The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25
And All the Spanish Soldiers Must BE
ON Their Way to the Penin-
suIa by Dec. 81.
MANY CUBANS ARE SUFFERING
AND THE PRESIDENT Is ANXIOUS TO
BEGIN THE WORK OF RELIEF.
Removal of the Monument to Christo-
pher Columbus Likely to BE F0r-
bidden-HOliday Festivities.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24.-The officials
here are watching with interest the progress
being made by the military commission at
Havana in securing the evacuation of the
Island of Cuba. The commission has been
very slow in making reports to the War
Department, but from the latest received it
appears that that body would like to have
more definite instructions as to procedure
1t seems that the Spanish side has said that
they could not begin the evacuation of the
island until the 1st of November, and that
it could not be completed before the 2Sth of
February next. In view of the alarming
state of the Cubans who are suffering from
hunger and their inability, in the present
uncertain conditions, for obtaining work,
the President decided that he could not as
sent to the consumption of so much time
Therefore he caused the commission to be
instructed to demand that the evacuation
by the Spaniards begin not later than Oct
10 and that it be completed by Dec. 81 next
What the result of this demand will be is
not yet known, but it is said the administra-
ton is determined to tolerate no dilatory
tactics on the part of the Spanish forces in
leaving the island, although disposed to per-
nit reasonable indulgence.
Notice has also been taken of the ex-
pressed purpose Of the Spanish captain gen.
eral to remove from the island the remains
of Christopher Columbus, with part of the
surmounting monument. If a monument is
not a permanent fixture then it is hard to
decide what is, and it is possible that at
tention will be called to the infraction of the
terms of the PROTOCOL although this must
be done with haste in order to succeed in
its object as the removal is said to be fixed
for next Tuesday.
The United States forces are being put in
readiness for the occupation of Cuba, and
every bureau in the War Department will
have its supplies and equipments ready
when the time for the movement comes
No time has yet been fixed definitely and
none will be until the department is advised
by the military commission that the health
of the troops will not be in danger from
the Cuban climate. 1t was stated by one
official in the War Department that troops
would go to Cuba about the middle of Oc-
tober another said about the 25th of Octo-
Der and certainly not later than the 1st of
November.
The matter of barracks for troops has
been considered by the department and act
ing Secretary Meiklejohn said to-day that
the Spanish barracks in Cuba would be
thoroughly cleansed and fumigated before
being occupied by United States troops. No
barracks that were not pronounced in per-
fectly satisfactory condition would be used
If barrack accommodations already built by
the Spanish were not sufficient this govern
ment would provide it's own barracks. More
care is being given to the matter of SANTA
ton and health of the proposed Cuban ex-
petition that has attended any expedition of
the army. The department has had plenty
of time to make these arrangements and is
utilizing it for completing every arrange
ment for successful occupation.