The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-23
RUSSELL WAS REPRlMANDED.
FLAG REPORTED LOWERED. BUT
THE MAJOR LET HER FLY.

Lieut.. Lee Reported That Instruc-
tiOns Had Been Obeyed, hut the
Flag Was Afterwards Seen Above
the FOrt-COI. Wood Directed to
Distribute RRtIOns 10 Starving Gu
bans-They Need Hospital Treat
ment-Minnewaska at Havana.
Havana, Dec. 22.-Maj. Russell B. Har-
rison, the provost marshal, who, on Tues
day. raised the Stars and Stripes over
Fort Atares without orders, and in con-
travention of the promise of the United
States evacuation commissioners that no
American flags should be raised in Ha-
vana or its suburbs until Jan. /, was to-
day formally reprimanded by Maj. Gen.
Lee, and instructed 10 lower the flag.
Lieut. Lee reported a few hours later to
headquarters that the flag had been low
cred
Nevertheless at the hour of filing this
dispatch. 4:SO p. M, it is still flying on a
tall staff over the famous fort, plainly
visible from the harbor and city.
Maj. Gen. Lee, having received a cable
dispatch from Gen. Alger saying that the
Secretary of War understood there were
thousands of persons starving in Havana
and directing him to feed them without
delay" Immediately ordered Lieut.. Col o.
e. Wood to distribute rations and TO make
systematic efforts to feed the helpless,
carefully avoiding waste.
There are hundreds in Havana to-day
who, though not actually starving, are
in deplorable state of weakness and dis
ton policy. They need hospital treatment,
which is not always available. Much of
the wretchedness is due TO the neglected
condition of the tenements. Every day
or so the relief distributors come upon
dead bodies terribly emaciated.
The Cuban Col Raoul arrange, with 600
Cuban horsemen paraded in Jesus del
Monte to-day. and then marched out again
to camp.
The United States transport Mime
waska, which left Savannah for Cuba on
Dec 10 with the Forty-ninth Iowa Regi-
ment, arrived here this afternoon.
To-day the Spanish transports Ciudad de
Cadiz and Neustria sailed for Spain. the
former with 1885 men and officers, bound
for Santander, and the latter with 10S3
men for Cadiz.
Commissioners Last Meeting.
The last formal joint meeting of the
United States and Spanish evacuation
commissioners will be held tomorrow. If
after that any new questions arise thew
will be settled by individual interviews
or correspondence.
The United States commission will adopt
a written resolution of thanks for :he
courtesies extended by the Spanish au
thorities at Havana and elsewhere in Gu
ba, under trying conditions, and bear tes-
timony ito the excellent discipline and SOL
dier-like conduct of the officers and men
of the Spanish army"
Brig. Gen Clous to-day delivered the
memorandum agreement regarding the
places where Spanish troops are to be
stationed after Jan. l. It will be dis
cussed at Tomorrow meeting
El Vedado, the suburb of Havana. where
is situated the Hotel Trocha which has
been the headquarters of the United States
military commission, VIII be evacuated to-
morrow, when the seacoast forts will be
occupied by the United States troops.
Guanabacoa win be formally occupied
on Monday next.
1t is the custom of Havana folks to cell
ebrate Christmas eve by street dancing
and fire crackers. Tomorrow Captain
General Castellanos VIII issue bando for
bidding the gathering of crowds, in order
to avoid any possible disorder.
The steam lighter Laura arrived at Car
denas yesterday with the United States
troous.