The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-25

The spanish Minister at washington
Fully Informed, and Secs No Reason
For Objtction-Consul General Lee
Did Not Ask For warship.
Washington, Jan. 25.-Withn few
hours, for the first time since the in
surrection broke out in Cuba three
years ago, the United States govern
ment will be represented i'm the harbor
Of Havana by warship. The decision
to send the United States steamship
Maine was finally reached at a special
meeting at the White House yesterday
between the president, Secretary Long
Attorney General McKenna, Assistant
Secretary Day and General Miles, and
it is a striking fact that with the eX
ception 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 some
such move has been long in contempla-
ton, as is evidenced in the following
statement of Assistant Secretary Day:
"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 nation to pass in and out of the har-
bors of other countries with which they
are at peace. and British and German
warships have recently visited Havana.
This is no new move. The president
has intended to do it for some time,
but heretofore something has happened
to postpone 1t. The orders to the Maine
mean nothing more than l have said,
and there is nothing alarming or un-
friendly in them. The Spanish minister
here is fully informed of what is going
on, and so far as ] know has not made
the slightest objection to it."
Further, Assistant Secretary Day
said that Consul General Lee had not
sent for a warship.
This statement shows that the move
was made deliberately, and that it
could not have been taken If there were
serious apprehension of its results in
Havana. The general belief here, how
ever, is that in Madrid, rather than in
any Cuban town. is trouble to be looked
for, if there should be any msapprehen-
sion of the purpose of our government
in sending the Maine to Havana. The
temper of the opposition newspapers in
the Spanish capital has been threaten
ing for some time, and it may require
the strong hand of the news censor to
repress utterances that would lead to
rioting.
Admiral Sicard's orders were not
made public in their text at the navy
department, but it was stated that the
substance of them was contained in the
statement made by Secretary Day. The
orders were not sent directly to the
Maine for the reason that she is now
20 In ho Il
regulations require all such orders to go
through the superior officer. There is
some question whether the telegram
reached the admiral before he sailed
with his squadron from Key West for
Tortugas harbor. The belief is that it
did not, but this will make little diff
ference in the program, inasmuch as
the telegram doubtless will be sent to
the admiral by one of the torpedo boats
or some other means of conveyance.
The details of the Names movements
are believed to be left for the arrange
ment of Admiral Sicard
The German ships to which Assistant
Secretary Day referred in his state
ment are the Charlotte and the GeyeI,
both training ships and not of for
| midable type though one sufiiced to
| settle hastily the recent Haytian diff
| ficulty. Their touching at Havana is
not believed to be significant, as their
cruise was arranged in all details last
September, and the same ships are due
| at Charleston, S. c., early next month.
The commander of the Maine, Cap
| tain Sgsbee, is a faVorite in the navy
| department. For four years he was
chief of the photographic office, and by
his energy brought the office up to a
high standard. He was lucky to get so
| important a ship as the Maine, con-
| sidering his actual rank, which is that
of commander, but Immediately he
| justified the departments judgment in
| the selection by running his ship
| straight into a dock in New York har-
Dor to avoid running down a packed
excursion boat. This was a display of
| quick judgment, nerve and pluck that
pleased the department so highly that
the captain was sent a complimentary
| letter.
Senor Quesada, secretary of the Gu
ban junta, and Senior Albertini, of the
Cuban staff in Washington, were about
the Capitol during the day comforting
with members concerning the Cuban
status. Mr.. Quesada said:
1.-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, an
that American citizens and property
unable to find protection at the hands
Of the impotent Spanish government
have now the protection of their owr
vessel. 1t is a declaration to the world
that the United States are not afraid
of the Spanish rabble which seems tC
control the Spanish officials The at
titude of the Spanish papers aud of.
ficials has been that the presence of al
| American warship in Havana means
| Intervention. Undoubtedly thev will
now say that it is the most natura
thing for any nation to send its vessels