The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-25
CRISIS is NEAR.
Opinion is General That the
Affairs of Cuba
Are Rapidly Approaching Some
Sort of Solution.
A REIGN OF CARNAGE
Is Predicted by Members of the
Cuban Junta,
When the Battleship Maine An
chOrs in Havana HarbOr.

Washington, Jan. 25.-Within forty
eight hours, for the first time since the
insurrection broke out in Cuba, three
years ago. the United States govern
ment will be represented in the Harbor
of Havana by warship. The decision
to send the United States ship Maine,
was finally reached at a special meet
ing at the White House yesterday be-
tween the president, Secretary Long,
Assistant Secretary Day, Attorney
General McKenna and General Miles,
and it is a striking fact that with the
exception of the secretary of the navy
and the attorney general, not a member
of the cabinet knew of the presidents
intention to take this radical action.
1t is not denied, however, that such
movement has been long in contempla-
ton, as is evidenced in the following
statement of Assistant Secretary Day:
1.-The sending OF the Maine to Havana,
means simply the resumption of friend
ly naval relations with Spain. 1t is
customary for naval vessels of friend
ly nations to pass in and out of the
harbOrS of other countries with which
they are at peace, and British and Ger
man warships have recently visited Ha-
vana- This is no new move. The
president has intended to do this for
some time, but heretofore something
has happened to postpone it The or
ders to the Maine mean nothing more
than have said, and there is nothing
alarming or unfriendly in them. The
spanish minister mere IS TuIIy informed
of what is going on, and so far as I
know has not made the slightest OBJ
lection to it,
Further Assistant Secretary Day
said that Consul General Lee had not
sent for a ship. This statement shows
that the move was made deliberately
and that it could not have been taken
if there was serious apprehension of it's
results in Havana. The general belief
here, however, is that in Madrid rath-
er than in any Cuban town, is trouble
to be looked for, if there should be any
misrepresentation of the purpose of our
government in sending the Maine to
Havana. The temper of the opposition
newspapers in the Spanish capital has
been threatening for some time, and
it may require the strong hand of the
news censor to repress utterances that
would lead to rioting.
When administration officials miss no
opportunity of declaring their belief of
|. peace, it may be noted as a matter of
interest that the United States has as
sembled near Key West the most form
liable fleet of WarShipS that has been
gotten together in our home waters
for many years. 1t is made up of the
North Atlantic squadron under COM
mand of Admiral Sicard, flagship New
York, first class battleships Iowa, Indi-
ana, Massachusetts; second class bat
tleshipS Maine and Texas; cruisers De-
trOit and Montgomery; dispatch boat
Fern and the torpedo boat f1otilla COM
posed of the Cushing, Ericsson, Du-
pOnt and Porter, which will be rein
forced in few days by the FOote. The
big protected cruiser Brooklyn, almost
equal to a battleship herself is fitting
out at the New York navy yard and
Captain Cook who commands the ship
was at the navy department this morn
ing expecting to sail the latter part of
this week to join Admiral Sicard's
squadron. The gunboat Nashville and
the training ship Essex are at Port
Royal, S. c., within easy call and the
entire navy may be said to be in state
of preparedness that is gratifying to
the officials in view of the limited re-
sources placed in their hands by con-
gress.
Senor Quesada. secretary of the Gu
ban junta, and SenOr Albertini of the
Cuban staff in Washington, We're about
the capitol during the day, comforting
with members concerning the Cuban
status. Mr.. QueSada said:
THE sending of the Maine to Cuba
whatever be the official version, is, in
our opinion, proof that things are in
such condition in the few Spanish
stronghOlds that anarchy reigns and
that American citizens and property,
unable to find protection at the hands
of the impOtent Spanish government,
have now the protection of their own
vessels. 1t is declaration to the
world that the United States is not
afraid of the Spanish rabbIe which
seems to control the Spanish officials
The attitude of the Spanish papers and
officials has been that the presence of
an American WarShip in Havana, means
intervention; undoubtedly they will
now say that it is the most natural
thing for any nation to send it's vessels
to the ports of a friendly power, and
we shall soon hear from General Wey-
ler's subOrdinates in Cuban and from
Spain, that is, if the cannOns of the
Maine do not bring to the Spanish
minds the conviction that prudence in
this case is the better part of vaIor''
SenOr Albertini says the sending of
the Maine will justify itself by future
events. From his acquaintance with
Spanish methods he says there is great
er reason for apprehension than has
been yet shown and he declares that as
soon as Spain finds that Cuba is lost
a acarnival of slaughter will be inaugural
ed with the guns of Moro Castle and
Cabanas trained on the city of Ha-
Vana.