Evening star., 1898-08-29
Directions to Cuban and Porto Ricap
Commission.
TO ASSUME CONTROL OF TIE ISLANDS
Disputed Points to Be Referred to
Washington.
WHEN MEMBERS WILL SAIL

The instructions TO the Cuban and Porto
| Rfcan military commissions were drawn
| up and approved by the President before
| he left Washington, ard are now ready tc
BE- delivered to the president Of each com
| mission before he leaves. The instructions
Will not be mede public, but their general
terms are known TO be the same as the in
structions sent to Gen. Shafter regarding
the government of Santiago, and to Gen.
Merritt regarding the Philippines This
means that the military commissions will
| assume control of Cuba and Porto Rice
| VI der the same conditions as those under
which the military governors now control
that portion of Cuba and the Philippines
surrendered to the United States.
The many minor details relative to the
evacuation Of the islands of Cuba and
Porto Rico are left to the commissions,
who will report any difficult or disputed
points to Washington. OF course, there
has been no doubt that the United States
Will take full control of Porto Rico, as that
was ceded to the United States by the
protocol, but the Instructions to the mill
tary commission to Cuba settle any ques-
ticnS- Which have arisen regarding Cuba. II
thus appears that for the present at least
the United States will assume the govern
ment and control of the remainder of the
island, as has been the case in the sur
rendered province of Santiago.
An order issued at the Navy De-
partment today detaching Rear Admiral
w. S. Schley from command Of the second
squadron of the North Atlantic fleet, and
Ordering him to Porto Rico as a member
of the evacuation commission. during
which service he is authorized to fly his
flag on the cruiser New Orleans which will
remain in those waters until the commits
sion is ready tC return to the United
Admiral lev will ha
panied to Porto Rico by the following
members of his staff, now attached To the
cruiser Brooklyn at New York: Lieut. J.
Is. Sears. Lieut. Il. w. Wells, jr., and En-
sign Edward McCauley jr. The order for
Admiral Schley to fly his flag on the New
Orleans is made in order to keep him con-
structively duty while serving on
the evacuation commission. thus emitting
him to the highest pay of his rank, viz:
$4,000 per annum. The pay of an admiral
on shore duty is s5.0e0. and on waiting or
ders $4,000 1t was for the same reason
that the Navy Department decided 10 keep
Admiral w. s. Sampson In nominal COM
nand of the North Atlantic fleet while IN
Havana as member of the Cuban evac-
Cation commission. HIS flag will be dis
played on the auxiliary cruiser Resolute.
which will take the members of the COM
mission to Havana During the absence OF
Admiral Sampson the actual command of
the fleet. however, will devolve on Gem
modore Philip. commanding the Texas, as
the senior officer present.
Conferences Held.
Cen Butler one of the members OF the
Cuban commission, was at the State and
War Departments today in conference
with the authorities regarding the duties
of the commission.
Colonel J. w. Clous of the Judge advo-
cate generals department, who Will act
as one of the legal advisers of the COM
mission, was also at the State Department
today. He had a long conference with
Acting Secretary Moore regarding the le-
gal aspects of the case. He arrived here
this morning from Porto Rico. where he
was serving on the staff of General Miles.
The Cuban commission will sail from New
York next Saturday on the cruiser Reso-
lute being fitted out for the accom-
mediation of the distinguished party. She
will proceed direct to Havana Admiral
SIMPSONS associates on the commission
are Major Generals Wade and Butler. BY
virtue of his seniority General Wade will
act as president of the commission
The Porto Rican commission will sail
from New York "Wednesday on the army
transport Seneca. The members of this
commission are General Brooke, Admiral
Schley and General Gordon. General
,scooke is now in Porto Rico where he is
acting military governor.
Admiral Schley passed through this city
yesterday on his way from Annapolis to
New York.
Gen. Gordon Arrives.
General Gordon arrived here this morn
ing from Huntsville, Ala, and received his
Instructions from Acting Secretary Moore
of the State Department and Secretary AL
ger of the War Department. 1t was his
first visit to Washington since his appoint
ment. 1t is expected that he will join the
other members Of the commission in New
York tomorrow or early Wednesday MORN
ing.