Evening star., 1898-09-06
IN NEED OF FOOD
Military Occupation of Havana May
Be Fastened.
BLANC0 IS STILL IN CONTROL
Wants to Distribute Supplies
Through Spanish Officials.
RITA ANIFE ST

Military occupation of Havana is likely
to be hastened by the trouble over the dis
tribution of supplies. There is marked irri
tation in the departments ovcr the latest
failure to feed the starving people Of the
island. 1t is felt now that the only way
this can be done satisfactorily will be
through the army and through military
government. Since Santiago was taken
possession of there has peen no trouble in
distributing supplies among those who arc
in need of food. This mas been because the
Spanish officials have had nothing to do
with the work. Their co-opera ton las net
been necessary. Recent reports from San
tiago state that under Gen. Lawton and
Gen. Wood everything is progressing salts
factorily. There is no longer friction with
the Cubans. People in need of food are re-
ceiving it and Santiago Is slresuming it's nor
NAL condition
Clara Harton's DifiicuIty.
The disagreement which Clara Barton
had with the Havana authorities over the
Red Cross supplies was not merelJ because
of the fine imposed upon the Clint IN for
tering the harbor with an irregular mani
fest, the fine would undoubtedly pe revoked
later, but the local government would not
agree to have the food distributed except
AHiOuSi us own agency. 1t is true that
Gov DE Castro declared they We're already
able to supply the needs of the poor of Ha-
Vana city. A similar declaration was made
by Captain General Bianco last December
when the proposition was broached for
American aid to the reconcentrados. He
said Spain would be able to provide for
them Subsequently he compelled to
accept American relief, which was dis
tributed under Spanish authority. The re-
suit was that much of the relief failed to
accomplish its purpose. Miss Barton was
In Cuba at the time experimenting the dis
tribution of the Red Cross supplies. Her
experience in the cooperation of Spanish
officials did not impress her favorably 1t
Is possible that is one reason why she has
thought it wiser to bring the Clinton's sup
plies back to the United States and wait
until there Is an opportunity to distribute
them unhampered by the aid of the Span
ish officials
BlancO Still in Control
The difficulty which the War Department
has in landing the supplies from the Coma
is d similar ona. Even if the duties which
the local authorities want to collect were
remitted there would come the same trouble
in getting the food among the people for
whom 1t is meant. Under existing arrange
ments the distribution would have to be
through the Spanish authorities, for Cap
tain General Blanco is still recognized as
being in control. The willingness of the CO.
itiiidi vi dutolCiIilSl government 10 assist
in the distribution simply means that it
wants to control the whole matter. The
army officers of the United States, If they
had the power would hardly be willing to
turn the supplies intrusted to them over to
Blancos Subordinates. This would be a
shifting of the work without relieving them
of responsibility. 1t is understood that the
War Department will not consent to such
an arrangement. Moreover, it is stated
that the supplies on the Comal are provided
under express authority of the war legisla-
ton of Congress, and this does not contem-
plate the oversight of Spanish officials in
landing or distributing the supplies.
Military Occupation Necessary.
The Red Cross relief and that which it
was intended to afford by sending the CO.
NAL w.re meant for the people of the island
who were without means of obtaining food
The issuance of rations to the insurgents in
arms was an independent basis. This
too, was done through the War Depart
ment. The presence of Gen. NuneE in
Washington to explain the hardships of the
insurgents under present conditions en-
phasizes this situation. If they wait until
the cooperation of the Spanish authorities
is secured most of them are pretty certain
to die of starvation. 1t is the distinct pol
icy of the administration to supply the in
surgents with rations until they can resume
peaceful pursuits. Probably the military
commission which reaches Havana Thurs
day will be instructed among its first duties
to conclude an arrangement with Capt.
Gen. Banco regarding the whole question
of American food supplies. Permanently
this will be done through the cominissary
department of the army. The quickest way
a beginning can be made is by getting part
of the army into Havana. Possibly when
the first body of Spanish troops embark
from Havana the first regiments from Gen.
FitZhugh Lees corps at Jack SonvIiie will
enter it. The purpose of the administration
has been to keep the troops away from Gu
ba till some time in October, in order that
the health conditions which wera encoun-
tered at Santiago might be avoided. That
is still the hope, but every effort which has
been made to relieve the people of Cuba
has been SO persistently thwarted that
drastic action may be looked for if the
present difficulties continue