The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-15

The General Ready To Assume Gov
ernOrship of Havana Province.

The General Ready To Assume Gov
ernOrship of Havana Province.
HAVANA, Dec. 1.-THE United States
transport Panama, with General Fitzhugh
Lee and his staff on board, entered the har-
Dor this morning. General Lee was in
formed by q correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press of his appointment as governor
of the province of Havana. He said he was
much gratifed, but had only wished for a
military command The general added that
he is simply in command of his soldiers,
that his duty is TO preserve life and prop
erty and that he proposes to do so with
equal justice to Cubans, Spaniards and per-
sons of all other nationalities. The head
quarters of General Lee will be established
at Quemado Camp, Marianao. Many prom
irent personal friends called on the general
when he arrived here. Later in the day
General Lee and his staff accompanied
General Greene in the tug Britannia and
started for Vedado, where he reported to
General Wade. Thence General Lee went on
horseback to Quemado Camp.
General Greene was informed on Dec. 2
by Adjutant General Corbin that the Pres-
dent had determined to appoint him gover-
nor of Havana, but he replied. declining the
honor and offering his resignation from the
army. General Lees presence has provoked
numerous demonstrations, though he had
sedulously tried to avoid them. He ate
luncheon to-day at the Hotel Trocha with
Generals Wade, Green and Clous, and, leav-
ing there this afternoon, he passed. with his
escort, through Cerro suburb of Havana,
where the ladies waved American flags and
threw flowers. The crowds along his route
cheered enthusiastically. At Marianao his
reception was equally enthusiastic.
La Lucha announces that General Lee
proposes to treat Cubans, Spaniards and all
other nationalities with equal Justice. This
has produced a great reaction among Span
ish residents favorable to General Lee. the
hope being everywhere expressed that he
will act UP to La Lucha's assertions.
A battalion of the Tenth Infantry was
landed from the United States transport
Saratoga to-day and marched with band
playing and flags flying to Marianao. The
soldiers were followed by crowds of people.
At every street corner Spanish troops were
stationed. There was enthusiasm in the
Cerro suburbs. The troops which arrived
here on the Michigan and Panama are all
well. The transport Florida also arrived
here to-day with the Eighth Cregular) In
fantry, and is discharging quartermaster's
stores at the pier of San Jose. The Michi-
gan and Panama will land their troops to-
morrow morning. They will march to the
Quemado Camp, at Marianao.
The supply ship Comal, which arrived here
last night, has unloaded $50 tons of pro-
visions for distribution here. She will leave
tomorrow for Cienfuegos. Thence the
Comal will go to Trinidad and probably to
other ports on the south coast of Cuba.
Major Greenough, assisted by officers of the
quartermasters department, will issue the
food under the advice of the local relief COM
mittees, who are well posted on the home
conditions. Charles w. Gould accompanies
the expedition.
An important committee is being formed
in Havana province to relieve immediate
wants and remove persons able to work
lands outside the towns. Where it is neces-
sary to use lands offered free the plan is to
avoid pauperizing by giving food free and
at the same time revive agricultural life.
Organizations are forming i'm many places
to cooperate with this committee thus Civ
ing the latter the benefit of intimate knowl-
edge of the local conditions Other schemes
are in process of formation with the view of
assisting the widows, children and hospitals,
General Wade and General Clous visited
Governor aDd Captain General Castellanos
Offlcldily to-day for q consultation as TO the
evacuation and other important matters
connected with it. After the interview,
which was entirely satisfactory, an official
visit was paid to the United States cruiser
New York.
Fifteen Havana editors were present at
the reception given this afternoon by Capt.
Chadwick of the New York, to the officers
OF the United States cruiser Topeka. While
the reception was in progress the boats
crews of the Topeka and New York raced,
the Topeka men winning by length. There
was some lively betting among the crews,
the Topeka men winning about $780,
Mrs. Sampson, wife of the admiral, has
started an endless chain among her friends
in the United States to help the Cuban re-
concentrates. The last mail brought her 5000
and she is now feeding a hundred persons
daily.
Senior Fernandez de Castro, the civil Gov
ernor of the province of Havana, has sent
a circular letter to the mayors of towns in
the province recently evacuated. which
runs, in part, as follows: with immense
satisfaction and at the same time, with
pride, 1 have received news of the evacua-
tion of the Spanish troops from your town
and of it's occupation by the revolutionary
forces, the latter having been effected
without disorder or unpleasant incident of
any kind