The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-03-11

centrados on the cruiser Montgomery
and gunboat Nashville, to which sug.
gestion the United States had given
like answer in the negative.
The first intimation of these steps
came in brief and explicit cable dis
patch from Madrid. Prior to it's re-
ceipt, however, the authorities here
had been fully conversant with the
facts, although no intimation had been
allowed to get to the public on either
subject.
Official Statement Given Out.
The disclosures from Madrid left no
further ground for reticence in Wash.
ington and after conference at the
White House between the president,
Assistant Secretary Day of the state
department and Secretary Long of the
navy department, the following au-
thorized statement was hand ed to the
Associated Press by Judge Day as COM
prising everything that was to be said
by the administration on the subject:
"The president will not consider the
recall of General Lee. He has borne
himself throughout this crisis with
Judgment, fidelity and courage, to the
presidents entire satisfaction.
"As to the supplies for the relief of
the Cuban people all arrangements
have been made to carry consignment
this week from Key West by one of the
naval vessels, whichever may be best
adapted and most available for the pur.
pose, to Matanzas and Sagua."
Presidents Reply Was Prompt.
In responding to the request for Gen.
eral Lees recall the president does not
appear to have deemed the subject open
to such discussion as would require the
views of his cabinet associates, and
after a brief exchange between the
White House and the state department
the negative answer was dispatched to
Minister Woodford. One phase of the
incident that tends to show the firm
stand taken by the administration is
the expedition with which the action
was accomplished. Such a matter Or
dinarily is laid before the cabinet, the
views of all its members personally
given and the fullest opportunity
afforded for discussion. But in this
case the Associated Press bulletin fur
nished to some members of the cabinet
the first information they had that
General Lees service was open to ques-
ton. The grounds on which General
Lees recall was asked are not officially
disclosed.
No Reason for Change of Plans.
The suggestion of the Spanish gov
eminent that relief supplies should not
be sent in war vessels did not come
through Minister Woodford, as the
Madrid dispatches state, but was pre-
sented by Senior du Bose to the state
department last Friday. The re-
sponses in both cases went direct to
Minister Woodford. In the protest
against the Montgomery and Nash
vile, Judge Day conferred with Secre-
tary Long, who in turn called in Cap
tain Crowninshield of the bureau of
navigation. There appears to be no
reason why change should be made
in the plan for sending these ships on
the relief mission and without attach.
ing grave significance to the request of
the Spanish government, the answer
was made that the plans for the trip
were completed and that the stay of the
ships would be brief and of the most
pacific character.
Lees Sympathies With the Cubans.
For some time it was known that
General Lees presence in Hauana was