Evening star., 1898-09-12
DELAY IN EVACUATION
Spain Wants the Customs Receipts as Long
as Possible.
Troops Will Not De Sent to Cuba
Until Danger From Fever
is Past.

1t Is believed in official circles here that
indications point rather strongly to a pur-
pose on the part of the Spanish in Cuba
10 delay evacuation of the island as long
as possible. The protocol provides for the
immediate" evacuation, but the evacua-
ucn has not been Immediate" and the
word Is subject to a very flexible interpre-
tation by Spanish custom, and considera BILE
regret is being expressed that definite time
was not named within which the Spanish
should be out of Cuba. The word ''imme-
date, it is said. was used with the idea
OF giving 1t liberal Interpretation so as
not to necessitate the sending OF troops to
the island until after the unhealthy sea-
son had passed. Ii appears now, however
as II the Spanish were going to try to
stretch ii still further, by raising all sorts
of questiC ms involving delay. The instruc-
uons to our commissioners, now at Ha-
V&ra, contemplate their considering no
conditions, but merely the formal arrange
ment for the transfer of authority and the
departure of the Spanish troops, but 1t ap-
pears that the instructions of the Spanish
commissioners contemplate their entering
upon negOtla uOnS concerning the retention
of property in the form Of realty well
as certain military stores and armament.
They Want the Customs Receipts.
1t is foraseen that when our commits
sioners decline to go into these questions
the Spanish commissioners will insist upon
the matter being referred back to this gov
ernnlent. and that various steps looking to
delay will he taken, whicn are liable to
prove embarrassing. The fact is, it is said,
that the Spanish are now, after having
been deprived for many months of all
customs revenue, beginning to receive
large sums of money from customs, and
they are anxious to remain in receipt of
this income as long as possible. 1t is
feared that it will be far into November,
if not la-er, before the evacua ion is ac-
complished and the American troops are
placed in command.
Occupation of the West Indies.
Arrangements for the military occupation
of Cuba and Porto Rico are now under
consideration, but it is not the intention CT
the President to send all army to Havana
and other ports of Cuba not now occupied
until after the unhealthy season has en-
tirely passed. The intention IS To wait un-
til late enough for the danger of the terri
bic Cuban fever to be over, and then TO
compose the army of occupation almost
entirely of regulars.
The idea is to send about 10000 men to
Cuba, and TO have an army of 10000 or
12.CO0 in Porto Rico. This will require a
force somewhat larger than the .eguiar
force, and the deficiency will be made up
of some of the best volunteers that have
been Injured to the service.
Talk of the Seventh Corps.
There has been considerable talk of the
Ith Army Corps, under command of Gen.
Lee, being sent to Havana, but 1t is ex-
tremely doubtful whether this will be done.
The plan under consideration is to use the
volunteers that are retained in the service
largely for garrison duty in this country,
and some may nave to be sent TO the Phil
ippines or to Honolulu, where they Will be
available for a call to Manila if necess ary
The purpose is TO fully recruit the regular
army and to rely on ii almost exclusively
for the Cuban service.