The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-04
EVACUATION OF PORTO RICO
Within Three Weeks 1t Is Confident I.
ly Expected that
STARS AND STRIPES Will. FLOAT
over san Juan-The United states
Com missioners Deserve Much
Credit for Their service.

a
the last OF the Spanish troops will have
sailed fon home and the Stars and Stripes
VIII be unfurled over San Juan Their mis-
sion has been accomplished without fric-
lion More or less trouble WAS anticipa led
AZ the outset, but our commissioners Lave
oeen agreeably surprised at the frankness
anu candor the Spanish commissioners have
aispia!ed. While General Macias and Cap
tam General ortega, the second In COM
mand In the island, and one of the Spanish
commissioners, in their conversations with
our commissioners have fully acknowl-
Gagged the fact that the loss of Cervera's
tieet cut of all hope of succor from Spain
'They still maintain that the American army
mad tremendous task before II in cross
ing me mountains and Macias con ends that
tue army could not have reached the gates
oi san Juan without loss of 10000 men.
Inc little skirmishes on the south coast
General Macas refuses TO call reyerses be-
cause he claims his troops retired by mis-
orders to the stronger positions IN the
mountain passes.
AS matter of fact. the only action OF
importance--the bombardment OF Moro
castle by Admiral SIMPSONS fleet in the
tinet Spanish victory SIMPSONS guns
pounded away for lhroe hours. They
wrecked several buildings in the city. but
the eight and twelve inch projectiles from
the American warships had as well been
paper wads for all the effect they had on
the Qualifications. The fleet had retired
repulsed' is the word the Spaniards use:
fne victory was celebrated throughout
the city, All the military bands paraded
tho streets playing martial music. grand
concert was given in the plaza aud the city
that night echoed with the cries of viva
Espano." "Abajo los Americanos." So 1t
was that the military CHI eft- ms who met
our commission met 1T not as defeated
soldiers to isiiver up property lost In bat
tie but rather as soldiers mar;yred by the
defeat OF others to yield that which they
still claimed they might have been able
successfully to defend.
General Brooke Commodore Schey and
General Gordon were extremely careful not
10 disturb their Illusions in this respect and
TO their extreme tactfulness is due the ease
and facility with which the negotiations
were finally concluded They decided be-
fore the first meeting TO stick 20 the man
issue. which was the immediate evacuation
OF the island, and TO be generous TO the
point OF magnanimity in minor and non
essential matters.
The Spanish commissioners, especially
General Ortega. were at first disincllned TO
discuss the main question. They raised a
myriad of minor matters. few OF which had
anything to do with the business in hand
All of these questions the American com
missioners waived aside. pending the de-
cision Of the mNn question the eyacua ion.
But for several days they allowed General
Ortega to talk on until he and his COL
leagues were compelled to revert to the
main issue The language of the protocol
was plain. definite and specific. 1t pro-
vded for the immediate evacuation of the
island. On its text our commissioners
stood, and to their qualification they found
the Spanish commissioners not only ac-
quiescent, but seemingly anxious TO redre
from the earliest possible moment. The
Spanish authorities realized that the en-
tire population had become suddenly hos
tile TO them. That they had been dispos-
sessed by the high court OF war and that
they were there no longer by right, but by
suffrage. They were already strangers
among people OF their own race, blood and
language. Those who had fawned upon the
captain general in the old days no longer
came to the palace. He had no more
favors to bestow and they remained away
lest association with the old regime ight
prejudice them in the eyes OF the new.
The position OF the Spanish authorities was
painful one, and though return to Spain
meant heavy reduction in salaries and the
complete loss OF rich perquisites, the sooner
IL came to an end the better they would
like it. This was the tone they assumed.
II was then that they were confronted
with new embarrassment. They had no
transports to convey their troops back 10
Spain and were powerless to obtain them
They were compelled 10 announce this to
the American coinmiss oners. Un,(i the
Madrid government should prepare trans
portation they could DO nothing. Our COM
| missioners, realizing the force of this ar
gument, made no attempt to force them
although it occ' rred to them as IL did &c
other Americans ia San Juan that trans
ports of other countries could have been
| chartered for the purpose. Had there been
too much delay this view OF the situation
would have heen presented officially. Ru
in this our commissioners preferred TO aa-
cept the Spanish statements In perfec, goot
| faith as in due time their course will in
dcage. Both the Spanish and American
authorities were being flooded with appeals
for protection. The former was beseechet
! by the Spanish residents living between the
| lines and within the American lines &c
guard their lives and property from the ra
psoty OF the native inhabitants, who wer'
I threatening them with all sorts of psrse
1 cutions and the latter were subjects OF thI
imporsunitits OF the rich Porto Ricans with.
| in the Spanish lines, who feared that ths
| Span. sh soldiers. as q last act OF cruelty
| Nuui1 utsPgii plopHiNF pclsal ~
murder them. Some OF the appesls were
both frantic and hysterical. But steps were
4 Immediately taken TO prevent disorder al
I far as possible.
1t was but natural that the transition
| from the control of the Spanish government
| TO a condition OF civil liberty thai lhcs
who had suffered for generations at tbs
/ hands OF the governing class should seei
vengeance. or that private individuals
/ should seize the opportunity TO redress pri
| vate wrongs. That there were outrages Il
/ beyond question The natives burneL
! Coata and many fine Spanish haclendas IL
\ various parts OF the Island. The Spanish
7 troops mastered about nilety people in
! Gales and later In suppressing an iuGIp'
/ len: riot al Arecibo shot four natiyes 4
Z reign OF terror also existed for a time
I near Cocoas in the center OF the island
About 200 brgands, many OF them said t.
he the conyicts relea-ed by the American
authorities at Ponce. and others. It is said
from Hayti. with their headquarters 10 th'
heart OF the mountains. pillaged and raw
aged the country. There were also dis.
tmrbances at Fsiardo when the Spanish
I troops left.
] Ii was arranged that wherever the Span
iards In their concentrating movement
evacuated town or position the line
should overlap. That Is. that our troop
should enter the town shortly before thu
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