From the magazine "La Union Catolica" August 9, 1895, page 3:
"It has come to our attention that the well-known string instrument maker Mr. Manuel Soto y Solares has given 2 guitars to the company of the battalion of those destined to the island of Cuba.
When the two companies of engineers left, this man took two of these classic instruments to the Cádiz station, which the soldiers received with joy and played accompaniment of cheerful songs today. We don't know why, it has been made public by whom such a patriotic gift should have been given."