New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
THE TRUTH ABOUT GARCIA.
GENERAL SKATERS STATEMENT Or
DIFFICULTY-NOT REGARDED
AS SERIOUS

AS SERIOUS.
Washington. July 3O-The War Department
has received the following dispatch from Gen.
eral Shafter. relating to the differences when
arose between him and General Garcia:
Santiago de Cuba July %
Hon. r. A. Alger Secretary OF war; WASH
ington. ,, ~ In
which comments are made to my treatment
OF General Garcia. desire to say that "enerai
Garcia was invited by me personally 10 go nv
the city of Santiago at the time entered II, pis
he declined, upon the ground tnat the SPahiSi'
civil officers were left I'm power. II was iuiiy
explained to him that those officials were con-
tinued in power until IL was coIiNen,en' ~
change them for others. General GARCIA as
sistance to me has been purely voluntary on ms
part, and he was told at the beginning tnae
did not exercise any control over MN 49,,
as he chose TO give The trouble with deneral
Garcia was that he expected to be placed III
command at this place; in other WORDS that We
would turn the city over to him. expiaiheu "
him fully that we were at war with spain ana
that the question Of Cuban independence could
not be considered by me. Another grle'
was that finding that several thousand men
marched in without opposition from Generai
Garcia | extended my own lines In front OF MN
and closed UP the gap. as saw that ! hai W w
pend on my own men for any effective lnVes'-
ment OF the place. ShAr LIN
The differences which have arisen between
General Shafter and General Garcia are not re-
garded by the war officials as serious. and little
doubt is expressed that they will be amicaoly
adjusted.
The d,snatch IS in entire accord with informa-
ton previously received by the war Department
concerning the incident TO which General Shat
ter refers 1t is evident from General smarter
d,snatcb and other information that some OF
the statements in General Garcia's letter 10 zen
oral shafter were incorrect. 1t was the under
% tha War
tina, General Garcia had been invited to be pres
ent at the tormalities attending the surrender
~ Santiago. and this understanding is corrobo-
rated by the statements in General smarter
d,snatch of to-day. General Shafter received an
Injunction that ~ might be wise for him TO
make a statement Of his relations with Garcia
,bicb would be given to the public. in order that
,, r,isannreh aosion concerning those relations
.hicb might exist should be corrected. In re-
.,orsa ~ this intimation. General Shafter sent
~ d,snatch above quoted to Secretary Alger.
aimcu,tv arising out of the difference be-
.aon Ceneral Shafter and General Garcia mas
or,sen in Santiago the Spanish residents there
having been led to believe that Skaters army
&c N he ordered away from Santiago after the
snanish troops now prisoners have been uars-
norted TO Spain This has given rise 10 lea'
in their minds that they are to be left 10 the
tender amenities Of the Cubans. II they reared
the occupation Of Santiago by the American
Army. they are now doubly fearful or the re-
suits OF it's departure. Appeals have been mace
TO General Shafter not to withdraw the Ameri-
can forces from Santiago and he has commu-
nicated these appeals to the war ofiiciais' AS
surances have been given TO the people OF San
t,ago by the War Department, through General
Shafter that this Government Will stand square
" by the terms Of the Presidents proclamation
relative to the government OF the city ana
province.
A permanent military garrison for Santiago
consisting Of the LIST and I'd immune regiments
has been provided and 1t will remain there even
II General Skaters corps should be withdrawn
These facts have been communicated TO the
Spanish residents Of the city. and have tended
TO allay their alarm.