New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-02
SPANS SOVEREIGNTY CEDED.
STARS AND STRIPES REPLACE THE RED AND YELLOW
STANDARD IN CUBA.

IsY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE. !

After several minutes OF informal talk had
been going on General Castelanos indicated
that the hour had come to yield his trust. Half
unconsciously members OF the two Commissions
took their places. and the group OF American
Generals and Spanish officers formed a cres-
cent General Castellano, and his stan were In
ordinary fatigue uniform. They did not dignity
the function by appearing In their uniforms K
ceremonial occasions. No orders and decora-
tions were worn by them. though they have goe.
ones Back Of the stan twenty -nvs
or thirty Spanish officials, some Of whom wore
their decorations; but they were present ~
spectators and not as officials. General Castel-
lanos is not a large man. He has the military
goatee and a bullet shaped head. Nothing about
him to-day showed his rank except his sash.
only strip OF which visible. His jacket
was buttoned under his throat and his sword
hung by his side. almost careessly. General
Brooke is large man. the typical American
soldier So are Generals Ludlow and Davis.
General Butler s Of splendid physique. General
Chaffee. of General Brooke's STAFF is slight but
tall. General Wade in regimentals Is not Q
giant. but his stature is robust. All these Gen.
erals and their aids In full uniform presented
a most imposing appearance General Lee was
in field uniform.
Less imposing than the American Generals.
but not without impressveness was the group
Of insurgent commanders who formed the outer
rim Of this crescent They were in uniform Of
dark blue. with nothing but tiny silver stars to
indicate their rank. Their bearing was manly
and dignifed. They commanded the respect Of
everybody. vice-Consul Jerome. OF Great
Britain. was present in official dress not as the
Consular English representative. but as the
American representative. whose Consular func-
tions were about 10 cease. Senator J. W. Daniel.
Of Virginia formed of the score Of American
civilians in the background
A MEMORABLE SCENE
The scene was memorable. The guns from
Cabanas and from the ships in the har5or were
roaring salutes when General Castellanos
stepped forward and handed paper to Captain
Hart the official interpreter OF the American
Commission. 1t was the text OF the speech he
was about TO make. He addressed himself In
Spanish directly to General Wade. as president
of the American Commission. General Butler
stood on the left OF General Wade. General Cas-
tellanos spoke with constrant but mastered his
emotion. 1t was apparent that his STAFF officers
were restraining themselves only by the strong
est exercise Of will power The regimental bands
in the Plaza OF Arms were playing American
National airs An aid was sent TO stop them.
Castelanos continued his sentences in intervals
which were punctuated by discharges OF cannon
making salutes Four hundred years Of history
were passing away like the ticking OF "atcn.
General Castellanos was understood when he
dwelt upon the command OF his King and the
Treaty of Paris as reason for the words he was
saving. though most Of his hearers were not "a
miliar with Spanish. When he concluded Cap
tain f. Hart translated his written speech.
When General Wade turned 10 General Brooke
and asked him TO accept the sovereignty which
was there yielded by Spain to the United states,
General Brooke had no prepared speech He
made his brief reply accepting the sovereignty
and il was translated. sentence by sentence. into
Spanish by Captain Hart.
In two minutes this function was over. and
Castellanos was no longer Governor General OF
span in Cuba but simply general Of the Span
tsh Army He passed with his stan into the
room adjoining the salon. intending 10 'aks
leave Of his friends. He exchanged farewens
NTH q few of then, and then broke down L
have been in as many battles as there are hairs
on my head" he cried but these forces over
come me-" And thus the farewell reception OF
General Castellanos was terminated
LOCAL. OFFICIALS PAY THEIR RESPECTS
General Brooke and his stan remained In the
salon to receive the visits OF respect from van-
Gus officials Among them were judges OF the
courts and professors In the University, VINO
came in n body wearing their professors caps
and gowns. The insurgent generals also paid
their formal respects. General Brooke talked Z"
them individually and then in body. you
know the circumstances" he said In wnich
American troops have come TO your shores Ex-
traordinary efforts may be necessary on your
mart I expect your fullest cooperation"
After making this little speech General Brooke
left the Palace for the Ingaterra Hotel where
ne reviewed the Seventh Army Corps as
marched past
When General Castellanos left the Palace with
his staff the companies ~ the Leon Battalion
lad already defled through the Gordon OF
American troops and gone on board their trans
mort. The American troops saluted him. Cen
eral C,ous and Captain Hart. as representatives
y, tho American Commission. walked on either
side his stan following narrow street runs