Evening star., 1898-12-30
OLD GLORY TORN DOWN
Riotcus Demonstrations of Cuban Element in
Havana.
They Are DisEruntled Because Gen.
Brooke Will Keep Them Out
of the Parade.

A dispatch from Havana to the Chicago
Tribune last night says: Most startling
rumors are flying about tonight, and are
given credence to by the excited crowds
thronging the streets. 1t was reported
early this evening that Gen. Mariana Men
ocal and his Cuban forces at La Paya had
been asked to take the oath Of allegiance
to the United States, but had refused.
This action has been advised by many
Cuhans for some time, and the news was
cheered by many Of the crowd.
Then mounted insurgents clattered about
town and are. said TO have told various
groups in the streets that Gen. Menocal had
withdrawn his. troops from La Paya and
taken to the field.
This story, regardless of it's truth or
falsity, was chiefly worthy of serious at
tention because Of the eagerness with
which it was received by the crowds, Who
insisted upon the truth of the story, and
justified Gen. Menocars reported sensa-
tional action, which would mean a declara-
ton of war. The situation, which grew out
of Gen. Brcoke's refusal to permit Cuban
troops to participate in the exercises of
evacuation day, has become a crisis. What
the outcome may be no one knows.
The feeling in HAVANA is intense. The
United States flag was torn down from
many houses in the lower districts of the
city tonight. and upper-class Cubans have
sent cabegrams without number to Pres
ident Mckinley today begging him to con-
slider the situation. Cablegrams have been
sent broadcast over the United States ask
ing for public meetings and appealing to
he common sense and justice of the Amer
lean people. 1t is certain that the Cuban
leaders, including Gomez and other gen.
erals. will be barred from the exercises Of
Sunday.
bond of sympathy Broken.
nj hv hat
pie Of Cuba and the United States has been
almost, if not entirely, sundered. Havana
tonight is volcano, and an eruption may
occur at any time. Cuban leaders are doing
everything to prevent an outburst, but they
say that If Gen. Brookes command is car
ried out not only will they be helpless, but
they will think that whatever happens Will
have been caused by arbitrary and unjust
action of the United States.
we did not fight for new DICTATOR
said Cuban to me tonight. I'VE object to
dictator, whether his name be Weyler or
onets at our throats. We will shoulder
arms as we have shouldered arms under
Spanish rule. Cuba libre, it must be, and
Cuba libre it shall be forever
Mckinley Appealed To.
Judge Advocate Charles Gould of the
American commission today cabed to the
President of the intense uneasiness of the
situation here, advising that the Cubans
be permitted to participate in the cere-
monies of occupation. Late tonight how
ever, no word has been received from the
President regarding the matter.
La Lucha, the leading newspaper of Ha-
vana, tonight urges the Cubans 20 keep
calm and to await the decision of the Presi-
dent.
The Cuban peace commission. consisting
OF Seniors OFarril. Mora j. Nunez and
Artez Parraga. visited Gen.. Ludlow
again IN the afternoon after being in con-
ference among themselves al, day. Their
plans were to haEe Loon picked men. the
flower of the insurgent army, march into
havana January l. These Cuban soldiers
came into Camp La Paya yesterday with
the understanding that they were marching
to Havana for evacuation day. --. ~,
A Bitter Disappointment.
They bought new uniforms and outfits
and in their honor the streets of Havana
have been lavishiy decorated. The people
of Havana had intended to meet the in
surgent soldiers on the outskirts and escort
them with music and cheering to the
Prado. This entrance of the Cuban soldiers
into Havana has been the dream of the
people of this unhappy island for tifty
years, and they bitterly complain that now
that Spain has been driven out of Havana
the Cuban soldier must not enter it.