The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-02-12
TROOPS LEAVE CUBA.
Occupation Of Island Has Ended and
Last American Flag Lowered
From Barracks.

Havana, Feb. 6.-The last vistage of the
american occupation of Cuba disappeared.
when the American flag was lowered from
Cabana barracks and the last battalion
OF American soldiers marched to the iris
COMA pier and boarded the United States
hrmy transport Sumner.
Stnding on the plain neal Cabana fort
ress, between a line of American and a
line Of Cuban troops. and surrounded by
h crowd of Americans and Cubans, Pres
ident Palma feelingly voiced his apprecia-
dion of all that the Americans have done
for Cuba.
After the soldiers had presented arms,
the American tiag was slowly lowered
from the staff over the barracks. a salute
of twenty-one guns meanwhile being fired
from the fortress. The Cuban flag was
raised in its place and also saluted with
twenty-one guns.
President Paima's Speech.
President Palma then addressed Minis
ter Squires and Major Brown, commander
of the American troops, saying:
On this momentous occasion the sin
cerity and depth of my feelings overcome
me, and my heart must supply my def
cheney of words. We are confronted by
one of the most extraordinary facts re-
corded in the annals of UNIVERSAL history,
the departure from our shores of the last
troops the United States had kept in Cuba
after helping us to secure our ~independ-
ence and the blessings of freedom. They
could stay longer, under any pre5eNt
whatever, or an unjust demand could be
imposed upon us, but on the contrary, the
government Of the United States, identi-
fed as it is with the liberal spirit and
noble character of the American people,
willingly proves its dlSinterestedness and
sincerity of the aid 1t rendered us by
taking these men away ana showing us
ut the same time that we have, as an In
dependent people, the confidence of one of
the most powerful nations on earth.
This action of the United States In with
drawing It's troops from Cuban territory
proud Of ourselves, for it means that no
body doubts our ability to govern our
selves or to maintain peace and order and
guarantee the rights of all the inhabitants
shown us, together with the services we
have previously received at their hands,
will bind the Cuban people to the Ameri-
can people forever in a strong tie Of sin
Cere gratitude.
l beg you, Mr.. Squires, to be the inter-
prefer of these feelings to the government
peg all present to bid godspeed TO the de-
parting officers and soldiers, and to ex-
Dress our wishes for the increasing pros
perity and welfare of the American ma
zion.
Major Brown Replies.
Major Brown replied to President Pal
ma, and banked him for his kindness to
the American officers and soldiers. He
| said he believed he voiced the opinion of
his comrades in saying there were no bet
ter people on earth than those of Cuba,
and expressed the hope that President
Palma would serve many years as presi-
dent, adding that the success of the first
part of his administration was a guar
antee for success in the future.
After this reply all the troops marched
past in platoon formation and boarded
she Sumner, which will sail today.