Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-11
MORE VIGOR ADVISED
United States Said to Have Given
Spain a Hint.
REGARDED AS WHOLLY IMPROBABLE
More Energy to Be Employed in
the Cuban Campaign.
THE PLAN TO BE USED

THE PLAN TO BE USED
MADRID, October 11.-It is stated on the
best of authority that the government OF
the United States has notified the Spanish
minister at Washington, Senior Depuy De
LONE, that there is a necessity that Spain
should act promptly in her efforts to crush
the insurrection in Cuba. The news has
caused quite a sensation here.
The statement that the United States gov-
ernment has fntimated to the Spanish min
lister here that there is need of prompt
action on the part of his government in
putting down the Cuban insurrection can
The officials. when approached. neither
would confirm nor deny the report, though
their manner would indicate disapproval Of
its accuracy.
1t is believed quite probable that repre-
sentations may have been made TO Spain
OF the wisdom of aggressive and active
operations against the Cuban insurgents,
but 1t is thought the United States govern
ment did not make these suggestions, and
that, If made. they came from Minister De
Lome and were based on his personal
views OF the situation, and on his observa-
ton of the trend of sentiment in the United
States, and his knowledge of the purpose of
the friends of the insurgents to press their
cause vigorously soon after the assembling
of Congress
1t is apparent that the Cuban ;unta does
not intend to urge recognition of the in
surgents as belligerents prior to the open
ing OF Congress, and daily events point
quite as strongly to a determine tfon to
force the question on the attention of Con-
gress In the belief that the legislative chan
neis anord the most practicable route to
the accomplishment of something in behalf
or Cuban independence, the executive
branch of the government, in the very
nature of things. being more constrained in
its action than the legislative department.
International Ussgc.
Senor De LONE, the Spanish minister.
had short interview with Secretary o.
ney yesterday. and this goes to support
the theory that in the course of their con-
versation something might have been said
by the minister in the nature of a state
ment that operations in Cuba should be
conducted with greater vigor hereafter.
AS the President must certainly make
some reference to the insurrection in his
annual message to Congress when it meets
in December. it would be but natural that
Secretary Olney, upon whom he must rely
for his own Information, should take steps
to gather data upon which to base a judg-
Hent as to the probabilities. 1t may he
set down as beyond belief that Secretary
Olney has made any statement to the
Spanish minister that could be construed
as a threat to intervene between the COM
batants in Cuba at this stage. for this
OF this government in such matters.
While it is true that President Grant d.1,
as indicated in his message to Congress,
entertain belief that intervention in the
then progressing rebellion in Cuba would
be justifable, 1t is also true that this view
was never acceptable to Secretary Fish,
and it has not secured the adherence Of in
ternational lawyers. The whole weigh; OF
authority is decidedly adverse to ,he as
sertion by a neutral nation of a right to
say when war between two combatants
has progressed to point where it must be
stopped. 1t may be recalled that some such
proposition was made during the last
stages of the Chino-Japanese war, but it
never went further than the exercise Of tie
good offices of the interested nations 10
bring about peace. which function is en-
tirely distinct from direct Intervention.
The question is also separate from that
of the recognition of the belligerency OF
the insurgents, which, according to our pol
icy and practice, must be determined pure
ly by the facts in each case. 1t IS pointed
out here also that the circumstances at
present are different from those surround-
ing the last Cuban rebellion, when Presi-
dent Grant took his stand, inasmuch as
that rebellion dragged along for nearly ten
years, while the present insulrec:ion has
been In progress less than a year, not
nearly as long as our own rebellion.
At the Spanish Legation.
At the Spanish legation the officials were
rot aware of any steps by the government
of the United States such as that indicated
in the Madrid cable. Minister De LONE
came over from Philadelphia last night,
following mis- usual course of seeing the
State Department once week, but he
gave no intimation to those with whom he
talked that there had been any new de-
velopments of importance. Under these
circumstances the minister's associates
doubt that any such radical step the
cable indicates has been taken by the
United States. They gay such a move is
of such supreme Importance that it would
be quickly known to all those interested in
the subject.
The Coming Campaign.
Whatever may have been the inspiring
cause to Spanish activity against the insur-
gents, it is known that Spain is about 10
open a campaign of far greater energy
than any thus far taken. The wet season
has prevented the movement of troops and
the maintenance of an aggressive cam
paign. But the dry season begins about
three weeks hence, and this will be the
signal, it is said for extensive movements
A Gordon, consisting of double line Of
gunboats. will surround the island to pre-
vent the landing of arms or ammunition
for the insurgents, and without arms from
outside it is believed they soon will be
helpless
The new boats about to arrive in Cuba
will not be far short of twenty. Several of
them were recently sent from the United
States. About twelve were built in Eng
land, and are now on their way. Several
more ere constructed in Spain. They are
very small, not much larger than a steam
yacht, but are well armed and are of such
light draught that they can run in the keys
that surround Cuba. They will form the
inner Gordon around the island.
Outside will be the second Gordon, made
up of the Conde de Vendadito and other
large ships which Spain has in Cuban
waters. With the island thus cut off from
without Gen. Campos will push the fight
i,.x fror xyff i'm &c fad Inv nich
officials that this forward movement will
change the entire aspect of the conflict,
from one of minor skirmishes to extensive
battles. The sentiment among Spanish ac-
thorities is that decisive forward move
ment is essential, and the coming campaign
is relied on to meet fully the requirements
of the situation.
GOUe to Boston.
Secretary Carlisle and Assistant Secre-
tary Hamlin left here today for Boston,
where Mr.. Carlisle will speak Saturday
night at the annual dinner of the Massa-
d off, N1,,I> xx-;1l he