Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-01-25
bATTLESHIP F0R / vbA
The u. S. S. Maine Ordered to
Sail to Havana.
DECLARED not A HOSTILE ACT.
Assistant Secretary Day So States-Such
Decision Reached After Conference
at the White House-spanish Minister
Said TO Understand 1t.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Within few
hours, for the first time since the insur-
rection broke out in Cuba three years
ago, the United States government will
be represented in the harbor of Havana
by warship. The decision to send the
United States steamer Maine was finally
reached at special meeting at the
White House between the president,
Secretary Long, Assistant Secretary
Day, Attorney General McKenna and
General Miles, and it is striking fact
that with the exception of the secretary
of the navy and the attorney general,
not member of the cabinet knew of
the presidents intention to take this
radical action. It is not denied, how
ever, that some such move has been
long in contemplation, as is evidenced
in the following statement made by AS
sistalit Secretary Day:
"The sending of the Maine to Ha-
yana IA an imply the resumption of
friendly naVa. relations with Spain 1t
is customary fer naval vessels of friend
~ nations g pass in and out of the har-
b. sex countries with which they
are leaee, ana british and German
war ips 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 orders to the Maine
mean nothing more than | have said,
and there is nothing alarming or I'M
friendly in them The Spanish minis
ter 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 i'll 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 III sending the Maine to Havana
The temper of the opposition news
papers 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.
The German ships to which Assistant
Secretary Day referred in his statement
are the Charlotte and the Geyer, both
training ships and not of formidable
type, though one sufficed to settle
hastily the recent Haitien difficulty.
Their touching at Havana is not be-
heved to be significant as their cruise
was arranged in all details last Septem-
Der and the same ships are due at
Charleston early in February next The
commander of the Maine, Captain Sigs-
bee, is a favorite in the navy depart
ment. For four years he was chief of
the photographic Office, and by his en-
ergy brought the Office up to high
standard.
He was lucky to get SO important a
ship as the Maine, considering his
actual rank, which is that of com.
mander, but Immediately he justified
the departments judgment in the Sc
lection by running his ship straight into
dock in New York harbor to avoid
running down packed excursion boat.
This was a display of quick Judgment,
nerve and pluck that pleased the depart
ment so highly that the captain was
sent complimentary letter.