Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1898-01-28
ORDERED TO HAVANA
BATTLESHlP MAINE SENT TO THE
CUBAN CAPITAL.
II Now or Key West, Fla, nut a Few
Hours Away From Her Destinn tion.
Washington Officials Insist There's
Nothing Alarming In the Move,

NOCuIUK Alarming III tho Nova
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Within a4
hours, for the first time since the insur.
rection broke out in Cuba three years
ago, the United States government will
be represented in tho harbor of Havana
by warship. The decision to send the
battleship Maine was finally reached at
a special meeting at the White House
during the morning between the presi.
dent, Secretary Long, Assistant Secre.
tary Day, Attorney General McKenna
and General Miles, and it is a striking
fact that with the exception Of the sec.
retary of the navy and the attorney
general. not member Of the cabinet
knew of the presidents intention to
take this radical action. 1t Is not de.
MED, however, that somo such move
has been long in contemplation, as is
evidenced in the following statement of
Assistant Secretary Day, made during
the afternoon:
Move Friendly One.
"The sending of the Maine to Ha-
vana means simply the resumption of
friendly naval relations with Spain. 1t
is customary for naval vessels Of
friendly nations to pass in and out of
the harbors 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 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 here is fully informed
Of what is going on, and SO far as I
know has not made the slightest objec.
tion to it"
Further, Assistant Secretary Day
said that Consul General Lee had not
sent for warship.
Trouble Looked for at Madrid.
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. Tho 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 misappre.
hension Of the purpose of our govern.
ment in sending the Maine to Havana.
The temper Of the opposition newspa'
uers 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.
Admiral Sicard's orders We're no
made public in their text at the navy
department.. but it was stated that TIN
substance Of them was contained in TIN
statement made by Secretary Long
The orders were
Not Sent Directly to tho Maine
for the reason that she is now attached
to the squadron and the naval rcsula
tions require all such orders to g
through the superior officer. There i
some question whether the Telegram
reached the admiral before he s;llet
with his squadron from Key West fu
Tortugas harbor. The belief is that i
did not, but this will make little differ
ence in the programme, inasmuch a
the telegram doubtless will be sent tt
the admiral by one of the torpedo boat
or some other means of conveyance
The details of the Maine's movement:
are believed to be left for the arrange
mont of Admiral Sicard, lat it i!
thought that tho ship, which put to sef
with the squadron, will return to Key
West before going to Havana.