The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-11-20
is NO IMMEDIATE danger
General Lee Talks Of Chances
Of War With Spain.
NO SUCH FEELING IN CUBA
spaniards Have No Right to Censure
the United States for Permitting
the Filibustering Expeditions.


the Fnibustering Expeditions.
Washington. Nov. II. - General
Fitzhugh Lee, consul. general of the
United States to Cuba, returned here
this afternoon from Virginia, where he
has been visiting his family. No time
has yet been fixed for his return to
Havana, but it is understood he has
been asked to remain here probably a
couple of weeks longer, in order to
hold himself in readiness to confer
with the president and secretary of
state ON the Cuban question.
General Lee talked tonight of the
Spanish. Cuban situation, and while not
denying the possibility of war with
Spain, expressed the opinion, that the
reports that an open rupture was inn
minent, and that consequent prepara-
tions for trouble were being made by
both countries might be greatly exag-
gerated. He said he had no knowledge
of immediate danger of hostility,
though, of course, there was great feel
ing among some Spaniards against this
country, as they thought that without
ilibustering aid and comfort from here
the rebellion might easily be suppressed.
: He had no information as to whether
the Spanish were prepared or prepar-
ing for war. He said:
81 do not believe there has been any
massing of armament in Cuba, with a
view to possible trouble with the Unit
ed States, nor that the construction Of
Spanish war vessels is to be attributed
to any such contingency. The Spanish
army may be improving their defenses
wherever possible, but it does not nec-
essarily imply expectation of war. The
United States is steadily strengthen
ing it's Notifications and defense works,
and it is an old maxim that says in
time of peace prepare for war
About the war sentiment in Cuba?
The Spanish officials said nothing to
me that indicated any expectation of
war. The only thing that could be
construed to give that impression is
the mounting of a battery of heavy
seacoast guns on the coast above Ha-
vana. There are from twelve to fifteen
of these that extend perhaps mile or
mile and half north of the limits of
the city proper. These point to sea
and not toward the insurgents. In
case of an attack, it is possible these
might be made to supplement the de-
fense given by Moro castle, Cabanas,
Reina and other forts.
.'The Spanish authorities rather CEN
sure the United States for not strictly
enforcing the neutrality laws, and
many think that, as the sympathy Of
this country is more with the insur-
gents than with the Spaniards, our gov
ernment does not want to taks the
proper precautions to prevent expedi-
tions leaving the United States sea-:
ports and landing in Cuba. I told the
Spanish authorities that they must re-
member that there was an immense ex-
tent of seacosst here with innumerable
inlets and places where expeditions
could be concentrated and embarked.
From the trouble which they them
selves had to prevent the landing of
such expeditions on the Cuban coast,
Notwithstanding their gunboats and
ing the coast and on the lookout for fill
busters, some idea could be formed of
the comparative ease with which the
United States authorities could be
evaded. With the comparatively small
Cuban coast line, l knew of only one
big expedition, that of the Three
Friends, which had been captured by
them. Yet this country had certainly
prevented the starting of at least a
half-dozen big expeditions for the
island. In view of this object lesson
of the difficulty of putting stop to
contend that the Span
ish ought to be careful about censuring
us