Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-23
FROM HAVANA.

Major Russell harrison, the provost
marshal, who, on Tuesday, raised the
Stars and Stripes over the Fort Atares,
at Havana, without orders, and in con-
PREVENTION of the promise of the United
States evacuation commissioners that
10 American flag should be raised in
Havana or its suburbs until January /,
was yesterday formally reprimanded
by Major General Lee, and instructed
to lower the flag. Lieutenant Lee re-
ported a few hours later at headquar-
ters that the flag had been lowered.
Nevertheless at 4:30 p. m. it was still
flying on q tall staff over the famous
fort, plainly visible from the harbor
and city.
Gen. Lee, having received a cable
dispatch from General Alger saying
that the Secretary of War understood
there were thousands of persons starry
ing in Havana, and directing him to
feed them without delay" immediate
ly ordered Lieut.. Col. Wood to dis
tribute rations, and to make systematic
efforts to feed the helpless, carefully
avoiding waste. There are hundreds
in Havana, who, though not actually
starving, are in deplorable state of
weakness and disease, the effects of the
RECOMMENDATION policy. They need hos
pital treatment, which is not alwal s
available. Much of the wretchedness
is due to the neglected condition of the
tenements. Every day or so the re-
lief distributors come upon dead
bodies, terribly emaciated. Two have
been found in the suburb of Cerro.
1t is difficult to distinguish between the
professional vagrant and the really de.
serving cases, but the committees with
local knowledge are able to render ex
cellent service.
The United States transport Mime
waska, which left Savannah for Cuba
on December 10, with the FortY-ninth
Iowa regiment has, arrived at Havana.
Yesterday the Spanish transports
Ciudad de Cadiz and Neustria sailed for
Spain, the former with 1,2S6 men and
officers, bound for Santander, and the
latter with 1903 men, for Cadiz.
The last formal joint meeting of the
United States and Spanish evacuation
commissioners was held to day. If, at.
ter that, any new questions arise, they
will be settled by individual interviews
or correspondence.
The Uoited States commission will
adopt written resolution of thanks for
the courtesies extended by the Spanish
authorities at Havana and elsewhere
in Cuba under trying conditions, and
bear testimony 'to the excellent disci-
pline and soldieriike conduct of the Of
6cers and men of the Spanish army"
Ell Vedado, the suburb of Havana
where is situated the Hotel Trotcha,
which has been the headquarters of the
United States military commission,
will be evacuated to-day, when the
seacoast forts will be occupied by the
United States troops. Guanabacos will
be formally occupied on Monday next.
The American Commissioners sent o
note to Captain-General Castellanos
yesterday afternoon asking what places
in the island of Cuba would he occu.
pied by Spanish troops after January l,
and under what command they ex.
pocted to remain. The matter is an
important one, as about $4,000 Spanish
troops will be unable to leave before
January l, the date set for the evacua-
ton.
These men will certainly be in Ha-
vana after the Americans arrive, wait
ing for transports to take them to
Spain. It is understood that on JAN
uary Gen. Castellanos, after surren-
dering the government to Gen. Brooke,
or to the superior military officer at
Havana, will move east to MataDZas,
whence he will proceed later to Glen.
fuegos, there to remain until the last of
the Spanish troops leave the island.