The evening times., 1898-12-31
LAST DAY OF SPAIN'S
RULE IN HAVANA
End of the Gold and Crimson
Banners Sway.
Tomorrow the American Flag Will
Wave Alone.
General Lee TO Enter the City With
the Seventh Army COrps-The
Transfer OF Sovereignty.

Havana, Dec. 31.-Actiye preparations for
the REIMBURSEMENT of Spanish sovereignty
are being made, and by tonight it will only
require the lowering of the flag TO COM
plete the agreement by which the standard
planted here by Columbus is withdrawn
forever from the Americas.
In the governor generals palace, at Nor
70 Costle in all the barracks, at the Gus
tom house, the postoffice, the offices Of the
city government, everywhere, in fact, the
officials are closing up their accounts, and
by tonight every Office will be cleared and
the clerks and officials will report Sunday,
only TO await the transfer of flags and re-
ceive orders from the Americans who are
to supplant the Spaniards.
Shippers have been notified TO clear all
goods away from the piers and docks with
in twentyfour hours or suffer confscation
at the custom house, and at the banks no.
tices have been posted that on and after
Sunday American currency Will be the
standard and all foreign money will be
accepted only at the exchange value.
The plans for the actual transfer OF
sovereignty are simple. There Will be no
exchange of documents between the two
Commissions, and no speech making viii
be INDUCED in. The Spanish and Ameri-
can officials Will gather at noon in every
barrack in the city not already transfer
red, and promptly at the stroke of twe.ve
the representatives of the American navy
viii salute the Spanish flag with twenty
one guns. The Stars and Stripes viii
then take the place OF the crimson and
gold, and q salute viii be fired by repre-
sentatives OF the Spanish navy. The two
Commissions of Evacuation viii adjourn,
and the deed will be done.
The real transfer of sovereignty will
take place at the governor generals pal
ace, where a member of Gen. Brooke s
stan will raise the Amrican flag. Lieut.
Made son OF Major Gen. Wade, Will raise
the flag over the Morro. After the trans
fer has been completed, Gen. Lee viii en-
ter Havana al the head of the Seventh
Army Corps, which will march in review
last the Inglaterra Hotel.
Havana has accepted the American occu-
patton as a fact already accomplished.
The American officials are consulted in all
matters Of general importance. Business
is being conducted on the American basis
and American coins OF small denomina-
lions are circulating freely. One banking
house this morning paid out over its coun-
ter 5000 in American pennies which coin
is rapidly driving the Spanish centayo out
of circulation. Thousands of dollars in
American nickles. dimes quarters and
by money changers. who are Teaping a
rich harvest because of the change in the
circulating medium.
Discipline has been increased in the
camps in order that all the regiments may
be ready for the parade. The first men
locked into Havana from the camps with
out leave. and now the penalties have been
increased. The provost guards search the
city night and day for stragglers. After
January / the strictest discipline will be
maintained. and the soldiers who are
guilty of infractic1a 0r the regulation will
be severely dealt with.
Gen. Ludlow has accepted the recon-
mendaUions made by McCullagh. and liquor
dealers who sell TO soldiers Will be held
10 strict accountability, being liable TO
Imprisonment and confiscation of property
All the cafes will close at IL O'Clock at
night and the carrying of weapons will be
strictly prohibited.
proclamation 10 this effect was pub
Iished in ali the papers yesterday in Span
ish and English over Gen Ludlow's sigma
ture as today will be devoted entirely to
routine affairs which will keep all the Off
cials busy.