File No. 811.304 M28/52.

The American Minister to the Secretary of State.

No. 941.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that in view of the progress made in the work on the Maine and of the probability that it may be possible within a few days to remove any remains of the officers or men of the United States Navy which may be found in the wreck, President Gómez has issued a decree, No. 466, dated the 16th instant and officially published in the Gaceta Oficial No. 142 of June 17, to the effect that “as a special demonstration of sympathy for the sailors of the Navy of the United States who lost their lives in the explosion,” honors are to be paid to their remains. These honors are to consist in—

1.
the putting at half mast of the flag on all military posts and national buildings in Habana when the flag is half-masted on the vessel conveying the remains;
2.
the firing of a gun every half hour from sunrise to sunset on the day that the funeral celebration takes place on board that vessel, and the furnishing of a military and naval escort;
3.
the firing of a salute of twenty-one guns from La Cabaña fortress, at intervals of one minute, as that vessel leaves port for the United States, the whole garrison being paraded at attention on the parapets of the fort as the vessel passes and the band playing a funeral march, which is to end when the vessel has passed the Morro, whereupon the flag is to be raised to full mast and the band is to play the American and Cuban national airs; and
4.
the accompanying of that vessel by two vessels of the Cuban National Marine as long as she is in waters under Cuban jurisdiction, which on leaving her on the high seas are to render the customary honors.

While suggesting that I be instructed to convey to the Cuban Government an appropriate expression of thanks at the proper time for this demonstration of sympathy,

I have [etc.]

John B. Jackson.