The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-23
ther than to say that he feels confident all
friction VIII be alIayed.
GEN. GARCIA's LETTER.
Shafter Upbraided for Diacourtesy to
the Cuban Chieftnin.

Shafter UpbTaided for Diacourtesy to
the Cuban Chieftnin.
NEW YORK, July PA dispatch from
Santiago gives the following as being a
letter sent by General Garcia to General
Shafter:
"Sir-On May 2 the government of the
republic of Cuba ordered me. as commander
of the Cuban army in the east, to cooper
ate with the American army, following the
plans and obeying the orders of its COM
mander. I have done my best, sir, to fill
the wishes of my government, and 1 have
been. until now, one of your most faithful
subordinates, honoring myself in carrying
out your orders, as far as my powers have
allowed me to do it.
1.-The city of Santiago surrendered to the
American army, and news of that impor-
tant event was given to me by persons en-
tirely foreign to your staff have not
been honored with a single word from your
self informing me about the negotiations
for peace or the terms Of the capitulation
by the Spaniards. The important ceremony
of the surrender of the Spanish army and
the taking possession of the city by your
self took place later on. and I only knew
of both events by public reports / was
neither honored, sir. with kind word from
you inviting myself, or any of my staff, TO
represent the Cuban army on that memoir
able occasion.
Finally I know that you have left in
power at Santiago the same Spanish au,
thorities that for three years | have fought
as enemies of the independence of Cuba
L beg to say that these authorities have
never been elected at Santiago by the resi-
dents of the city, but were appointed by
royal DEGREES of the Queen of Spain.
II would agree, sir, that the army you
command should have taken possession of
the city, the garrison and forts. / would
give my 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 to fulfill the solemn pledge of the peo-
pie Of the United States, to establish in
Cuba free and independent government.
But when the question arises of appointing
authorities in Santiago de Cuba, under the
peculiar circumstances of our thirty years
strife against Spanish rule. / cannot see
but with the deepest regret that such au-
thorities are not elected by the Cuban peo-
pie, but are the same ones selected by the
Queen of Spain, and hence are ministers to
defend against the Cubans the Spanish
sovereignty.
"a rumor, too absurd to believe general.
ascribes the reason of your measures and
of the orders forbiddng my army to enter
Santiago for fear of massacre and revenge
against the Spaniards. Allow me, sir. to
protest against even the shadow OF such an
idea. We are not savages. ignoring the rules
of civilized warfare. We are poor, ragged
army, as ragged and as poor as was the
army of your forefathers in their noble war
for independence, but, as did the heroes of
Saratoga and Yorktown, we respect too
deeply our cause to disgrace it with barbar-
ism and cowardics.
In view Of all of these reasons, I sin
cerely regret to be unable to fulfill any
longer the orders of my government, and.
therefore, / have rendered to-day to the
commander-in-ehief of the Cuban army.
Major General Maxine Gomez my resigna-
tion as commander Of this section of our
army
Awaiting his resolution, I withdraw INV
forces to the interior. Very respectfully
yours, CALIxTO GARCIA"