The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-01-20

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and now, when beyond the patr'archia!
age and the freedom of Cuba is achieved,
lie win retire to enjoy the blessings b..
has SO largely aided in winning tor the
oppressed people of Cuba. He will be
honored while living and widely La
N ented when dead. but the names
which call out the pathos IN the history
of Cuban independence are Marti. Maceo
and Garcia.
The participation Of Gen. Garcia in
the siege Of Santiago has never been
officially promulgated in this country,
ard none of the metropolitan rewspa-
pers has published the facts. because
they have not had access to them. The
writer has learned from officers at army
headquarters. in the war department
building, some facts on the subject
which are now written for the first time
While Gen. Miles was endeavoring to
embark the Fifth corps, which was 80
go to Cuba under Skaters command,
he received word from Gen. Garcia ask
ing that instructions be sent IT, him for
| cooperation with the American army.
Gen. Miles sent instructions in lie form
Of suggestions an0 requests, but they
were heartily accepted as commands,
showing the good will and alac.ity of
soldier and patriot. So anxious was
Garcia to show his readiness TO coop.
crate that his responses were hurried
forward through different channels in
| order that in case one should riiscarry
another might reach it's destination.
Gen. Garcia said that he woulc at once
concentrate his forces at the points in
dictated; that be would march withou;
delay: that he had already sent forces
to prevent aid going to Santiago frop,
Holguin; and that he would guard other
approaches to Santiago. How earnest
was his purpose. and how energetically
executed. is evidenced by the fact that
on the arrival of Skaters expedition.
Carcia's forces were already in position
sil around Santiago. practically encom.
passing that city and the Spanish feet
lying in it's harbor.
a glance at the positions seized proves
that a superior soldierly instinct had
guided him in their selection and
seizure, the result obtained being tie
practical beleaguerment of the city,
fleet and harbor. and plainly indicates
the point where the American forces
should have landed, and the tactics
which obviously could not have failed
to give the Americans. with tie least
possible loss of life. the possession OF
| the enemy's feet or it's certain destruc.
| tlcn and the possession of the city also.
Gen. Garcia had sent 5000 men tc hold
in check the $4,000 Spaniards stationed
az Holguin; he had placed 1000 men
| across the path which the 5000 Span
| iards at Guantanamo would have to fol-
| low in an effort to reinforce Santiago.
He also sent 1000 men to execute SIM
liar duty in the event that the 5000
Spaniards at Manzanillo should attempt
| the same enterprise. The Cubans un.
der Garcia participated in upwards Of
20 skirmishes with the approaching re.
CT forcements.
Gen. Garcia was amazed when Shafter
| refused to give him reenforcen.ents to
| carry out his we'll laid plans. Shafter
said that he wanted all the Spaniards in
| the province to get into Santiago so that
he might capture them all at once. That
was before the assault of July /, when
Shafter suffered serious repulse. Then
he directed Gen. Garcia to prev MT fur.
| ther Spanish accessions, but it was too
ioeG' oHditcI pTuclpdl OluEQer at
Santiago was his first blunder, in chang.
ing Garcia's plans and taking the hard
est possible route for his soldiers.
Although Gen. Garcia communicated
his views with dignity, and received re-
Dukes and contunlely with suavity, he
knew that he was right, and that
Shafter was wrong; but he obeyed or
| ders just the same, and fought with his
men by night and by day until the city
was captured by the brute courage of
the soldiers themselves, without orders
from the sick general who accompanied
| the Fifth corps. and who telegraphed
his defeat on Sunday. July 3. At that
very time, Gen. Garcia and Gen. Wheel
err were on the firing line, declaring
that they would succeed. Gen. Garcia
| and Gen. Wheeler were the real heroes
| there in active command.
Until the close of the campaign Gen.
Garcia continued to advance until his
| right rested upon the bay. and he also
| sent out strong detachments to cover
roads leading from Holguin and other
Spanish garrisons to Santiago. Upon
the surrender of the city of Santiago.
Gen. Garcia. commanding the Cuban
forces, was debarred from entrance
into the city. and from any participa-
ton in the enjoyment Of the honors
or fruits of the victory.
Thereupon Gen. Garcia withdrew