The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-21
FL0RlDA'S WAR FURRY A FAKE
No ORDER SENT THE GOVERNOR
ABOUT TROOPS.

Secretary Lamont Declares the story
Too Absurd TO BE Dignified by -
DeniaI-GOvcrnOrs I'm Other States
Have Received no Such Telegram.
Florida sim skeptIcaI of the sin-
cerity of the OmciaI DeniaIs.
Jacksonville Fla.. Jan. 2O.-In spite oE
the sem-denials from Washington, the
story that the governor OF Florida, in con-
nection with the governors Of other states
has been requested by the United States
war department TO see that the militia
are I'm readiness for service, is generally
credited I'm this state. Judge NJ. A. Dzia-
lynsSi, who presides over the city court
Of Jacksonville, and who Is one of the
most reputable men I'm Florida. started
the story here, and he insists that his in
formation was derived from an attacha
of Adjt. Cen Houston's office. In Tai
lahassee the story was widely current Sat-
urday and yesterday, so much so that on
sunday morning one OF the ministers al
luded TO II In his opening prayer and i'm
plored God TO avert the horrors OF war.
Dispatches from several points in ths
state Indicate that the report was noe
confined to Jacksonville and Tallahassee
Efforts to-day to obtain official confirms
alton or denial Of the story have failed.
the men who could shed light on IL de-
Ginning TO be interviewed. That orders OF
some kind have been issued the state
troops is certain, though, Of course, the
officers refuse to disclose their character
throughout the state Il is generally be-
ueVed that these orders relate to Keeping
the troops In readiness, and that they have
been inspired by the Washington authorl-
ties In view of the threatening nature oe
our foreign relations. The denials and
professions Of ignorance by the Washing
ton authorities and the state officials car
Ty Httle weight here, as the people gen.
orally expected these gentlemen to pooh-
pooh the story for diplomatic reasons.
Whether the story be true or not, lta
sponsors certainly believe It has good
foundation and Il Is a fact that Il has
gained wide currency throughout the
state and Is generally believed. A signih-
cant fact is that the story seems to have
become known in every town where there
vs. a military company at about the same
time. The excitement IL has caused In
Florida Is very great and the war fever
Is higher to-day than ever.
Chattanooga, Ten, Jan. 2O.-An after
noon paper here publishes an interview
with Col. Il. C. Moderwell, a Chicago at
torney who IS on his way home from
put in the bay and began
TO- load with oranges. Several
nights ago the crew broke into the
armory OF the Tampa militia and several
stores In the place and carried away
everything they could find In the way OF
arms and ammunition. After this they
hundred guns and a quantity of almmuni-
| ton, and headed south.
The raiders were all Americans, and are
| believed to be filibusters bound for Cuba
Ihe narrator said an expedition OF 1000
well armed men, and having with them
| four rapid-fire Hotchklss guns was report
| ed 10 be organizing to leave the Florida
coast for Cuba.
Jackson, Miss, Jan. 2O.-Concerning the
rumored purchase of Cuba by England,
Gov-elect McLaurin thus expressed HIM
| self tonight: "The United States cannot
| afford TO permit European countries to
make American colonies subject of sals
ana purchase or barter between those
| countries. When Spain relinquishes her
| jurisdiction over the island, whether with
| or without compensation, the United
| states ought TO recognize Cuba as an In
| dependent nation, and to forbid any Eu-
ropean country to subjugate IL. We must
| protect our environments well as our
| immediate territory. For England to pur-
| chase Cuba under the present circum-
| stances would be tantamount to a decla-
ration of hostility against us. We can
| put into active service on short notice
| our quota Of an army sufficient to protect
American rights and honor"
Richmond, Va, Jan. 2O--Gov. O'FerraI
has, received no message asking him to
| hold state troops in readiness.
| New Orleans, La, Jan. 20-Gov. Foster
has received no request from the federal
authorities regarding militia.
Montgomery, Ala, Jan. 2O.-The govern-
OF OF Alabama says ne mas received no
| such instructions about troops from the
war department, and knows nothing
| about it..
| Washington, Jan. 2O.-Maj. Gen. Nelson
| A. Miles, commanding the United States
army states that he has heard nothing
| Of the extraordinary rumor telegraphed
| from Florida that the state militia has
| been ordered out at the request of the
| President of the United States as a pre-
iminary to the probable recognition OF
/ the Cuban insurgents. II any such or
der had been issued it would Of necessity
/ pass through Gen. Miles hands.
| Secretary Lamont later in the day de-
| clined to dignity what he termed the
absurd, impossible story of the calling
| out OF the Florida militia by the Secre-
| tary Of War.
/ The Senate subcommittee of the COM
| mitee on foreign. relations, consisting OF
| Senators Lodge, Morgan and Sherman,
| this morning considered the Cuban mat
| ter, which had been referred to them No
| conclusion of any kind was reached, and
| the subject will be still further discussed
| at the meeting of the full committee
|