Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-07
FLAT REFUSAL
Continued from page ~

has now been increased to 100 tons 1t
left New York on one of the Mallory Line
Of boats, yesterday and is due at Key
West Wednesday. The transfer will take
a day and the plan is to have the govern
ment ship start. Thursday. for Cuba.
The decision of the administration to
send supplies To the reconcentrados in
Cuba was arrived at early in the week.
Gen. Lee had represented that he had
been unable to distribute the goods tina t
had been received in answer to the proc
lamation of the President to the Ameri-
can people. He reported that many tons
of these provisions were stored in Ha-
vana and could not be forwarded to the
eastern end Of the island. The United
States consuls at MatanZas and Sagua la
Grande had come in person TO Havana TO
seek for relief after reporting to the state
department the terrible condition exist
ing nj their respective districts.
The state department immediately m
stituted inquiries, and learning that the
original decree of the Spanish govern
ment authorizing the free admission OF
supplies, applied only to the port of
Havana secured permission for free re-
ccption Of these supplies at all ports
The next obstacle met was me alfii-
Guilty of trans-shippiug the goods from
Havana eastward. there being semi
weekly service by steamer and the sub
iect to many veXatiouS local RESTRICTIONS
when the United States cruiser Mont
.rOmery returned from her cruise, which
include the Cuban ports of Mantazas and
Santiago the officers brought narrowing
tales of the distress existing there.
Capt CrowninSheld. the chief of the
navigation bureau of the navy depart
ment. and an officers of the soundest dis
erection and judgment. was on the ship
an accidental passenger. He told Presi-
dent Mckinley dire city what he had
learned. The result was the immediate
decision of the navy department to ac-
cord To the request of the relief commit
tee in New York to forward their sup
plies to the eastern ports of Cuba. One
Of the American lines OF steamships run
ming TO New York had offered 10 take the
bounteous contributions of the American
people to Key West and the President
himself gave the order for their carriage
10 eastern cuba by any of the available
ships of the North Atlantic squadron
The announcement by The Associated
Press of the purpose Of the government to
send supplies To cuba on naval vessels,
was made. last Wednesday. Within u
hours there were signs of resistance ON
The part of the Spanish government. At
first this took the shape Of Il formal in
quiry by the Spanish charge Senior Du-
bOSc--.ls To The correctness Of the report
the inquiry being cOuched in an incredu-
IotIs tone and later when the affirmation
came there was lodged not a formal pro-
test, but rather an inSinuation that the
movement of the naval ships would not
be acceptable: that it would be construed
into active sympathy on the part of the
insurgents. but the President had satis-
fled himself that the course he had
chosen. that Of sending the supplies
naval vessel was the only one that prom
Used sufficient and prompt relief. There
was no time for polite diplomatic eX-
change of notes when according to Gen.
Lees advices people were periShing from
hunger by hundreds every day in Cuba
and the Spanish charge WAS so informe I.
Senior DuboSC. when seen at the Span
ish legation, today. could add little To the
fund of information on the two subjects
which were attracting 50 much official
and public attention. He had received 10
word from his government concerning
Gen. Lee and he stated positively that
no suggestions concerning Gen. Lees re-
tircment had been submitted by him to
he state department.
As to sending the relief supplies by the
Montgomery ana Nashville. Mr. DuboSc
said he felt that merchant vessels were
much better equipped for such service
and their use was not open to hat mis-
construction possible in sending supplies
by vessels of the navy
The news concerning Cen. l.ee aroused
The deepest interest and no little excite
ment throughout Washington. and for the
lime being the usual quiet of Sunday
evening was put aside. In hotel corri-
dors. at the clubs and in all public places
1t was the absorbing topic, and not since
the Maine disaster was such widespread
popular interest evInced in the Spanish
situation.
The report was denied officially. tn
dered to Key West as soon as she could
be made ready for the voyage. The fri
gate Essex. which was sighted off Sandy
Hook, it was stated, WAS on her way
from Norfolk with the apprentice boys
10 New York