Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-22
IT IS NOT CREDITED
The Report Of Spanish Victory Skep-
tically Received.
no EFFECT IN HOUSES OF CONGRESS
Consul General Lee Makes No
Mention of the Battle. :
MINISTER'S NEWS

The story of great Spanish victory in
Cuba is not credited here. The news
which passes through the hands Of the
Spanish authorities has proven SO unre-
liable that no attention is paid to 1t by
men in Congress, except by those friendly
to Spain.
The situation is. therefore, regarded as
unchanged. The movement in behalf Of
belligerency resolutions having been efrec-
tually checked in the House for the time
being, the situation is probably not more
serious than it has been for some weeks
The steps that have been taken by the
administration. which bore the appearance
of preparation for a crisis. were merely
precautionary.
The instructions to the commander of the
naval force In southern waters looking to
vessels going to Cuba, If necessary, are of
character to insure prompt action, even
though catle communication should be
suddenly cut off, thus preventing &C.. Lee
from calling for assistance. Should a
tain period of time pass without communi-
cation from Gen. Lee one of the fastest of
the naval vessels would go at once to Cuba
without call from Gen. Lee.
Another Cuban Movement.
There is talk now of getting the Cuban
belligerency resolution on the diplomatic
bill in the Senate, where the rules as to
riders are not SO rigidly enforced as in
the House. This could be done. probably,
but a thing that is overlooked in making
this suggestion is that 1t might take weeks
perhaps months-to accomplish 1t.
The diplomatic bill will not, in the natural
course of things. come back from the Sem
ate for several weeks, and II it ia under
stood to be the intention to put a beliger-
ency rider on it, 1t may be delayed until
Just before the close of the session. 1t
might not become law before the middle
q Inv1 20 NoIr 1ha
for the disposition of a question relating to
what Is claimed to be a present crisis
There will be plenty OF time for many
things to happen before belligerency reso-
luton could be got through Congress bv
this means.
This plan may be adopted in dealing with
the annexation of Hawaii if the annexa-
uon treaty Is not ratified, and it could be
MADE successful as to that, but it is too far
Off to be available in dealing with Cuba.
Senate on the Alert.
A reason given for the Senate deciding
TO remain in Session today instead of tax
ing the usual adjournment over Saturday
Is that something might happen in the
Cuban matter which would make It desir-
able that both houses of Congress should
be in session.
Gen. Lees Report.
Consul General Lee last evening cabIed
the state department. that tranquility pre-
vailed In G~ana, but he made no mem
ton OF the aportant engagement reported
to have taken place in the Cubitas noun
tains. resulting In the alleged capture of
the fnsurgent capital. The only reports of
an ofncial character on that point that
nave come to the notice of the department
are those received by the Spanish minister
here. r r
The minister himself Is confident of the
accuracy of his advices and he points to
q onxy
published conflicting with his reports which
agree with those coming from Havana
through the Associated Press, must have
originated elsewhere than at the place of
battle. The basis for this statement is that
the government controls the only telegraph
lines that afford communication between
Havana and the Cubitas mountains and
there Is no means of communication with,
the ocean cables open to the insurgents
which would enable them to send along an
account of battle at Esperanza in less
than five or six days, by means of boats
to the Bahamas.
Importance of the Action.
The minister does not believe that the
Importance of the capture Of Esperanza
lies In the fact that 1t was the insurgent
capital, for there is not much more in the
place than a few huts and sheds, without
value. but in the fact that it has demon
strated the possibility at this time of a
Spanish force Of 5000 men with full mu-
nition3 Of war being led into the last
stronghold of the insurgents, through
country of the widest description and one
from its nature capable of affording the
best shelter to such an enemy as the in
surgents. This, the minister thinks, is an
evidence of the growing weakness of the
cause.
Touching the statement that Massa, who
surrendered recently to the Spanish au-
thcrities, had previously been degraded to
the ranks. tire minister says that the same
allegation was made to Cepero a prom
inent Cuban officer, and If the statements
are true they must be accepted as showing
demoralized state of discipline in the in
surgent ranks.