Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-26
THE MAINE At HAVANA
Her Presence Creates Sur
prise and Curiosity.
sALuTED BY THE FORTS.
Madrid Newspapers CriticIse the Sending
OF the United States Hattlesiiip to
Cuban Waters. Spanish ves-
sells Nav RetaIiate.

West, Fla. on January "a, arrived here
at II o'clock this morning, and was
Saiuted by the forts and war vessels.
a report is current that the United
States consul general, Fitzhugh Lee,and
Dr.. ConSoSto, secretary general Of the
government, have had a slight msun-
derS landing.
After forwarding the bulletin to the
report in circulation of a slight msun-
derStanding between General Lee and
Dr. CongoSto, the correspondent of the
Associated Press, called upon the Unit
"a States consul general and was in
formed that nothing unpleasant had
happened at the interview which took
place between himself and DR.. Congos-
to. when rumor had it the misunder-
Standing occurred.
ST 3rtly after the arrival of the Maine,
Lieutenant Albert Medrano, represent
ing Jh- captain of the port, Vice Ad
ni,al Jose Pastor. vitisted the Maine
Jnd extended the customary courtesies.
'!Ae arrival Of the warship caused
much surprise and excited considerable
curiosity
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The cabinet
met at the usual hour today, but gave
only short notice to the subject of
the Cuban situation, and that was con-
fined closely to expressions of satisfac-
zion at the manner in which the Ameri-
can press and people had received the
news Of the Administrations action In
sending the Maine to Havana.
There was no news from Consul Gen.
eral Lee OF later date than yesterday.
TWO ca Diagrams came from him last
night, but they were not of particular
Significance. 1t was said that they
were both in answer to questions put
, previously by the State Department,
and it is presumed one at least had ref
erence to the reported presence of Ger
man ships in Havana harbOr. The 9TH
| er reported that he was about to feed
y dat " IN, ttlfA oil
1t was stated positively that in neith-
er cablegrsm vas there any request for
| a warship or reference to the Names
movements.
a message came to the Navy Depart
ment this morning from Admiral ST.
card He wired that he had received
and executed Secretary Longs order
respecting the Maine. and that she
would sail at once. The order probably
| was received by the admiral about 10
O'Clock last night while off Tortugas
| harbor. and the answer came back to
| Key West on the torpedo boat Dupont.
| which carried off the order.
| a telegram fran Consul General Lee
was received ct the State Department
| today at o'clock, and was carried by
Assistant Secretary Lay over To the
white Mouse for the Information Of the
| President. In this telegram General
| Lee said that the Maine had been re-
ceived with courtesy. The commanders
| OF the Spanish ships OF war in the har-
b~r had called upon the commander of
! the Maine, who had returned their
I calls; the Spanish forts had fired sa-
lutes and all ceremonies called for by
| naval etiquette had been observed. In
| addition the consul general stated that
| everything was tranquil in Havana
| The department officials have heard
| Dothins officially Of any trouble or
nisundersta nding between Consul Cen
! eral Lee and Secretary General Con
srosto, and attach little Importance to
| the rumors to that effect. 1t is sug-
! gestad that the basis may be the re
port current several days ago that DIR.
| congosto had expressed dispieasufe be-
| cause General Lee had declined TO stats
officially that he had not predicted fail
ure for the autonomy plan.
| 1t is said at the Navy Department
j'that as matters stand there is no call
| for further Instructions at present TO
| Captain Sigsbee. who is permitted 10
use his own discretion in dealing with
| the events of the day. although he has
| been tnjoined to consult freely WITH
| Consul General Lee. and was also mi
nutely instructed before he arrived at
| Havana as to the wishes of the secre-
| tary of the navy.
II is likely that the Names crew will
| be kept closely aboard ship. In TINS
| way the probabilities of an untFleHdly
encounter between a convivial party
! OF sailors and roWdies viii be reduced
| Moreover, the confinement is believed
| to be necessary as means or preserV-
ing the ships company from tne DANGER
of contracting yellow fever. when. II
| is understood is now in evidence in Ha-
| Vana.
| Because the Names men must re-
| main under this close restriction it IS
proba bic that the ship will not be Kept
| long in Havana harbor. but that she
| viii be replaced in the course of few
| nf q
| the Marbiehead or Montgomery. " -
not deemed proper to venture one OF Ihe
heavy draught battieships like the Iowa
or Indiana in Havana harbor, save on
emergency. because il would be need
less exposure OF the vessel to accidents.
| 1t is said at the Navy Department
.hat the presence OF the German ships
| at Havana has no significance ~ liis
time. as it is the custom Tor the tTalh-
| ing ships in the West Indies to call al
that port every year ON their Return ~
! Germany to secure supplies.
| The Spanish government has num-
arous fleet in Cuban waters. but most
of the craft are small gunDoats useo
for maintaining the blockade against
| dlibusters. There are. however, seven
cruisers. Of which one. the Marquis oe
! la Ensanada, is protected with some
armor. although she is not larger tnan
| some of our gunboats, being l,o64 tons
| displacement.
[ There are nineteen gunpoats, none OF
| over $50 tons. Besides these gunboats
! there Is a transport the Lesaspl, OF
/ .24S tons, FIVE torpedo vessels and TWEEN
| ty-four small launches.
a lieutenant of the spanish cruiser
Alfonso XII. the Spanish flagship, Wis
| tied the Maine ,,ariy in the afternoon as
| lid an officer Of the German cruiser
Gneisenan. the school ship, Both visits
were returned by Captain Sigsbse, VINO
! al 6 O'Clock, called upon Rear Admiral
Vircpnty ManteroEa. at the admiralty
office. anG' upon Vice-Admiral Pastor
after which he had pro.ongs confer
ence with Consul General Lee. The con-
sui general will return Captain Sigsbee's
visit tomorrow afternoon. H.. is ar
ranging for a visit by Captain Sigsbee
to Acting Captain General Parade
The officers and sailors OF the Maine
VIII not go ashore at present, in order
Il avert possible friction. and the United
States squadron will remain at the dry
Tortugas or in the vicinity.
Ire Maine came to Havana TO receive
orders srom Consul General Lie and VIII
probably remain here for some time.
Captain S.gsbee has expresses himself