alone the importance of their victory which pleases the
Cubans in the capture of Las Tunas. Their great cause for rejoicing is
that at this battle the Spaniards for the first time accorded them the
rights of belligerents. That is to say, the Spaniards treated them as
soldiers engaged in legitimate warfare, not as brigands and bandits.

The Spanish commander himself requested that the Cubans should consent
to an exchange of prisoners.

That you may understand the importance of this request, you must
remember that there are especial rules and laws which govern the conduct
of a war, and from which no nation dares depart, unless it wishes to be
branded as inhuman and savage.

One of these laws relates to the care of prisoners. Prisoners of war
must not be treated like criminals, for they have done no wrong. The
patriotism that makes a man willing to give his life for his country is
a virtue, not a crime, and therefore prisoners of war must always be
treated as honorable men. Nothing should be done to them but to keep
them in confinement, and prevent them from fighting.

As every prisoner captured weakens the fighting force of the enemy, all
armies try to take as many captives as they can. During a war it is
customary frequently to exchange prisoners; that is to say, each side
gives back the prisoners they hold, in exchange for their own soldiers
who are held by the other side.

Brigands, bandits, and rebels are not considered prisoners of war, and
when captured are treated as criminals.

Up to the time of the capture of Victoria de las Tunas, the Spaniards
utterly refused to exchange prisoners with the Cubans. They have
insisted that the Cubans were rebels, and have shot their captives
without mercy.

The Cubans have tried in every way to get the Spaniards to treat them
fairly and acknowledge their rights as a nation at war, but have been
unable to do so.

Now the situation is changed, and Spain has at last acknowledged the
belligerency of Cuba to a certain extent.

When it was found that Las Tunas could hold out no longer, an unarmed
officer was sent out to parley with the Cubans. He said that the
commander would surrender if the Cuban General would consent to spare
the lives of the garrison, and grant them their liberty in case an
exchange of prisoners could be arranged.

General Garcia was only too pleased to agree to these terms, and the
forts were delivered over to him.

Eighty-seven Spaniards were after