The times., 1898-03-06
LEES REPORTS JUGGLEO
The State Department Distorts
His Official Adyices.
VITAL NEWS SUPPRESSED
Should His Statements Become Pub
lie the Army and Navy and the
Whole American People Would Be
Likely to Force HOstilities Imme-
dtateIy Senator Proctor's Views.

Havana, via Key West, March 5.-If
the State Department in Washington
were to make public the last report of
Gen. Lee in regard to the Maine dis
aster, or if Senator Proctor would tell to
the public all that he has learned here,
American soldiers and sailors and Ameri-
can patriots would probably declare
war themselves. even if the President
and Congress refused to do so.
Nothing on earth could hold the Ameri-
can people for forty-eight hours if they
knew the truth. In the American colo-
ny here it is believed that the State De-
partment is deliberately juggling with
Gen. Lees reports. giving out that which
has ii peaceful look, and Withholding the
true facts of the case.
Lee is no coward, no believer in the
bandying of words. He tells the truth as
he finds it, though Of late his utterances
have been guarded and diplomatic. His
reports, however. have for a long time
expressed his belief that the Cuban war
should be ended at once. This is no idle
talk but an irrefutable certainty He
told President Mckinley that the Maine
was blown up by design; he also told
him that Weylertes did it.
The conclusion reached here is that
the State Department is putting Gen.
Lee III a false light before the American
people. This conclusion is verified by
the facts. When the reports sent to
Washington by the consul general get
back to this city in American newspa-
pers, the original substance, suggestions
and meanings are not TO be found They
have been eliminated entirely
1t is highly probable that Cen Lee will
refuse to allow such a wrong to be per-
petrated much longer. 1t is certain that
the brave Yirginian chafes under the
odium cast upon him by the State De
partment, and it is now known that he
has always believed that the people
ought to have had his fun reports. Sen
ator Proctor believes this also, and as
soon as he returns to Washington will
endeayor to influence the President to
send to Congress every detail of Gen.
Lees reports. Yesterday, when spoken
to about this subject, Lee shrugged his
shoulders and said
Wy btlS 10 hpilr Nbtu Iidht anu
forward my reports
One significant item of Importance is
that Lee and Proctor had a conference
yesterday to which Col Parker, who has
been present at all such previous meet
ings. was left out. Havana is in fe-
yer, and the danger of anti-BlancO ri
7 OTIS increases hourly. The Fern. with
the Stars and Stripes flying bravely, lies
under the ViZcayas heavy guns, and
while her officers are outwardly calm
and serene. the men are feeling far from
safe. They nearly mutinied earlier in the
week. A meeting was held and a mes
sage was sent to the captain asking that
the vessel be taken out of Havana har-
Dor or else re-enforcements be sent from
the fleet.
Public spirit is so intensely anti-Amer-
lean here that it would take but little to
begin 4 war, declaration or no declara-
ton. Many Americans here steadfastly
refuse to admit that they are in danger.
Their loyalty to the flag will not permit
them TO express a doubt as to its pro-