The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-03
LEES SECRET CIPHER.
Ir IS SAID 40 BE KNOWN no THE
sPANfARDS.
Mckjulsv's Administration Unfayornbie
to tho Cuban Cause-A Letter
Written by Maxine Gomez.

NEW YORK, April 2.-On authority
which is believed to be trustworthy IL mas
been learned at Havana that certain
Spanish officials there are in possession
OF the key TO the cipher code used IN teie-
graphic communication between the ,OH-
sui General and the State Department NJ
Washington. III this be true. the nature
OF all the confidential dispatches that
pass between the government or the
United States and It's representative In
Cuba Is known, not only In Havana. but
i'm Madrid. for the government Is Kept
closely in touch with the most minute
detail of Cuban affairs.
LEES CIPHER.
The code used In the consular service Is
complicated. and has been believed to be
absolutely secret. 1t could not. 1t Is said.
be studied out. even il part of II were
known so that If the Spanlards have the
key. they have probably obtained II from
some one in Washington. Not a word IS
transmitted by wire from Havana 10 any
point that does not come under the eye
OF the censor-eNcepting, of course, the
official dispatches to Madrid. All com
mercial cables are subjected TO scrutiny.
and, while il Is not admitted, all OF Gen.
Lees message are known In the palace
after they are sent. The story Is not
vouched for. but the responsibility OF
its author is such as 10 warrant its pub
LEGATION. The charge IS an extremely SER
ious one.
HAVANA. April 1.-The Diario de In
Marina says editorially that the policy
OF President Mckinley and his Cabinet IS
altogether hostile to the plans OF the in
surgents. II prints also letter from
Gen. Maxine Gomez 20 Senior Morote. the
correspondent OF FL Liberal of Madrid.
which runs as follows:
Army OF Liberation.
Headquarters Of the General-in-chief
"Sonor Luis Morote. Correspondent El
Liberal. Madrid.
Upon your leaving my presence / owe
you an explanation especially as you
write FOR the newspaper which calls upon
Spain to drown in blood our just aspira-
tious / cannot be sanguinary. but / feel
sorry that under the special crcum-
stances. you were not sentenced 70 death
while in my camp"
BLOW THAT KILLED GOMEZ.
1T Is claimed but natural that we
should feel that there must be much
shedding OF Spanish blood TO heal the
pain caused by the blood shed at Puntt
Bravo. The machete blow that killed
Francisco Gomez will never be forgotten
in Cuba Puerto Rico Santo Domingo. or
probably in other parts Of America.
The machete strokes dealt when heroes
fell at Punta Bravo cannot be forgotten
by one who has pIrdoncd thousands Of
Spanish prisoners and cured hundreds Of
Spanish wounded Meanwhile 90 your
way 10 Spain. pleased at the thorght that
you have been a witness TO the ruin Of
poor Cuba. and have plunged your feet i'm
the blood OF innocent Cubans
do not forget we shall continue fight
ing for liberty. Do not forget that Justice
will descend from above and will end he
struggle now sustained by Spain 20 her
dishonor and disaster. NJ. GOMEZ.
THE REPORT DISTRIBUTED
WASHINGTON. April 1.-The report in
circulation that Spanish officials have
discovered the key TO the state Depart
ment cipher code. enabling them 10 be-
como familiar with all Geographic mes
sages between Consul General Lee ANA
the State Department. Is divested OF any
Importance by the well-knOwn fact that
General Lees telegraphc correspond
ence with the State Department Is sent
in plain English, and there Is no Occa-
sion TO use the code
Some time ago a resort TO secret mes
sages was necessary In a few INST inces.
but. as we'll known TO those familiar
with codes. IL is utterly impossible for
any one having deciphered q portion
OF one message TO apply that informa-
ton TO another OF later date. The state
Department cipher is used 10 save tohs
to such distant points as Peking, emma,
or Lima. Peru. and for important as
patches to diplomatic officers abroad, but
the character of its numerous communl-
cations with its representative in tla-
vana makes the use OF the code almost
wholly suDerfiuOus.