The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-10
MAILS TO FOLLOW THE FLAG.
SOLDIERS IN CUBA TO HAVE a
PROMPT POSTAL SERVICE.

Superintendent TerriII Has Arrang-
ed for n Tri-WeekIy Delivery at
the Camp of Gen. Lees COrps-NO
Mail Matter for the Soldiers VIII
Pass Through the Local Cuban
POstOHices UntiI They Have Been
Recommendations to RevO-
IutiOnizc the Islands Postal Sys-
tenn.
supt L. NJ. Terrell of the Southern rail
way mail service was in the city yester-
day. Mr.. Terrell is now engaged in watch
ing over the soldiers mails and arrang
ing for their prompt delivery to them
wherever they may go in Cuba or Porto
Rico. At present his attention is more
especially directed 90 the future transpor-
tation and distribution of mail for the sol
diers under Gen. Lee A plan has been
arranged under which these mails will be
sent to Havana three times a week, on
the steamships sailing from Port Tampa.
Gen. Lee will send a dispatcb boat from
Marianao TO meet the steamship and will
take off the mails and carry them direct
ly TO the camp. The desire and intention
is not to let the mail for the soldiers be
handled in the Cuban local postoffice at
all. The same boat that comes to Havana
Tor the mail will bring 10 the steamship
the mails for the United States In this
way the soldiers can keep in constant
touch with their folks at home.
Supt. Terrell will lose no opportunity 10
1,A
promptly. As soon as a regiment, or even
company leaves Savannah for Cuba or
Porto Rico he Will be notified and word
will be sent TO the mail clerks on the rail-
roads 10 cut out all matter intended for
such military organization and instead of
sending it 10 Savannah forward it on 10
Tampa for shipment to Cuba In this way
The work at the Savannah office will be
hghtened and at the same time delay will
be avoided in the delivery of the mails
4 commission is 90 go to Cuba soon, sent
OUT by the Postmaster General to inves-
tigate the postal system there, and revo,
lutionize it entirely, giving it the benefit
OF the latest improvements and of the
most honest officials. At present the en-
tire postal system of the island is under
control OF che Spaniards and the service
would not be considered even second class
IN this country. Complaints are fretment
but there can hardly be a remedy an
piled until the United States takes CON
trol of the island on Jan. and the en-
portunlty of the Spaniards to make a good
lhing out of the postal business is at end.
Cntll The commission gets the Cuban pos
tai system in better shape than 1t is now
the army mails viii continue to be han
died separately from the other mails. Reg
mental pouches will be provided and these
wiz ne used on the postal cars, and on the
steamships from Tampa, which win have
rooms lifted out for postal clerks who
VIII distribute mail matter on the trip
over to Havana. No division of the mail
matter beneath that of a regiment will
probably be attempted. If a regiment Is
split up, one company located at one place
and one company at another, the regimen
tai bag viii go to the headquarters and
from there the distribution to the com
pany camps must take place 1t is hoped
that il viii not be many weeks before there
VIII be a sufficient Improvement in the is
lands postal system to permit of a free
use Of the local postofflces, but at this
time the man who puts any trust in them
IS apt TO find himself deceived sooner or
later
Mr. c. s. Beaver, chief clerk to
Supt Terrell who has been al Havana
and other points recently, does not speak
in the highest terms of what he saw and
heard of the postal system as administered
by The Spanards. He tells story of an
army captain at one of the interior towns
who posted a letter containing crisp 81
bill. About a half hour later as he was
sitting in a cafe near the postoffice the
/ bar tender came 10 him with a new bin
and asked him if he knew it's value. The
captain took it, turned it over. and in the
corner found the initials of his name
which he had put on the bill before placing
it in the letter and mailing it a short time
before.
1T is worth ST. said he as ne put il into
his pocket. II mailed it about thirty min
utos ago and it has come back by quick
delivery"
The bartender did not appreciate the
| captains remark but the officer kept his
money and since then has not trusted the
| Cuban mails to carry any money for MIN.
Complaints are frequent from Havana
| as well as from the smaller cities and
| towns Al Havana they have reduced
| the postal system to model of slowness.
| In the country towns as well as i'm many
| cities il is TO be feared that the postmas-
| GERS work the offices for al they can get
! out OF them. They are reported to have
received no pay in months and as they
! have no fear of detection or of punishment
| it is manifestly unwise to remit money
/ outside Of The army.
! There are several hundred Americans in
! Havana at present but they are keeping
! quiet until the Americans take control of
| affairs. Some of them told Mr.. Beaver
! that they would make amends for their
enforced quietness by painting Havana
red on Jan. l. when the Stars and Stripes
| are expected 10 float over Moro Castle
| for the first time.