Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-24
NEED PROTECTION.
The Cubans Will Have to Be
Looked After.
In No Condition for Self-Governneut
Says Admiral Sampson.
Commander OF North Atlantic Squadron a,
Home for Rest.

New York. Dec. 23.-The United States
cruiser New York from Havana passed
IN SANDY Hook, at $50 A. M. Admiral
Sampson is on board with Mrs. Samp-
son. As the New York steamed
through the narrows it was seen that
the nagship had been newly painted
white.
She is the, first warship ITO arrive at
this port in her new white dress since
the close of the Spanish war, and she
presented an imposing sight. The
flagship was saluted by passing craft.
and when she dropped the anchor off
Tompkinsville, the auxiliary cruiser
Scorpion fired the admirals salute
When some newspaper men boarded
the New York with the health doctors
Admiral Sampson said he had come
nome to attend his daughters wedding
on Jan. at Glen Ridge, N. j. The ad-
miral and his family were taken from
the New York on government tug.
He will spend Christmas at his home
with his family.
Admiral Sampson said that he was in
good health. Referring TO the situa-
ton in Havana he said that the per-
ANoslbS, VI Liz SuSlOlIl HOuSG service
and the official police of the island
were the two most important features
in connection with Cuba When Gen
Green and Chief McCullagh had es-
tablished their police force, Admiral
Sampson thought there would be little
disorder.
When asked if there was any mate
rial benefit from the reduction of Gu
ban custom receipts, Admiral Samp-
son said that the results from the
change could not be judged at presen,
and remarked that there had always
been so much fraud in connection Will
Cuba customs that is was impossible
to change everything right away. In
answer to the question DO you think
| the people of Cuba will prove amen
able to the American government,
Admiral Sampson said: 1T does moi
make any difference whether they arc
or not. We are down there and our
| government will so on as long as nee
essary.''
The admiral said that De Castro the
civil governor of Havana, was doins
as well as could be expected and by the
| first of January, all of Cuba would be
officially evacuated except Matanzas
| and one or two other points. Regard
! ing the suffering throughout Cuba
| which Mrs. Sampson has been work
| ing TO alleviate, Admiral Sampson
| said: THE government is regularly
| issuing rations but the reconcentrados
| are now being disseminated and there
| is the difficulty. Many of them have
died and many more will die, They
| lack tools to work their farms and the
| only crop they could raise now is
sweet potatoes. 1t is too late to raise
sugar"
Reverting to the question of the fu-
ture of Cuba, Admiral Sampson said:
1.-The weafthiest and most influential
people in Cuba want the island annex
| ed to the United States, whether as a
state or TERRITORY they don't much care.
| But there are many Cuban who think
! that they are able to govern them
| selves. Cuba at present certainly IS IN
| no condition to govern itself Inc
| question of what shall become OF
| Cuba will not he settled for year at
| least and possibly two or three. In
fyhe meanwhile the military govern
ment by the United States will so on.