The herald., 1898-01-25

+
and pluck that pleased the department
20 highly that the captain was sent
complimentary letter. His officers are
also a good lot, including Lieut.. Com
xnander Richard Wainwright, Lieuts. u
+. Holman, John Hood and G. w. yum
gen, Lieuts 0unior grade) G. w. BLOW
]. T. B. LandIn, f. w. Jenkins, Cadets
J. H. Holden, w. T. Cluverius, Anon
Bronson and D. r. Boyd, jr., Surgeon L.
G. Heneberger, Paymaster c. w. Little
field, Chief Engineer c. P. Howell
Passed Assistant Engineer F. c. Bow
ers. Assistant Engineers ]. X. Morrle
and d. r. Merritt, Cadet Engineers Pope
washington and Arthur c. c. Renshaw,
Chaplain J. p. Chidwich and Lieut.. OF
Marines A. w. Catlin.
ORDERED TO HAVANA
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24-The United
States steamship Maine has been or
dered to Havana. 1t is said in the Navy
Department that no disturbing news mas
been received but this movement is
rather in the line of resumption OF the
free intercourse of our naval vessels
in Cuban waters which prevailed prior
to their withdrawal on account OF the
outbreak of hostilities.
1t is evident thut the decision to send
the Maine to Havana for a visit was not
arrived at hastily from the events that
preceded the announcement. For some
time past the administration officials
have been of the opinion that mistake
was made by the preceding administra-
tion concerning the Cuban situation, in
deciding, out of excessive caution anu
an overweening regard for the senslblll-
ties of the Spanish public, to abandon
the practice which had been pursued by
our Navy Department for years, OF send
ing our warships at intervals on cruises
through the West Indies with frequent
stops at Havana. 1t is not regarded as
consistent with our national pride that
this action, common to all maritime ma
tions, should have been abandoned or
suspended, and it Is believed that II 1t
had been consistently adhered to there
never would have been complaint of the
visit of our ships from Spanish sources
British and all nations ships have
visited ports inhabited by any consider
able number of their citizens, when there
were any signs Of trouble that threaten
ed them or their property. There
lOTe, Cu6 ooAiO sAiAi~ 40 ~
came to the conclusion that it would take
steps to restore the older order of things
and allow our warships to cruise freely
and touch at Cuban ports as soon as the
change could be made without leading to
misconstruction and without being in
terpreted as a war measure when, IS n
matter of fact, nothing was further from
the intention Of the President. The first
movement in the direction of the restor-
alton of the older order was taken last
fall, before the assembling of Congress,
when Secretary Long announced
through the Associated Press his inten-
tion to send the entire North Atlantic
squadron to the Tortugas harbor for
their winter evolutions, which for sew
eral years past, or ever since the begin
ming of the Cuban insurrection, had been
performed with difficulty and under all
kinds of discouraging conditions of wind
and weather off the Chesapeake capes
This movement, being received with
equanimity, the next step followed,
when some of our little gunboats were
sent on a cruise in the West Indies, the
Wilmington and Annapolis now being in
those waters. 1t only remained to send
one of our ships to Havana to complete
ly restore the old practice. Naturally
this was a more delicate step than had
been called for previously and it was not
until the administration had satisfied
itself that conditions in Havana had re-
sumed their normal state, that existed
before the recent military riot against
the newspapers, that it was deemed
timely to make the last move. This de-
sideration of all the results that might
follow.
The Spanish Minister, Dupuy De
LONE, was an early caller at the State
Department, his purpose being to advise
with the officials relative to the nego-
tiation of reciprocity treaty for Cuba
under the terms of the present tariff act.
This purpose in itself may be regarded
as an evidence of the confidence of both
parties in the security of the outlook
After his visit Assistant Secretary Day
repaired to the White House, and there
was a notable gathering around the
President, including Secretary Long Of
the navy, Attorney-General McKenna
and General Miles, the commander-in-
chief of the army. All callers were de-
MED access to the Presidents room,
much to their chagrin, this being the
day of the week that is most largely as
signed to the reception of Congresson-
al callers. The conference lasted for
nearly an hour, and when it broke up it
was with every evidence of confidence
in the peaceful outlook that the mem
bers dispersed.
Secretary Long was entrusted with
the duty of making a public statement
concerning the Names orders and the
reasons therefor.
LONGS EXPLANATION
WASHINGTON. Jan. 24.-Secretary
Long, of the Navy Department, was seen
this morning concerning the rumors that
We're afioat in regard to the movements
of the ships, and said:
$50 far from there being any founda-
tion for the rumors yesterday of trouble
at Havana, matters are now in such
condition that our vessels are going to
resume their friendly calls at Cuban
ports and go in and out just as the ves-
sells Of other nations do. The Maine will
go in a day or two on just such a visit
The department has issued orders for
vessels to attend the public celebrations
at Mobile and the Mardi Gras at New
Orleans, and for the torpedo boat flotilla
to visit Galveston. Tex"
NOT A HOSTILE ACT
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a. AT the
Spanish legation nothing was known of
the orders to the Maine to proceed 70