Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
Food to Be Distributed by American
Officials.
CONFIDENCE WILL Be RE- ESTABLISHED
Care Will Be Taken to Avoid
Friction.
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY

with the coming Of peace the commjssary
department of the army will not have II,
labors iessened in Cuba. For q wbila they
are likely to be increased. II is understood
TO be the purpose Of the administration to
supply rations to the Cuban troops which
nave been under Gomez and Garcia This
VIII open the way for a wider distribution
to the starving population of the island, to
relieve which was impossible after the dec
laration of war in April How many of the
reconcentrados survive is not known Many
OF those who were receiving aid when hos.
tiities broke out have undoubtedly perish
ed yet after the Spanish troops were with
drawn from the interior to the seacoast
towns 1t is believed that a portion of the re-
concentrates were able to return to the
country, and that they have since found
subsistence there. At Cienfuegos on the
south coast, they received some supplies
when the blockading vessels were there
SINCE then word has been received by the
naval commanders of the great distress
" hich vailed and of the need of early
assistance. Had not peace baen assured il
was Admiral SIMPSONS wish to take some
vessels of his squadron and land supplies
under cover OF arms. That necessity no
longer exists, and Cienfuegos will probably
De among the first places to receive relief.
Matanzas, Sagua and other points On the
presents situation in itself
Moral Effect of the Aid.
While the aid to be given will last only
long enough to enable the people of Cuba
to help themselves, IT will undoubtedly
tend to increase their confidence in the
friendship of the United States The in
nuence is likely TO be especially marked on
the men VINO have composed the Cuban
army. Ihey will receive rations as allies
ei me oaited States. the same as viii the
american troops who will remain during
the period of military government ee rar.
isons In the island. This will continue after
their dlsbandment, for that is expected to
ioifoW quickly on the heels of peace " Is
recognized that the problem of the C,,ban
soldlers is one of the most serious that has
10 be met Three years in the insurrent
.s,ni,s .arhe nave ieft them without mea-s of
support OF any kind. AS members of a
loosely organized army. acting in co-opera-
uch, they nave been able to secure some
means OF subsistence. though often close 10
slarVaton- W hen they cease to ae.. as a
body and each individual has to hook out
ior himself their immediate resources U.lI
ne OF the most limited character. Many Of
taetn nave no homes to which 10 ra+Il-n
nd for time there will be little rrosnen.
or living off a land which has become n
Qf sert. The issuance of ratfons a,v tbe
onL,ed states through the ccmmissary de-
paI1meht OF the army will meet this diff
euity as well as it can be met
friction With Cubans Not Looked
For.
NO friction is anticipated in bringing hos
tiities TO close on the part of the Gu
bans Nor is there likely to be a repeti-
ton OF the misunderstanding which arosa
between Gen. Shafter and Gen Garcia All
santiago While the military control of
the United States will be complete pending
the establishment of a stable government
In Cuba, this will be done in way not to
oHend the sensibilities of the Cubans or to
enable their enemies to say thay are tn no
deprived OF the fruits of their long str1ig-
gle After the ill-feeling which was de-
veloPed at Santiago, President Mckinley
~ Is stated, gave his personal attention to
the policy which should be followed when
Spain surrendered the whole island. THE
result, ii is expected will show how much
can be accomplished by tact. All the Gu
ban commanders will be officially notified
that peace has been agreed upon and that
military operations are to cease Gen Go
1nez has been recognized as commander
in-chief of the Cubans, and he win be COM
munlcafed with in that capacity now. As
to the part which he will have in future
events no statement is made at this time
but there is reason to believe IL will be a
recognition of his share in freeing Cuba
from Spanish rule which will be satisfac-
tory to him and to the Cubans who have
shown their trust in his leadership 1t is
not likely that the full diplomatic CORES
pondence and the minutes of the co1fer-
ences between President Mckinley and Soc
retary Day on one hand and Ambassador
Cambon as the representative of Spain on
the other hand will ever see publicity
enough of the correspondence
nay In time appear TO show what has been
th= guiding prindple in arranging the
terms of peace. 1t will then be demon
strated that one Spanish assumption has
been rejected with sternness This was
the effort to dictate what should follow in
Cuba after Spain's dominion was ended.
That is treated solely as the concern of the
United States. The hope of continuing
Cuba a Spanish colony with a change OF
flags is not encouraged. Spanish subjects
will DE protected in their rights. like the
subjects of other foreign powers, and the
Spanish classes viii have a chance to join
N establishing stable government but
neither they nor Madrid will b. deluded
with the notion that Spain still owns the
sland.