The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-21

ed looking assemblage as they gather
ed in the audience chamber.
The ceremony itself was brief and
SIMPLE After formal greetings, Gen
Wood read the documentary transfer
prepared by the War Department
pledging the new government to imme-
diately proclaim the constitution and
the Platt amendment contained in the
appendix, and to undertake all obliga-
tons assumed by the United States,
with respect to Cuba, by the treaty of
Paris.
The Presidents Letter.
Gen. Wood also delivered the follow
ing letter:
white House, Washington May 10,
1902. To the President and Congress of
the Republic of Cuba: Sirs-On the
goth of this month the military gov
ernor of Cuba WILL by my direction,
transfer to you the control and gov
eminent of the Island of Cuba, to be
thenceforth exercised under the pro-
visions o< the constitution adopted by
your constitutional convention as on
that day promulgated, and he will
thereupon declare the occupation of
Cuba by the United States to be at an
end.
At the same time I desire to ex-
and good wishes of the United States
and our most earnest hopes for the
stability and success of your govern
ment, for the blessings of peace, JUS
tice, prosperity and ordered freedom
among your people, and for enduring
friendship between the republic of the
United States and the Republic of
Cuba. Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the United States"
The American CoIOrs Lowered
Senior Palma attached his signature
to the document of transfer as Pres
ident of the republic, after an ex-
change of congratulations, and the
veteran Gen. Gomez assembled
to the roof of the palace.
He was instantly recognized
and met with a great demonstration
of welcome. Gen. Wood himself undid
the halliards from the flagstaff and
lowered the American colors. AS they
fiuttered down, the cavalry below sa-
luted their flag and like an echo of
the cheers that arose came the dis
tant boom of one of the great guns
of Cabanas Fortress across the bay. 1t
was followed by another and another,
until As shots had been fired, one for
each state in the Union. AS the first
gun spoke, the flags on MORO Castle
anu IAAOoC~ vi Tic odllleL OAdl d slllQ
Paunta fortresses were lowered. The
jurisdiction of the United States had
ended.
In the meantime a Cuban flag had
been bent on the halliards of the pal
ace Flagstaff, and by his own hand,
Gen. Wood raised it as an act of the
United States, Gen. Gomez assisting
him.
The New Nation Welcomed.
AS the flag flew free the streets be-
low fairly waved with the cheer that
arose. 1t was caught up by the peo-
pie on the roofs and rolled over the
city. Again the cavalry below saluted
and again the guns of Cabanas spoke,
this time with a national salute of Il
guns. The bands stationed on the
plaza. at Cabanas and at Malecon
crashed out with pride of country. and
the revenue cutters and battleships in
the harbor Numbered the strength of
the war. The foreign warships hoisted
the flag of Cuba to their mastheads and
bestowed upon it the honors due to ma
tons. The ensigns of Great Britain
and Italy had recognized the repub-
lie.
The Americans Depart.
The demonstration was still in prog
ress when the cavalry wheeled and
marched to the wharf, where they inn
mediately embarked on the MORO
Castle.
Gen. Wood and his adjutant general,
Col Scott. with two aides, after last
exchanbe of good wishes. We're driN en-
to the pier, where they entered
launch and We're f1icked away TO the
Brooklyn. Both ships got under way
as soon as possible and steamed out of
the harbor. The man at the tTffrail
of the Brooklyn was kept busy dipping
the flag in answer to the saldtas of
the thousands upon the water front
who watched her depart.
A large fiotilla of various water craft
escorted the Brooklyn to sea.
While this was occurring at Havana,
a similar scene was being enacted at
Santiago, where Cen Whitside at
noon turned over the authority to his
Cuban successor. and sailed away with
two troops of the Eighth Cavalry
Only eight batteries of American ar
tillery remained on Cuban soil. A
chapter of American history was end
ed and the first chapter of the history
of the Cuban Republic was begun.