The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-23
Continuation of spaniards I'm Office in
the Surrendered Territory Also q
Cause of Grievance.
CUBAN TROOPS WITHDRAWN
AND GARCIA's RESIGNATION FOR
wARDED TO GENERAL GOMEZ.
Shafter Charged with Lacking Tact,
and the Incident characterized by
the President as Unfortunate.
special to the 1ndianapolIg journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, July %. - General Gar
cia's sharp letter to General Shafter. stat
ing his causes of complaint against the
American commander, has created great
deal of confusion in administration circles
here. 1t sheds new and unexpected light on
the Santiago situation. If Garcias state-
ments are correct, and so far they have
not been denied. Shafter has been guilty of
gross indiscretion and an utter lack of TACT
which the President mildly characterizes as
unfortunate" The Cuban forces under
Garcia may not have been of much use to
Shafter, and probably were not, but so long
IS they were recognized as our allies and
Garcia as their commander on the spot
there were certain formalties that should
have been observed. These Shafter totally
ignored, if Garcia states the case correctly
in his letter. Military men are usually
sticklers for forms and ceremonial etiquette
in their intercourse with one another, and,
of course, the Cuban commanders, acting
with the Americans, expect to be treated
with the same courtesy that Russian or
German or British commanders would ex-
pect and exact from their allies, with this
difference, that the Cuban commanders.
representing no established government. are
ooubly sensitive to sights and tremen-
dously suspicious that such sights as they
receive are dictated by this govrnment for
a purpose. Nothing could be farther from
the truth than this suspicion. In fact Gem
erai Skaters neglect to observe the proper
forms of military courtesy in his inter-
course with his Cuban allies, now that it
has become public through Garcia's letter
10 Smarter, is matter of serious embar-
rassment to the administration The Presi-
dent and his advisers do not want to CEN
sure Shafter, but they do want to undo the
effect of his lack of courtesy upon the Gu
bans. To this end General Leonard Wood.
recently colonel of the Rough Riders. now
military governor of Santiago, and who is
regarded as possessed of tact and diploma
cy, has been instructed to find a way. If he
possibly can, of reconciling Garcia without
orending Shafter. 1t is difficult task that
mas been set for him, but he is thought to
be capable of accomplishing it,
An Associated Press dispatch says: The
letter written by General Garcia was read
ana discussed at some length, and the
opinion was expressed that it evidently was
paseo on wrong conception of the pur-
pose and motives of our people, These. it
was said, should long ago have been fully
explained to him and to all of the Cuban
ported, member of the Cabinet said, that
Garcia was not invited to participate in the
ceremonies attending the raising of the
American flag over Santiago, it was mis-
take. Every thing reasonable. he said.
should be done to win and keep the friend
ship of the insurgent Cubans, and they
should be made to know that the only pur-
pose of the United States in waging war
against Spain was to secure for all the peo-
pie OF Cuba relief from the oppression of
Spanish rule, and a stable and satisfactory
government established by the people them
selves OF course. it was added, it is not
the intention of this government to drive
the Spaniards out and then formally turn
the island over to the insurgents or to any
other particular class or faction. This gov
ernment had never intimated such a. pur-
pose, but on the contrary it was well un-
derstood that a stable government for and
by all of the people of Cuba had been the
only purpose and end sought to be attained
The details incident to the establishment of
such government it was said, have never
been discussed by the Cabinet at any great
length, but there could be no difference Of
opinion as to the general plan. All of the
people of the island it was declared, must
be given an opportunity to express their
views as W tile CHdIdClGT Oh the constitution
under which they were to live, and also as
to the men who should make and execute
the laws. The insurgent Cubans certainly
could not consistently ask for more than
this
The War Department has not yet been in
formed that General Skaters Cuban allies
have quit the American lines for the rea-
sons set out in Garcia's letter, but 1t is
scarcely doubted that such is the case for
the friction has been growing more pro-
nounced every day since the fall of Santiago
and it is feared that a severance of relations
cannot be longer avoided. That the Cuban
Junto is still hopeful of avoiding such a
measure is evidenced by the confidence
shown by Senor Quesada, one of the Cuban
legation here. in an amicable settlement
1t is considered a little singular that Gen.
Shafter has not made a report to the de-
partment of the Garcia case by telegraph.
but he has so far shown little disposition to
acquaint the department with the state of
affairs at Santiago unless called on by di-
rect inquiry by the secretary of war. Thus
it was not known at the department. off,
cially. that General Wood had been created
military commander of Santiago, although
the fact would seem to be one of sufficient
Importance to justify it's mention in a cable
dispatch.
Secretary Alger stated late in the day that
there was no foundation for reports that
the Cubans had been cut of from rations.
The secretary had a talk during the after
noon with Senor Quesada. secretary of the
Cuban legation here, which was very satis-
factory to all concerned. Secretary Aiger
will not discuss the reported clash between
the American and Cuban commanders fur