The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-15
THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF AMY MOB
THE SITUATION IN CUBA
CONSUL GENERAL FlTZHUGH LEE
TALKS OF The REBELLION
He Thinks an Open Rupture Between
the United State and Spain
improbable.

Washington, Nov. 14.-General Fitz-
hugh Lee, Consul-General of the United
States to Cuba, returned this evening
from Virginia, where he has been visiting
his family. No time has yet been set
for his return to Havana, but it is un-
derstood he has been asked to remain
here probably n couple OF weeks longer
in order to hold himself in readiness to
confer with the President and Secretary
Of State over the Cuban situation.
General Lee talked tonight OF the
Spanish-Cuban situation, and while not
denying the possibility Of war with
Spain, expressed the opinion that the re-
ports that open rupture was imminent,
and that consequent preparations for
trouble nere being made by both coun-
tries might be greatly exaggerated
He said he had no knowledge of immedi-
ate danger OF hostility, though, of course,
there was great feeling among some
Spaniards against this country who
thought that without flibustering aid
and comfort from here the rebellion
might be easily suppressed. He said he
had no information as to whether the
Spanish were preparing for war, but they
might be making extensive military pre-
parations without aiming them particu-
Iarly N the United States In view of
the trouble they are having with Cuba
and the PHILIPPINE Islands, he said:
Il do lot believe there has been any
massing Uf armament in Cuba with u
view to possible trouble with the United
States, HDr that the Construction Of
Spanish war vessels is 20 be- attributed to
any suel contingency. The Spanish may
be improving their defenses wherever
possible, but it does not necessarily imply
expectation Of war. The United States
is steadily strengthening is Notifications
and defence works, but it is an old maxim
that says: In time Of peace, prepare foi
war
About the war sentiment in Cuba. the
Spanish officials said nothing 10 nae that
indicated an expectation Of war. The
only thing that could be construed to
give that impression is the mounting of
battery Of heavy sea-coast guns along
the coast above Havana. There are
from Il to II Of these that extend per-
haps mile or mile and a half north OF
the limits OF the city proper. These point
to the see and not toward the insurgents.
III case " dh dNttACh IL Is pOSs1Dle THESE
might he~ ade to supplement the defense
given by ldoro Castle, Cabanas and
Rietna and other forts.
''The Spanish authorities rather cen
sure the United States for not strictly en-
forcing the neutrality laws, and many
think that, as the sympathy Of this coun-
try is more with the insurgents than with
the Spanish, our government does not
want to take the proper precautions to
prevent expeditions leaving the United
States seaports and landing in Cuba.
II told the Spanish authorities that
they must remember that there was an
immense extent Of seacOast here, with in
Vulnerable inlets and places where expe-
ditions could be concentrated and EN-
barked. From the trouble which
they themselves had to prevent the land
ing of such expeditions on the Cuban
coast, notwithstanding the presence of
their gunboats and other vessels were
constantly patrolling the coast and on
the lookout for filibusters, some idea could
be formed of the comparative ease with
which the United States authorities could
be evaded. With the comparatively small
coast line know of only one big expedi-
tion--that of the Three Friends-which
has been captured by them. Yet this eoun-
try has certainly prevented the starting
Of ut least half dozen big expeditions
for the island. In view Of this an OBJ
ject lesson Of the difficulty of putting
stop to filifmstering, | contended that the
Spanish ought to be careful about censur-
ing u.s."