The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-05

residents General Macias was compeled
to send the guard back in order to protect
them. Ees
BUT all things considered il is remarkable
that more disorder did not occur and more
lives were not sacrificed. Undoubtedly ev-
cry Drecaution was taken, as soon as the
commissioners had arrived al the main con-
clusion, to reduce the danger of disorder TO
q minimum. The neutral zone between the
lines was wiped out and our soldiers and
the Spaniards were permitted while in pur-
suit of deDredators 10 enter each others
lines. This was the first STEP 1t was then
arranged that wherever the SDaniards in
their concentrating movement evacuated a
town or position the lines should overlap.
o Ra shor fSt gSgHsh enf rea Re
There was no hiatus and no opportunity
given to the awless element. Whenever
our troops entered a Spanish town or pO-
siton, by the arrangement of the commits
sioners, the commanding officer of the Span
ish delivered an inventory of all the Span
ish military and governmental property TO
the commanding American officer and took
the latter's receipt. This inventory is to be
turned over TO the United States authori
les. This plan obviates the necessity of
sending a commission over the island to in
ventory government property When the
last inventory is made and delivered at San
Juan General Brooke will have a complete
inventory of all the government property in
the island.
Ever since the American commissioners
arrived at San Juan the native Porto
Ricans have deluged them with stories of
the alIeged schemes e OF the Spanish SPANS an
ely belongs to the island. Some of the
tives for time devoted themselves to fer
Teting out conSDracieS. Some of their
ports were investigated and found to be
baseless, and the commissioners continued
to assume that the Spaniards were pro-
had their own means OF ascertaining exact
ly what was going on. One of the alleged
reports the Porto Ricans were especially
exercised over was that the Spaniards pro-
posed to take with them to Spain some $780,
900 from the vaults OF the Banco Espanola
and various trust funds which. it was
claimed, belonged to the people of the
island. The commissioners thought it was
time enough to consider these matters when
the alleged trust funds were taken.
ART TREASURES REMOVED.
The Porto Ricans also affirmed that fine
paintings and art treasures were being re-
moved from the palace and various other
public buildings. and, as these works of art
had been paid for by taxes collected in the
island, the commission should see that they
remained 1t is doubtless true that some
of the most valuable art treasures in the
world were removed, but our commissioners
decided not to raise objections. To have
protested would have created more trouble
probably than the articles removed were
worth, and, besides, something OF this sort
was to be expected.
The Porto Ecans made the general mis-
take of believing that everything paid for
out of the taxes of the island should be
theirs. Had that general proposition been
assumed by our commissioners and adhered
to the Spanish soldiers and all of the Span
ish officials whose salaries were paid out
of the insular taxes should have been held
as hostages, and a claim might even have
been set up for a portion OF the Spanish
crown. That the Spanish were acting in
good faith was proven afterward, when, at
Aguadilla, they turned over to the Amer
lean officers over $4,000 in customs revenue
which they could have made way with had
they been so disposed. The American COM
lnissoners laid down the general PROPOSE
ton that tho SDaniardS could removes all
their personal and private effects, state pa
pers and everything belonging to the mill
t2ly establishment that was removable. TO
this the Spaniards assented, and this is the
general theory upon which the evacuation
is taking place.
The only collision thus far has been in
connection with some six-nch siege guns
on carriages. When the first regiment of
troops was embarked on the San Francisco
last Thursday four of these guns were
taken to the wharf ready for shipment. Our
commissioners protested on the ground that,
although the guns were movable from place
to PLACE when in action they were Sa
defended. In other words, they were not
movable with a fighting line. After some
discussion the Spanish commissioners
agreed to this definition of a movable gun,
which confined it strictly to field artillery
pieces.
a great deal Of the old plumber about the
military barracks and arsenals and the
equipments of volunteers and civil guard.
which have been disbanded. is being sold
from this sale the Spanish authorities will.
of course, take back to Spain. A couple of
Americans are buying. up much OF this ma
terial for a mere song, and the american
people will doubtless in time have an OPP
portunity to glut its appetite for military
souvenirs of the Spanish army in. Porto
Rico
1t is impossible to tell exactly when the
last of the Spanish troops will depart. TWO
cations are that in less than three weeks.
at most. General Macias will relinquish
control of the last foot of territory. mt
ting celebration is being arranged for the
occasion of the flag raising at San juan
Both the naval and military forces VIII
participate In case General MaclaS Will
ception will be given in honor by the Amer
lean commissioners. 49,