Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-07-29
CUBANS INCENSED
GEN. GARCIA SEWERS HIS CON-
NECTION WITH SHAFTER.
In Strong Letter He Alleges He Has
Suffered Indignities at the Hands of
Americans and Withdraws His
Troops to the Hills.


Washington, July ga dispatch
from San tiago gives the following as
being letter sent by General Garcia
to General Shafter: "Sir-On May -
the government of the republic of Cuba
ordered me, as the commander of the
Cuban army in the east, 20 cooperate
with the American army, following
the plans and obeying the orders of its
commander. / have done my best,
sir, to fulfill the wish OF my govern
ment, and | have been until now one
of your most faithful subordinates,
honoring myself in carrying out your
orders as far as my powers have allow
ed me to do it.
The city of Santiago surrendered
to the American army, and news OF
that important eve Mt was given to me
by persons entirely foreign to your
stats. have not been honored with
single word from yourself, inform
ing 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 poses
sion of the city by yourself took place
later, aud l only knew of both events
by public reports.
II was neither honored, sir, with a
kind word from you, inviting myself
or any officer of my staff to represent.
the Cuban army on that memorable
occasion.
Finally, | know that you have left
in power at San tiago the same Spanish
authorities that for three years have
fought as the enemies of the independ-
ence of Cuba. beg to say that these
authorities have never been elected at
santiago by the residents of the city,
but were appointed by royal DEGREES
of the queen of Spain.
81 would agree, sir, that the army
under your command should have
taken possession of the city, the gar
rison and the 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 for you to fulfill the
solemn pledge to establish in Cuba a
free and independent government.
made by the people of the United
States.
"But when the question arises of APP
pointing Office in Santiago de Cuba,
under the peculiar circumstances of our
thirty years strife against SPANS
rule. cannot see but with the deepest
regret that such authorities are not |
elected by the Cuban people, but are
the same ones selected by the queen of
Spain, and hence are ministers to de-
fend against the Cubans the Spanish
"a rumor, too absurd to believe, gen.
eral, ascribes the reason of your meas
nre and of your order forbidding my
army to go into Santiago for fear of
and revenge against the
Spaniards. Allow me, sir, to protest
against the shadow of such an idea.
We are not savages, ignoring the rules
If civilized war. We are poor, ragged
army as ragged and as poor as was the
rny of your forefathers in their noble
var for Independence, but as did the
leroes of Saratoga and Yorktown, we
aspect too deeply our" cause to dis
race it with barbarism and coward
ce.
''In view of all these reasons,
regret to be unable to fulfill
ny longer the orders of my govern
lent and therefore | have today ten
cred to the commander-in-ch of the
uban army, Major-General Maxine
omez, my resignation as commander
this section OF his army.
Awaiting his resolution, I withdraw
~ forces to the interior. Very re-
CALIxTo GARCIA"
The Cuban junta at New York is
sing great exertions TO restore har-
ony. They believe Garcia has mis-
,nstrued the instructions issued to
eneral Shafter, and that harmony
i'll be restored when fair under
anding is reached
r,vf,aa-a f-<,~ trr,nr,f.