Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-24
NOON, JANUARY FIRST,
Will Witness the Execution of the
Chief Purpose of the
War of 1885,
OLD GLORY w1LLFLY OVER HAVANA


sition of Spanish Power in the Pearl oi
the Antilles-AdmiraI Sampson on Its
Future Government Filipino Agents
at Work Trying to Defeat Annexation OF
Their Archipelago by the United States
Havana, Dec. 24.-At the joint meet
ing of the United States and Spanish
military commissioners yesterday the
programme was finally agreed upon for
the exchange of flags on Jan. l at noon.
Just before II noon the American war
vessels will fire salute of twenty-one
guns in honor of the. Spanish flag.
Promptly at II o'clock the Spanish flags
on the various public buildings will be
lowered, and Immediately thereafter the
MORO and the public buildings of the
city, while Spanish artillerists at Ca
banas fortress will salute the Ameri-
can flag with twenty-one guns, Span
ish warships in the harbor participating
in the salute. At the same hour the
Spanish troops, if any then remain in
the city, will be paraded in barracks
and will render proper salute to the
American forces passing.
Civil Part of the Programme.
Just before noon the American and
Spanish commissioners, General Jim
fnez Castellanos, the Spanish captain
general and the American ranking off,
Ger in Cuba-Major General John r.
Brooke. If he arrives in time. and other
wise Major General Lee-will assemble
at the palace. The Spanish commits
sioners will then surrender the gov
ernment to the United States commits
sioners, who will Immediately transfer
ii to the American general command
ing After this the various function
aries will remain awhile to receive those
who may wish to pay their respects to
the incoming authorities. 1t was agreed
at the joint meeting that the Spanish
troops remaining in Cuba after Jan. 1
should be considered in the light of for
eign troops in a friendly country, and
to be accorded the privileges usually
granted under International law.
Forced Him to Cheer for Cuba.
Some Cuban entered the residence of
the Marquis de Pinar del Rio, in the
Cerro suburb of Havana. and COM
PEELED him to cry Viva Cuba Libre."
The marquis, who is one of the richest
men in the island, and of a noted fam
lily, complained to Captain General Cas-
tellanos. and a note on the subject was
sent to the American evacuation COM
mission. The Marquis de Pinar del Rio
termined to leave Cuba, their friends
say, ,-'unfess the cafced states esrao-
fishes a strong government and they
are assured ample protection"
Sampson on Cuba's Government.
New York, Dec. 24.-Admiral Samp-
son arrived here from Havana yester-
day. In answer to the question DO
you think the people of the island will
prove anIenable to the American gov
ernment?" Admiral Sampson said: "It
does not make any difference whether
they are or not. We are down there
and our government will go on as long
as ii is necessary. The wealth.
lest and most influential people in Cuba
want the island annexed to the United
States, whether as a state or as a ter
ritory they don't care much. But there
are many Cubans who think that they
are able to govern themselves. Cuba
at present certainly is in no condition to
govern itself. The question of what
shall become of Cuba will not be settled
for a year at least. and possibly not for
two or three years. In the meanwhile
the military government by the United
States will go on