The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-21

of war today issued orders for the re-
organization of the military depart
ments in Cuba in accordance with the
changed conditions resulting from the
rehabilitation of the volunteer troops
on that island. Up to this time there
have been seven military departments
in Cuba, constituting n military dl-
vision under command Of Major Gen
eral Brooks, with headquarters at Ha-
Vana. Under the orders issued today,
tbZ number of departments is reduced
t'SEve, the W eliminated being the
Department Of Pinar del Rio, command
Apy Brigadier General Hasbrock, and
the department Of MatanZas, command
ed by Brigadier General Bates. The
department of Pinar del Rio is consol-
idated with the department of the
province Of Havana and Brigadier Gen.
eral Lee, now commanding the latter
department, is assigned to he command
of the two departments thus cOmbin-
ed. The department of MatanZas is
consolidated with the department of
Santa Clara, and Brigadier General
Wilson, now in command Of the last
named department is assigned to the
command of the new department. No
change is made in the department of
Santiago or the department of Puerto
Principe. Briadier General Wood will
continue in the m of the form
er department and Brigadier General
Carpenter in command of the depart
ment of Puerto Principe. General Lud-
low Will remain in m of the de-
partment of the city of Havana and
General Chaffee and General Ernst and
the other officers on the staff of Gen
eral Brooke will continue the perform
e +l@;~ nA~n~ - in onnnnn
1ion with the military government OF
Cuba.
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF r.
APPOINTMENT.
The French ambassador, M. Cambon,
called On Secretary Hay today and Of
ficially advised him, in behalf of Spain,
that the Duke d'ArcOs had been chosen
as Spanish minister at washington.
The ambassador also made known that
the Spanish government, through the
minister of foreign affairs, had inform
ed him hat Mr.. Bethany Storer would
be persona grata as United States min
lister to Madrid.
IIne secretary and the ambassador
Fascinated each other on the agreeable
diplomatic relations which would be
m r~e-established between the United
SAFES and Spain. The time of Duke
d'Arcos' arrival here has not yet been
set.
TESTING CANNED ROAST BEEF.
The Wade court of inquiry spent the
forenoon inspecting a miscellaneous col
lection of canned roast beef which had
been accommodated at the Washington
barracks from various points in Cuba
and Porto Rico. The $50 cans inspected
represented nearly all of the various
brands in use during the island cam
paigns. Among the other brands was
the white labeled red can about which
4 there has been much conflicting testl-
mOny. All of the cans of this brand
were opened and were found to be
\ good.
OF the $50 cans six were found to be
defective from either rust, nail holes
or rough handling. They were opened
and found spoiled. Only one "SWelled"
can was found in the lot. A number OF
the uninjured cans were found sweet.
Professor AtWater was recalled at
the afternoon session. He expressed
the opinion that pound for pound the
canned roast beef was Of greater nu-
tritive value than fresh beef, but sug-
gested that if unmixed with vegetables
it would not prove so acceptable as a
4 ration.
Colonel Weston, Of the commissary
n department., was also recalled during
the afternoon and examined with refer
ence to the supplies furnished the
troops in the field at Santiago.
THE SAMOAN COMMISSION.
Ex-Minister Bartlett Trip, the
American member of the Samoan COM
mission, arrived here this evening from
his home in Yankton, South Dakota.
z IN will have a conference with the
president and Secretary of State Hay
II TOM OW when his Instructions will
beEen him. The entire commission,
Baron ~Sternberg, Mr.. Eliot and Mr..
Trip, will be entertained at luncheon
tomorrow by Secretary Hay, when
some preliminary discussion over the
negotiations may occur.
While there has been no meeting Of
the commission, it is understood that
Mr.. E. v. Morgan, of New York, will
be appointed secretary OF the commits
sion, though there also has been con-
siderable gossip connecting the name
of DR.. Wilhelm SOlf with that office.
DR.. Solf is now in San Francisco wait
ing to proceed to his post as president
of the municipal council of Apia, but
the creation of the high commission
practically suspends his functions as
we'll as those of all other officials on the
island. With Mr.. Trips arrival here
all the members of the commission are
now in town. Mr.. Eliot, the British
commissioner, leaves tomorrow for the
east on a short trip and will proceed
hen to Chicago, where he will join
Baron Sternberg, the German commits
sioner. The latter caves Wednesday
afternoon and it is quite probable that
50 he anu MI. IIIpp Inlay dTTduSc "
travel tigether. This hurried departure
will permit the execution of the plans
for sailing from San Francisco on the
Badger on the date fixed upon, the 25th.
HOW TO RECOMPENSE GOMEZ.
Havana, April 1.-The military ad-
# ADMINISTRATION wcu.e like to compliment
N General Eaxin. Gomez in some sub
RN stantial way. MIS- services have beer
and are exceptionally useful to the
Americans. No ST. bile official posi-.
II ti0h is visible, even if he would accept
pneh neither does it appear feasible tC
Nay e him a present of money.
H9 can live as long as he pleases a.
thS Quinta de les Molinos. the ram.
old summer place OF former
Sp1n1sh captain generals, where ra
lons for his staff AMI forage for tn
porses are provided out of the Unitet
plates army supplies. h table O
IomeZ is very plainly spread. He is un
~ 0TCfn odd % 1~-.- I@-1