The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-26

come matter OF past history, though
surely not for those families who are still
weeping for their lost friends. nor for us
who have covered with our blood the decks
of the Spanish ships. and who, to I'LL the
bitter cup 10 OVERLOOKING have since had
to suffer the terrible torment Of having to
keep silent before those who have torn
our country and its flag to pieces, and be-
fore whom We who are among the few
Spaniards that can boast OF having LETT
nothing undone that their duty required
of them, proudly raise our heads, con-
scious that we have been loyal in council,
soldiers in danger, and slaves to our
duty"
OF the treatment by the press Of the bat
tie he says
Strange TO say. it is the United States
press that has treated the battle Of San
tiago de Cuba and the causes that brought
il about with the greatest accuracy, fair
ness, and charity Aside from the facts
that everyone is prone to praise his own
people. wherein the Anglo-Saxon race eX-
cells particularly; that the Americans have
concealed or misrepresented more than one
defeat which their flotilla experienced in
the West Indies, which. however. did not
affect the outcome Of the war. and their
evident desire TO conceal the decided ad-
vantages which they have derived from the
instructions in Cuba and the Philippines
the statements Of the Americans have been
on the whole very fair; and the writings
OF such men as Maban and others We may
consider as defence of ourselves and a.
the same time as a judgment against the
inefiicienCy of our politicians.
In the British press, he says. most Of
the articles were characterized by their
ignorance of facts.
THE press Of France Italy, and Ger
many has treated Spain with more modera-
ton and its navy with greater fairness.
But in its evident desire TO be generous,
for which We are truly grateful it is often
led aside from the path Of truth, and what
should be justice has come to be charity.
There finally remains the Spanish press
We forgive it from the bottom Of our
hearts. though before God and before his
tory it is principally responsible for the
disasters OF our country.
The Government hrrRiEned.
Concas arraigns the Spanish Govern
ment as follows;
''One Of the most dsgracefuI crcum-
stances of this period of the war was the
firm resolution on the part Of the Spanish
Government to obviate the war at any
cost This was not only the resolution of
the administration then in power. but Of
all the preceding ones without distinction.
But the REIMBURSEMENT Of the Island of
Cuba. which was the only means OF obvi-
ating H. never entered into this resolution.
although that and that alone, could ward
off the conflict which could have no other
outcome than the total ruin Of Spain Thus
il was that not the least preparation was
made. either on land or on the sea. and
while the whole world was under the i'm
pressiOn that we were frantically getting
ready for a struggle to the bitter end, the
navy remained entirely on peace foot
ing"
After reciting the facts that Admiral
Cervera and his officers protested against
sailing for the West Indies because Of the
Door condition Of the fleet and the lack
Of coal and that the officers could not
make public their protests, Concas speaks
of the possible ports in the West Indies
for the squadron to have entered:
The harbor Of San Juan, the only one
The squadron could enter offered no mill
tary protection for ships, nor any coast
defences to speak of, and II was no Won
der that Admiral Sampson. after the bor-
bardment Of May u, said in his official re-
portland he spoke the truth-rthat he de-
cided not to continue the attack, although
he was satisfied and certain of the posi-
bility of attaining the surrender of the
city which he had not done because he
did not have landing forces to occupy 1t.
We mention this in order to destroy the
illusion, which is still being chung to by
some that the United states squadron was
repulsed at San Juan
Speaking Of the desire OF Admiral Ger
vera and his officers TO return to Spain
with the squadron and meet the American
squadron there, he says:
Finally, all OF Europe. including even
England, must have realized more clearly
than II was realized in Cuba, where the
sympathy OF the whole world had been
estranged from us as the result of calumny'
that for the first time in history the guns