The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-27

90 men will cost the peOpl OF the Unit
ed States $165 ,000, 000. This, added to
the $145, 000, 900 for pensions, will bring
che cost of the military establishment
UP to 1910, 000, 900, the largest charge in
the world for a military establishment.
The naval establishment would bring
the total up many millions more. Mr..
Hay estimates that a standing army of
80, 900, with 50,000 additional volunteers,
would cost 500, 900, 900, but this charge
might continue only for two years.
ALL QUIET IN PORTO RICO AND
MANILA.
Encouraging reports of the condi-
tions Of affairs In anil and Porto
Rico reached the var department to-
day from the officers commanding the
troops in those departments. The dis
patches from both General Otis at Ma
Mia and General Henry at San Juan
were in response to Geographic in
quiries by the secretary of war, based
on reports of a disquieting nature
which had reached the officials here.
That from Gener Otis was particu-
larly gratifying to the president and
Secretary Alger. 1t is as follows:
Manila, December %.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Believe city never more quiet. Or
der prevails. Native population great
iy augmented in three months. Volume
Of business increasing. Conduct of
troops good and most f~avorably COM
mented on by citizens. Discipline I'M
proving. Disorders promptly punish
ed, as business of courts show. News
APE articles published in United
States, Hong Kong and Singapore
without element of truth. Military rule
firm, as demanded by circumstances.
Otis"
The dispatch from General Henry is
as follows:
"San Juan, December 20.
Complaints of disorderly conduct
unknown here. If specific charge can
punishment will follow. Subordinate
commanders have been apprised of
yOu telegram. N
MAJOR RUSSELL HARRISON REP
RIMANDED.
Havana, December 22.-Major Rus
sell Harrison, the provost marshal who
on Tuesday raised the Stars and Stripes
over Fort Atares without orders, and
in co~ntravention of the promise of the
United States evacuation commissions
ers that no American flags should be
raised in Havana or it's suburbs until
January LIST, was today formally repri-
maEded by Major General Lee and in
structed to lower the flag. Lieutenant
Lee reported a few hours later to head
quarters hat the flag had been lower
ed. Nevertheless, at the hour of filing
this dispatch, 4:30 o'clock D.. m, it is
still flying On a tall staff over the ia
nous fort, plainly visible from the har-
Dor and city.
Major General Lee, having received
a cable dispatch from General Alger,
saying that the secretary of war under
stood there were thousands of persons
starving in Havan and directing him
to feed them without delay immedi-
ately ordered Lieutenant Colonel Wood
to distribute ratiOns and to make sys-
tematic efforts to feed the helpless,
carefully avoiding waste. There are
hundreds in Havana today who, though
not actually starving, are in a deplor-
able state of weakness and disease, the
effects of the cruel recommendation pol
icy. They need hospital treatment,
which is not always available. Much
of the wretchednesS is due to the neg
lected condition of the tenements. Ev-
cry day or so the relief distributors
come upon dead bodies, terribly
emaciated.
The Cuban, Colonel Raoul arrange,
with 600 Cuban horsemen, paraded in
Jesus del Monte today and then march
ed out again to camp.
The United States transport Mime
waska, which left Savannah for Cuba
on December 10Th, with the Forty
ninth Iowa regiment, arrived here this
afternoon. Today the Spanish trans
ports Ciudad de Cadiz and Neustria
sailed for Spain. the former with 1885
and the latter with 1,033 men for Cadiz.