The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-14
CRUISERS NOT SENT TO CUBA.
M CALL FOR WARSHIPs MADE BY
CONSUL GENERAL LEE.

The Facts With Reference to We'd
nesdny's RiOting Reported to the
state Department, But No Renewal
of the disorder Reported Yester-
dov-A Strong Fleet Could Quickly
He concentrated at Havana-The
Danger of Starvation and Disease
,be Most Serious Problem Now
Facing the Island.
washington, Jan, 13.-United States
Consul General Lee has reported to the
state department from Havana, under
6ate of Yesterday, the facts connected
with the rioting there yesterday. While
the state department officials do not IL
vulge the text of the dispatch, it is said
that they corroborate the news that has
been received on the subject
According to Gen. Lees report, the dis
turbance has been quelled for the time
being. but he was apprehensive of an
other outbreak at any moment Nothing
has been heard from the Consul General
to-day, so 1t is assured at the state de-
partment that the situation remains I'M
changed in Havana.
Gen. Lee did not ask to have warship
sent TO Havana, and in the opinion of
the state department officials that is a
sufficient reason for the assumption that
there is no occasion for sending one. The
officials are evidently not apprehensive of
any trouble in the immediate future that
will require the forcible Intervention of
our government
The disquieting feature of the situation
Is the horrible condition of the poor in
Cuba. According to Gen. Lees advices
no less than 100000 people on the island
are in the last stages of destitution and
are wholly dependent upon charity. To
feed these people on a 1O-cent ration
per day would cost $2O, 600 daily, which sum
is double the amount so far received in
contributions during the past ten days by
the state department. In the opinion of
Gen. Lee no less than 20 per cent. of these
poor people are really doomed to death
from starvation and disease. In such a
state of affairs the existence of any form
of organized government is threatened
and the autonomy plans of the Spanish
government command little attention
The naval authorities here maintain
their serenity Notwithstanding many ru-
mOrs of radical action, such as the dis
patch of warships to Havana, and like sto-
Iies.
Secretary Long was asked whether any
of the American ships had been ordered to
be ready to sail for Havana. He replied
that while he could not discuss the mat
ter, he would say that he had not made
any change in the orders to the battleship
Maine, now lying at Key West.
Inquiry developed the fact that the
Names last orders were to go out for
Tra nj ina ar11 foIlf
the North Atlantic squadron to attach
herself.
Although there is no expectation at the
navy department of any trouble Just now,
still in case it should occur the navy is
more strongly represented in Florida and
West India waters than it has been for
the past ten years. At Key West there
IS the second-class battleship Maine, at
jacksonville the dynamite cruiser Vesu-
Vius, at ST. kits is the Annapolis, and
at Guadalupe another cruiser. The De-
troit is on the way from Cape Haytien to
Key West, where she is now due. The
Marblehead is at Fort Tampa, Fla. She
suffered the injury of four men yesterday
at target practice. She has been wired
to remain at Key West instead of sailing
Tor Navassa, according to original orders.
This naval force is made up, with one
exception, of the Maine. unarmored, but
lightly protected cruisers and gunboats.
II will be powerfully reinforced, however,
in few days by the North Atlantic
squadron under Admiral Sicard, compos-
ed of heavily armed vessels, the most
powerful fleet that the United States has
had together in many years. Vessels If
the squadron are now distributed as fol
lows; The flagship New York and bat
ueshps Iowa and Indiana in Hampton
roads; the battleships Massachusetts and
1eXas at New York. The former are to
san on Jan. 10 for Florida waters while
'he last two are TO leave New York Sat
urday and Sunday, respectively, falling
IN with and joining the squadron on the
southern drill grounds of the Chesapeake
capes
II Is authoritatively stated at the navy
department that this southern movement
9t the squadron is in no degree attributa-
pe TO the troubles in Havana but that
tne movement is part of the programme
LOT winter maneuvers OF the squadron
prepared by the navy department months
so dIter consulting with Admiral Sicard
ana Capt Tayloe and duly announced
through the daily press at the time.