The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1898-02-03
ORDERED TO HAVANA.
Big Battle-ship Maine Going South ON
Short Notice.

short Notice.
Washington, Jan. 28.-Within 48
hours, for the first time since the in
surrection broke out in Cuba, three
years ago, the United States govern
ment will be represented in the harbor
of Havana by warship. The decision
to send the United States battle-ship
Maine was finally reached at special
meeting at the White House this morn
ing, between the president, Secretary
Long, Assistant Secretary Day, Attor-
ney General McKenna and General
Miles, and it is a striking fact that,
with the exception of Secretary Long
and the attorney-general, not member
of the cabinet knew of the INCEPTION to
take this radical action. 1t is denied,
however, that some such move has long
been in contemplation, as evidenced in
the following statement of Secretary
Day, made this afternoon:
The sending of the Maine to Ha-
vana means simply the resumption of
friendly natural relations with Spain.
It 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 orders to the Maine mean
nothing more than I 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 objection to it."
Further, Mr.. Day said that Consul
General Lee had not sent for warship.
This statement shows that the move
ment was made deliberately, and that
it could not have been taken if there
were serious apprehensions OF its re-
suits to Havana. The general belief
here, however, is that in Madrid,
rather than in any Cuban town, is the
trouble to be looked for, if there
should be any misapprehension of the
purpose of our government in sending
the Maine to Havana. The temper of
the opposition newspapers in the Span
ish capital has been threatening for
some time, and it may require the
strong hand of the news censor to re-
press utterances that would lead to
rioting.
Admiral Sicard's orders were not
made public in their text at the navy
department, but it was stated that the
substance of them was in the statement
made by Secretary Long. The orders
were not directly to the Maine, for the
reason that she is now attached to the
squadron, and the naval regulations re-
quire all such orders to go through the
superior officer. There is some ques-
ton whether the telegram reached the
admiral before he sailed with his
squadron from Key West for Tortugas
harbor. The belief is that it did not,
but this will make little difference in
the programme, inasmuch as the tele-.
gram will be sent to the admiral by
one of the torpedo-boats, or by some
other means of conveyance. The de-
tails of the Names movements are be-
lieved to be left to the. arrangement of
Admiral Sicard, but it is thought that
the ship, which put to sea. with the
squadron. will return to Key West be-
fore going to Havana
The German ships to WHICH Assist
ant Secretary Day referred in his
statement are the Carlotte and the
Geyer, both training-ships and not of
formidable type, though one sufficed to
settle hastily the recent Haytian diff
Guilty. Their touching at Havana is not
believed to have been significant, as their
cruise was arranged in all details last
September. and the some ships are due
at Charleston, S. c., early in February.