -
Before tae American forces landed, Cen
eral Shafter and Admiral Sampson met
General Garcia at Aserraderos in con-
ference at which 1 was present General
Shafter there, of his own accord, promised
Garcia that on the surrender of the city
it would be turned over to him. So late
as the day before the surrender General
Shafter told me that the Spanish prisoners
would be marched out of the city and the
Cubans would be allowed to enter.
when the surrender was made, we were
told that We could not enter. General Shat
ter summed up the situation finally by say
ing, After all. this is an American coun-
try, captured by an American army This
statement taken III connection with the
fact that not a single Cuban flag was al
lowed to be raised and that General Garcia
was not invited to be present at the sur
render, naturally caused Indignation among
After the surrender Gen. Garcia told
Gen Shafter that as there did not appear
to be any necessity for his remaining near
Santiago, he would withdraw his forces to
lead them against the Spaniards in the
other parts of the province.
1T is said that the Cubans did not fight,
but only attacked the provisions. Gen.
Garcia had no pack animals, and, to feed
his 5000 men, who under orders from Gen.
Shafter were always to occupy the right of
Gems. Lawton and Ludlow he detailed $50
men to carry the provisions from Siboney
eight miles to the front.
THE result was that a continuous stream
of Cubans appeared walking through the
American lines, heavily laden with sup
plies. The American soldiers, ignorant of
the mission OF these carriers, naturally
charged them with selfishness when they
themselves were wanting commissary sup
plies at the front.
LAS to the Cubans not fighting or work
ing, we nave lHe lGlltTS OF GISnS. LaWtOn
and Ludlow, who alone are able to judge
because their forcsS only We're near the
cubans They say the LITTER worked hard
The only orders,,.' that Garcia received
were to keep constantly to Gen. Lawton's
right. and these ort7ers were obeyed to the
letter. That the C1bansl fought is proven
by the large numbeflof Killed and wounded
Another charge has, beesJ made against us
that We acted inhulnanIy toward the sail
ors of Cerveras fleet. AS fact, Cervera
and 600 sailors were captured by the Cuban
forces while they We're tying to escape to
the city. They weEe turned over to the
American naval authorities and a receipt
taken for them. Cervera himself has tes-
titled as to the good treatment he received
at the hands of thafCubstns.
There was unfottunaksly no chance to
correct erroneous impressions in Cuba but
now the Cubans are confident they will be
able TO cooperate In carrying out the peace
plans of the American government. for they
know that Generals, ,a1awton and Wood,
who are now in authority. understand the
position of the Cubans. and appreciate the
false situation in which they have hereto
fore been placed. Whatever friction there
mas been was unfortunate and unnecessary
and could have been avoided by General
Shafter If. in carrying out his plans, he
had been less bruSque."