Evening star., 1902-03-25

island to the new government being conSid-
cred at great length. 1t is the desire OF
the administration to provide as fully as
possible for the absolute and complete turn
ing over of the government as soon as the
Cuban flag is raised, leaving no large num-
bel of details to be arranged later. The
subject is being covered in many interviews
AMI conferences. Secretary Root will spend
the afternoon In conference with T. Es
trada Palma and date for the transfer
viii be agreed upon after all the facts are
considered.
Date Of Turning Over the Island.
May 20, 1902 Is the new date fixed for
turning over the Island Of Cuba TO it's peo-
PIE. The change of date was made, If not
at the suggestion, then with the full ap-
proval of President Palma and his ad-
VlSors, Senors Tamaya and Quesada who
were with him at the War Department this
morning. This date should be a memorable
one in Cuban history, for 1t will not only
mark the acquisition of full independence,
but will be the Cuban inauguration day, 1t
having been determined that President
Palma shall be inaugurs ted on the same day
that American control of the island ceases.
All but the smallest details of the change
in Cuba have been planned and the re-
a meeting held at the War Department to-
day. Besides Secretary Root, President
Palma and Seniors Tamaya and Quesada.
General Wood attended. The meeting took
place in the Secretarys office this morning,
but Secretary Root absented himself at II
o'clock in order TO attend the cabinet meet
ing. After the cabinet meeting Secretary
Root took the delegates to his home for
luncheon.
Order for Withdrawal.
The Secretary of War today directed the
preparation of a general order for the with
drawal of all United States troops in Cuba
excepting about 800 artillery troops in Ha-
vana. on or before the Goth of May, which
is the day set for the inauguration of the
new republican government. The order is
being prepared by Adjutant General Cor
bin in consultation with Quartermaster
General Ludington and Commissary Cen
eral Weston and other officers of the staff
departments. There are now about 1900
soldiers in Cuba. including the 3D. Battery
of Field Artillery. the 18th 18th, 10Th, 10Th,
21st. 22d, 23d and 9th Companies Of Coast
Artillery; Troops A. b, c, D, l. K. l. and
NJ, % and 7th Cavalry: Troops f, F, G,
and II. Sth Cavalry. and HEADQUARTERS and
Troops A, Is, c, u, l, X, l. and Nj, 10th
Cavalry.
All of these troops except 800 men Of the
coast artillery, are to be brought to the
United States as rapidly transportation
facilities will permit, between now and the
10th Of May. The retention OF these ar
tillerymen is for the purpose Of caring for
the three batteries of coast artillery. These
troops will be in command of Col. William
L. Haskin of the Artillery Corps, now on
duty at Fort Trumbull, Conn.
The order also directs the discontinuance
of the entire military department of Cuba
retained by the United States within the
limits of the Department Of the East COM
manded by Maj Gen. Brooke.
Gen. Woods Future.
Gen. Wood and all the staff officers on
duty in Cuba are ordered to report TO the
adjutant general at Washington for in
structions as to their future assignment to
duty.
1t was stated at the War Department
this afternoon that nothing had yet been
settled with regard to the future station Of
General Wood. but that the matter would
be settled before the termination Of his
duties in Cuba. General Wood will leave
here tomorrow for Havana in order to car
ry into execution the plans for the transfer
OF the government
1t is understood that President-elect Pal
ma will not go to Havana until the early
part Of May. His plans are not fully ma
tured, and will depend on developments Of
the near future. 1t is reported that he and
his companions will go to Santiago, where
the presdent-elect has relatives, before pro-
ceeding to Havana for the inauguration.
Two Other Conclusions Reached.
Besides the final selection of May 20 as
Cuban independence day, two other i'm
morning. The first was that General
Wood should Immediately upon his return
to Cuba, issue, call convening the first
Cuban congress In session on May 10, in
order that the body might employ the ten
days following that date in supplying any
legislation necessary to the assumption Of
full powers in the island.
The other conclusion was that there
-t,o ha NJ hnl
island; the present disposition is to move
the entire United States contingent, civil
and military, away from the island not
leaving even corporaPs guard Of United
States soldiers in any OF the camps. This,
however, does not apply to the coast de-
fenses at several points In the island. These
will be garriSoned by United States troops
under command of Col. VIM. L. Haskin. If
this program is not executed it will be for
the sole reason that the Cubans themselves,
through their authorized officials, request
that the departure Of the United States
troops be delayed for time. But it is be-
lieved that, by fully employing the ten days
preceding independence day, the Cuban con-
gress provide the necessary force of
police and Cuban troops to insure the peace
of the island.
Conference Last Night.
T. Estrada Palma, the president-elect OF
Cuba. met President Roosevelt in his ofii-
cial capacity fo- the first time last night,
when the former was the guest of honor at
an informal dinner at the White House.
The affair was int ended a mark of cour-
tesy to President-elect Palma, who ex-
pressed his high appreciation of the honor
shown him. The others present were Mrs.
Roosevelt, Secretary and Mrs. Root Min
lister and Mrs. Bellamy Storer Gen. Leonard
Wood, Sener Gonzalo de Quesada and Diego
Tamayo, well-knOwn Cubans, who came
over from New York with Gen. Palma yes
terday afternoon. While the affair was
largely of social character, the prospective
transfer OF Cuba from the Americans to
the new government provided for by the
recent constitutional convention was dis
cussed and questions incident thereto re-
ceived consideration.
Mr. Palma and his companions will re-
main here for some days. their stay de-
pending entirely on the wishes of the Presi-
dent, who will consult the Cuban president
elect further before he leaves for his new
duties. Mr. Palma will go from here to
New York and thence about the middle of
April to Cuba. proceeding first to Santiago
province, where there are relatives and