New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-24
CUBAN SOLDIERS DEFENDED.
GENERAL CASTILLO TALKS OF THE
TROUBLE AT SANTIAGO.
A GENERAL MISUNDERSTANDING COMPLICATED
HE SAYS BY GENERAL sHAFrER's FAIL
IRE TO KEEP CERTAIN PROMISES
EXPLANATION OF VARIOUS
SERIOUS CHARGES.

General Jaquinde Castillo. who accompanied Gen.
eral Shafter to Cuba as representative OF the
Cuban Army and the Cuban Civil Government.
has Just returned to this city. He was at the
Cuban Junta yesterday afternoon. and when asked
as to the friction existing between Americans and
Cubans at Santiago he sad that the matter had
been grossly exaggerated. and that so far as the
Cubans are concerned they have the utmost faith
In the American Government and are confident
that the pledges made In their behalf Will be carried
out. Personally. must say that General Shafter
has always treated me with the greatest courtesy"
said General Castillo His misunderstanding with
General Garcia occasoned by the fact that
specific promises had been made to the latter which
General Shafter either would not could not carry
ont. Before the American forces landed General
Shafter and Admiral Sampson met General Garcia
at Asenaderos for a conference. at which was
present. General Shafter there Of his own accord.
promised Garcia that on the surrender OF the city
II would he turned over to him. So late as the day
before the surrender General Shafter told me that
the Spanish prisoners would be marched out OF the
city and the Cubans would be allowed to enter.
However when the surrender was made We
were told that we could not enter General Shafter
summed up the situation finally by saying: After
all. this is Americana country. captured By
an American Army This statement. taken In
connection with the fact that not single Cuban
Garcia was not invited to be present at the sur.
render caused Indignation among our forces. IL
the wishes SO OF the spanards. and the cubans
treated outcasts. The failure to invite Garcia
deliberate the failure to invite sampson:
After the surrender General Garcia told General
Shafter that. there did not appear to be any
necessity for mis- remaining near rantaso. he would
Spaniards In the other parts OF the province.
1T Is said that the Cubans did not fight, but
only attacked the provisions General Garcia had
no pack animals. and to feed his 5000 men. who,
occupy the right of the forces OF Generals Lawton
and Ludlow. he detailed $50 men to carry the
provisions from Siboney. eight miles to the 'front.'.
The result that continuous string OF CuDans
appeared walking through the American lines
heavily laden with supplies. The American sol
naturally charged them with selhshncss. when
they themselves were wanting commlssary sup.
plies at the front. I do not doubt that many OF
the paciacos half-starved and nearly naked. picked
up food and clothing which were found scattered
along the roadside Therefore. 10 charge the entire
Cuban people with being dishonest is 70 be as UNI
Just as 1t would be to make a similar charge
against the American forces because few OF them
committed highway robbery. ard robbed Jeweiry
store in Santiago. For this crime. however they
we're arrested.
Another charge that has been made against US
r. that we did not act humsney toward the sailors
Of Cervera's fleet AS fact. however, Cervera
and 800 sailors were captured by the Cuban forces
while they were trying TO escape TO the city Iney
Pwere turned over to the American naval author.
Whatever friction there has been was untort.
innate and unnecessary, and could have been
avoided by General Shatter. H. In carrying out his
plans, he had been less brusque."
No prominent officials were at the Cuban Junta
yesterday. but It was said there. after General
Castillo had departed for Washington that ne had
probably taken the receipt given for Cervera
along with him.