New Britain herald., 1928-10-23
SPANISH WAR VETS
 RETURN FROM CUBA
John P. Burns, State Ddeslts
 Tells of Convention Trip

Glowing tales of the hospitality of the Cuban people and the won- derful changes that have taken place in the city of Havana are be- ing repeated by the Spanish War veterans who recently returned to this country after holding their na- tional encampment in Havana. This was the first time that the veterans held their encampment on foreign soil. The New Britain delegates to the encampment representing the A. c. Hammond post and auxiliary were Quincy Hartung. camp delegate; John F. Burns. state delegate: Mrs. Carrie Schultz. local auxiliary dele gate: Mrs. Sarah Magson. state auxiliary delegate and two guests. Mrs. Anna Eagan and Leslie Hart i ung.
 Telling of his trip. Mir. Burns re- lated the various events In connec- ton with the convention.
 About 10000 made tho trip to l1dSdHd ltoIu thic Souhtiyb oHN these included the veterans and their families. Of this number 1,- 474 were official delegates to the convention which was the largest one ever held since the organization of the Spanish American war veter- ans posts and auXiliaries.
 The convention was officially opened up on October by Presi- dent Machado of Cuba who deliver ed an elaborate speech welcoming the veterans to the country. On October 10 (the Cuban fourth of July) an immense parade was held in Havana. 5000 veterans from this country appearing in the line of march.
 A large boulevard was opened up and dedicated in honor of the 30th l anniversary of the return of the Spanish War veterans to Cuba on October 12. Practically the entir, populace of Havana turned put to honor the American visitors. the af fair proving to be the largest cele. bration of it's kind ever held in the country. Upon a signal. Presiden. : Machado fired off a gun which lighted millions of lights on the new boulevard. That evening thousands upon thousands of people from ali over Cuba journeyed to Havana to visit the boulevard which made all awe inspiring sight with its count less lights. This dedication was the main feature of the veterans stay in Havana.
 The day before the dedication oi the American memorial the veterans were the guests of the Cuban gov ernment at the Oriental park ir Havana. The day was spent in re- viewing contests between the Cubal troops. Everything in the park 1T the way of refreshments and amuse' nents was opened up free to the vets. A large number of the vet
 erans made sight seeing trips abou the country, visiting the sugar plan
 tations, Caribbean sea. and othe
 points of general interest.
 The Cuban troops made a grea
 impression upon the American wis 1 itors. The armed troops of thu country are equipped in modern uni
 forms and are we'll trained. The in
 fantry uses American rifles.
 During the annual encampmen Col. Grayson of Georgia was elected commander. Frank E. Shay o
 Hartford. was elected junior vice commander, the only one from thi
 state to receive an office. Almos
 every part of the country is repre-
 sented among the list of officers. II Death Visits Convention
 campment was made shortly afte
 the delegates and the rest of the vet
 crans landed in Cuba. Within
 weeks time three of the Spanisl War veterans passed away. One vet
 eran was the victim of a heart at
 tack, another fell a victim of acut appendicitis while third was kille' when he fell off high memoria while taking pictures.
 It is estimated that the delega . | tioIl HUH tliS Coulltly fpVHt 70, bo0.Oo0 in Cuba during their shor
 stay in the country.
 , In speaking of the city of Havana Mir. Burns said that it was a beauti , ful city not only for its archtectur but for it's cleanliness. The city ha a very efficient street force tha f keeps the streets practically spotles f The cleaners. instead of sta rtin r from the gutters as is the custom i 3 this country. start sweeping fror 5 the front of the doors out into th |. street. After the sweeping is dom
 large water sprinklers wash ava the dirt and refuse.
 It is almost impossible, accordin
 to Mir. Burns. to realize that a cit : ! could change so much in 30 year Most of the credit for the work 1 Havana is laid to the late Geners