The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-02
A PITIfUL APPEAL
LAST MESSAGE OF LINARES TO
HIS GOVERNMENT
Sick and Disheartened, Knowing That
Defeat Must Come He Begs Per-
mission to Surrender

GUANTANAMO, Province of Santiago de
Cuba, July 25.-An official report of Gen
Linares to the Madrid government, trans
mitted on July 10, is full of pathos, as 1t
tells of Spaniards, thousands of miles from
home, striving TO defend property which
the owners have deserted. The report sent
by cable on July u3 was addressed to'the
minister of war. 1t was translated for the
Associated Press by Commodore Schley.
The text in full is as follows:
Official cablegram, July II, 1898. To the
Minister of War, from the General-ir-
Chief of the Division of Santiago de Cuba;
although confined to my bed by great
weakness and in much pain, the situation
of the long-suffering troops here occupies
my mind to such an extent that l deem 1t
my duty to address your excelency, that
the state of affairs may be explained.
1.-The enemy's lines are very near the
town. On account of the nature Of the
ground, our lines are in full view of them.
Troops weak; sick in considerable proper
ton not sent to hospitals, owing to the
necessity for keeping them In the en-
entertainments. Horses and mules without
the usual allowance of forage. In the
midst OF wet season, with "a hours daily
fall of rain, in the trenches, which are SIM
ply bitches dug In the ground, without any
permanent shelter for the men. The men
have nothing but rice to eat, and no means
of changing or drying their clothing.
considerable losses; field officers and
company officers killed, wounded, sick. and
troops deprived of necessary orders in crit
zeal moments.
Under these circumstances, 1t is i'm
possible to fight our way out, because IN
attempting to do so our forces would be
lacking one-third of the men, who could
not leave, and we would be! weakened be-
sides by casualties caused by the enemy,
resulting finally in veritable disaster,
without saving our diminished battalions.
In order to get out. protected by the Hol-
gum division, 1t will be necessary for them
to come and break the enemy's lines in one
place, so that my forces may break in an
other and act In conjunction.
1.-THE complete exodus Of the inhabitants,
insuar as well as peninsuar, includes the
occupants of the public offices, with few
exceptions. There only remain the clergy.
and they today started to leave the town,
with the archbishop at their head
1.-The defenders here cannot now begin a
campaign full of enthusiasm and energy.
They came here three years ago, strug-
Cling against the climate, privations and
fatigues, and now they are placed in these
sad circumstances, where they have no
food, no physical force and no means of
recuperation. They are defending tho
property of those that have abandoned i,
and of those that are now being fed bv the
American forces. The honor of arms has
its limits, and appeal to the opinion Of thu
whole nation as to whether these long
suffering troops have not kept 1t safely
many times since May IS, when thew were
subjected to the first cannonade. IF II ,s
necessary that the sacrifice be endured fo,
reasons OF which I am ignorant. or that
some one else shall assume the responsible
ity of the unfortunate termination which
have anticipated and mentioned in a num-
Der Of kilograms, faithfully offer myself
on the altar of my country for the one, and
for the other will retain the command for
the purpose Of signing the surrender, for
my modest reputation is of little value as
compared with the country's interests.
"LINARES."