The herald., 1897-12-25

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-The follow
ing appeal to the American people has
been issued
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
| Washington, d. c., Dec. "a. 1897.
BY direction Of the President, the pub
lie is informed that, in difference to the
earnest desire of the government to
contribute by effective action toward
the relief of the suffering people In the
island of Cuba, arrangements have been
perfected by which charitable contribu-
tions, in money or in kind, can be sent
to the island by the benevolently dis
posed people of the United States.
Money, provisions, clothing. medicines
and the like articles of prime necessity
can be forwarded to General Fitzhugh
Lee, the Consul General of the United
States at Havana, and all articles now
dutiable by law, so consigned. will be ad-
mitted into Cuba free of duty. The
Consul General has been instructed to
receive the same and to cooperate with
the local authorities and the charitable
boards for the distribution of such re-
lief among the destitute and needy peo-
pie of Cuba.
The President is confident that the
people of the United States. who have on
many occasions in the past responded
most generously to the cry for bread
from peoples stricken by famine or dire
calamity, and who have beheld no less
generous action on the part of foreign
communities when their own country
men have suffered from disastrous
floods. will heed the appeal for aid that
comes from those at their own threshold,
and especially at this season of good will
and rejoicing, give of their abundance
to this humane end.
(Signed) JOHN SHERMAN.
The appeal was issude after consulta-
ton with Minister Du Puy de Lone.
The Spanish minister called at the state
department about noon today and can
ferred with Judge Day concerning the
relief of the reconcentrados on the ISL
and. He made it clear that the Spanish
government would cooperate in any
relief measures and that there was en-
rect to Consul General Lee, instead Of
lHIouSu tle spanish TeIleI CudHIlelS.
WILL REMIT DUTIES
HAVANA, Dec. 24-Captain General
Blanco has cabled to the Spanish min
lister at Washington. Senior Du Puy de
LONE, that Americans have authority
to send supplies to the reconcentrados
of the island without paying customs
duties.
Gen. Pando. the Spanish commander
in-chief in the field, who with an escort
recently landed on the south coast of
Santiago de Cuba in order, according
to the official report, to reconnoiter that
part of the island, has not been heard
from for five days. 1t was announced
today that he had arrived safely at the
city of Santiago de Cuba, but the report
was subsequently officially denied, and
it was said that the general had attacked
the insurgents in that province with
strong columns of troops, the enemy ac-
cepting battle Still another report sas
it that Gen. Pando has arrived at Baire,
in the province of Santiago de Cuba. Ir
that vicinity and in the Bayamo depart
ment the insurgents are said to be IN
force, well armed and well supplied with
ammunition. They are under the COM
mand of Calixto Garcia and Rabi.
VIGILANCE NEEDED
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Acting Sec
retary Spaulding today instructed treas
ury officers on the Florida coast to pre-
vent the departure of f1libustering eX-
pedition which for some days has been
planned for Christmas or Sunday. The
department declines to state the points
at which preparations are making and
where the expedition will try to leave.