The New York herald., 1869-11-13
WASHING ON,
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The Mission of the Ship-of-
War Albany.
THE SANTANA BAY CANARD.
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Rein movements for the Gulf
Squadron.
CAPTAIN HIGGINS AND THE CUBAN !uNTA.



rspsced Cnnurd Exploded.
II may be a pity TO knock the brains ont OF good
sensation story but II becomes necessary to do so
sometimes and especially when great questions OF
public policy are involved. To-day some OF the New
York papers contained spread eagle reports about
supposed expeditonary force that had left our
shores to take possession OF slice of st. Domingo,
which 1t was represented had been turned
over to Uncle Sam by secret treaty agreed upon
between President Bae2 and certain agents of this
government not very long ago. The name OF a
United States vessel, the Albany which had left for
st. Domingo, the exact quantity OF explosive mate
RIAL gigantic in quantity. The number of guns she
carried, together with rifles, small arms and
other warke articles, were enumerated with
remarkable precision IN one OF your contemporaries,
which also stated that at Key West, or some other
point thereabouts the vessel would stop and take IN
500 marines. All these were TO go down to the
long promised Samana ana politely take possession
unresstea. The Mantonomoh, Dictator and
other monitors or T0n-clads were to follow
soon after the Albany and form alto
gether such big naval force as would appa
and paralyze John Bull, Johnny Crapean, Don
Quxote and the rest OF the universe. 1t was very
highly spiced sensation. but stern truth knocks out
its vitais. In Official circles 1t Is pronounced to be
the largest kind OF u caita,U. Your correspondent
called tonight upon members of the government
who ought to know all about such
an expedition If 1t mad any other than
Imaginary existence, and was authorized TO
state that nothing of the kind had been organized
or CONTEMPLATED. The Albany, Ii is true, has been
despatched to the West Indies but it goes out just
as any other war vessel, with no extra quantity OF
ammunition or armament, and Is simply designed
to replace another vessel which Is ordered
home |! may go TO Samana but not for
any such purpose as stated in the cd,aid The
Dictator left Philadelphia to-day for the
West Indies ana the Severn Will shortly follow. The
latter vessel viii replace the Powhatan, ordered
home. The Miautonomoh has not yet left, but Will
before long, and then there VIII be an American
force in West India waters sufficient Mr. Robesou
laughingy terms it, to 'blow up the whole Spanish
navy" The design Is to have this large force hand
there to be ready for anything that may turn
up and 10 act as naval corps OF observation. The
administration knows not what day may bring
forth, and Is wisely resolved not to be taken una
wares But ST. Domingo ut present has nothing to
do with the gathering OF the South Atlantic squad
ron; neither Is there any change In our policy on
the Cuban question. am quite reliably informed
on that point. So you see the pretty sensation
must fall. The absurdity OF the thing viii
be seen when 1t Is explained that our
government in point OF law, could not take such q
step as accepting Samana or any other foreign ter.
rory, without treaty duly ratified by the Senate.
1t is by no means the same thing, however, to state
that negotiations the subject have taken place;
indeed the fact that sucn negotiations have oc.
CURED ~ quite well known, and there Is a wide
spread belief that they will lead to something when
Congress meets But tn then nor Baez nor Grant,
nor O'Suivan, nor Cole, nor Baocock, nor Por-
ter can help us to the beautiful Samana
i should add that The SWataia ana
Nantucket, as well the Dictator sail
to-day for the West Indies. The following vessels
are either on or have been assigned to the West
India staflon-Dctator, Maatonomoh, Swatara
Nantucket, Severn, Yantic, Albany. Powhatan,
Seminole, Tuscarora, Nipslc Kansas. The Severn
IL TO be The flagship the PoHhatan performing that
duty for the present.
senator Cole, who N0K such prominen. part In
the negotiations for Samana had long interview
with the President tonight, winch the gossps
declare was all about st. Domingo Hut Cole sa is
nay. lie spoke not word or tde subject and
closeted with the President matters OF
another nature.
The Cuban Junta Dissatisfied with Captain
Higgins-sye ~ Not To be- Entrusted with
AHothcr Command.
There is good ground for stating that tie Cuban
Juna not all pleased with the conduct of Captain
Higgins late OF the Hornet, neither IN the manage.
ment OF his ship nor in his sayings and dongs since
his capture by the United states authorities. All
along Captain Higgins, they say, has dsregarded
the instructions oil the Junta and has ar
fecled to act his own Judgment He
has repeatedly been asked for explanations
OF his conduct both by sedor Lemus and tic Secre.
tary Of the JnnIa, but has never made any, and, IN
fact, has NOT degned to reply. Hs going before
the Junta 10 demand an explanation from them is
regarded by the Cubans, under the CT circumstances
as the height or impudence lie was informed by The
President OF the Junta that when he made the ex-
plnnation which they thought was due they were
ready 10 hear what no had TO say and give hm every
reasonable satisfaction. II is not likely tnat Captain
Higgins viii be entrusted with another cuban man
oi-war. His story about the causes which led TO his
running into the port of Wilmington not generally
credited by the Cupans, neither are they
disposed TO shoulder the blame OF hts receiv.
ing bad coal or Montauk Point. lie was present
whcn The coal was taken on board, and they think
II bia business have discovered then whether
the coal was good or bad Had il been condemned
they would have furnished him other ana bet
ter COAL. Even IN it was the Cublns think he could
have sailed to q point on the coast OF Florida where
arrangement mad been made TO ran out n schooner
with COAL ~ learned that this schooner actually
ran out and was searching FOR the Hornet FOR
couple OF days. Altogether the conduct OF Captain
Higgins is lnexpicabie to the Cubans II has been
stated that the Hornet was presented to the Cubans
ana consequently cost them nothing. l learu ON
good authority that she cost the Junta
over $29O,Ooo, and that AZ the tine OF her
capture shc had considerable amount OF specie
board intended for paying the officers and seaman
and for purchasing the necessary provisions coal
&c. IL s the intention OF the cuOans 70 tit out
another vessel, but a. stated above Captain Higgins
will hardly be assigned to the command OF ncr.
The para guuyan Investigation.
The House eup-Commlttec on Foreign Affairs re-
sumed Its session today. kX.Minster Webb was
again eSemNed' That worthy gentleman gave
extended hlstGNry OF his own diplomatic career dur.
Ing The past niue years, and ala elaborate his
tory OF the present. war IN which Brazil Is engaged
against Paraguay. ms was begun about 1888 and
Mr. Webb proposes 20 follow tDe struggle up
through Gil is yarious ramincatious The testimony
so far has been entfIly OF documantarv charac,ar