The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-11-15
SpAMSH.CUBAN SITUATION
May Lead to War With the
United States
THE DANGER NOT IMMINENT
10 the Opinion of Consul.Ge1eral
Fitzhugh Lee
Spanish Feeling Is Strong But Is Grossly
Exaggerated in Current Reports.
Reports of Weyler's Operations.
ssociated Press Special Wire


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 Ha-
vana, 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 over the Cuban
situation. General Lee talked tonight of
the Spanish-C 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 constant preparations for trou-
BILE were being made by both countries
might be greatly exaggerated. He said
he had no knowledge of immediate dan
ger of hostility, though of course there
was great feeling among some Spaniards
against this country as they thought
that without filibustering aid and COM
fort from here the rebellion might easily
be suppressed.
He had no information as to whether
the Spanish were prepared or preparing
for war; He said:
Il do not believe there has been any
massing of armament in Cuba with
view to possible trouble with the United
States, nor that the construction of
Spanish war vessels is to be attributed
to any such contingency. The Spanish
may be improving their defenses wher-
ever possible, but it does not necessarily
imply expectation of war. The United
States is steadily strengthening its for
tifications and defense works, but 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 an expectation of war.
The only thing that could be construed
to give that impression is the mounting
of a battery of heavy sea coast guns
along the coast above Havana. There
are from twelve to fifteen of these that
extend perhaps a mile or mile and
half north of thu limits of the city prop
err. These point to sea and not toward
the insurgents. In case of an attack it
is possible these might be made to sup
plement the defense given by Moro cas-
tie, CabanaS and Reina and other forts.
The Spanish authorities rather censure
the United States for not strictly enforc-
ing the neutrality laws, and many think
that as the sympathy of this country Is
more with the insurgents than with the
Spanish, our government does not want
to take the proper precautions to pre-
vent expeditions leaving the United
States seaports and landing in Cuba. 1
told the Spanish authorities that they
must remember that there was an i'm
mense extent of sea coast here with in
Vulnerable inlets and places where the
expeditions could be concentrated and
embark From the trouble which they
themselves had to prevent the landing
of such expeditions on the Cuban coast
Notwithstanding their gunboats and
other vessels were costantly patroling
the coast and on the lookout for f1libus-
tiers, some idea could be formed Of the
comparative ease with which the United
States authorities could be evaded. With
the comparative small Cuban coast line
l know of only one big expedition, that
Of the Three Friends. which has 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 FL
clustering, I contend that the Spanish
ought to be careful about censuring u.s.
In answer to the inquiries as to the
foundation of certain sensational stor-
les in circulation recently as to the
trouble with Spain, growing out Of the
Cuban situation, Secretary Lamont said
today: THE stories about the movement
of troops in the south are untrue, and
the assumption that work on the coast
defenses has any significance or is be-
ing expedited particularly or for any I'M
usual purpose, has no foundation"
Secretary Lamont expressed his in
dividual opinion that some authorize
tive statement should DE made, to put
an end to these disturbing and unjusti-
fled rumors Of war"
WEYIER'S OPERATIONS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE Span
ish minister, Senior Dupuy de Lone, is
in receipt of the following cablegram
from the duke of Tetuan, minister of
state:
MADRID, Nov. 13-The rebels We're
attacked in the hills by forces COM
manded by Gems. Weyler, Gonzales, Mu-
noz and Col. Segura. The troops engaged
consisted of thirteen battalions. apart
from artillery. After a fierce engage
ment, the enemy were driven from their
positions in the hills of Rubi. Our
troops occupied them. The reports of
the losses cabled yesterday were SUBJ
stantially correct. A number of en-
gagements have been reported in the
provinces of Santa Clara and Matanzas.
The rebel chief, Santos Gonzales, was
killed.
BASEBALL TODAY