The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-25
The President Decides 10 Send lhe
B]II|eShiD hQIRe 10 HQV0D0.
ONE way OF SHOWING FRIENDSHIP FOR SPAIN
Statements Issued from tho state ur.d
Navy Departments Order
Gives Satisfaction TO ahe Friends
of Cuba in WashinEton-How tho
Juntn vIewsIf.
Washington, Jan. "a, 1898.

H. washington, jan "a 1875.
Within forty-eight hours, for the first
time since the insurrection broke out
in Cuba three years ago, the United
States government will be represented
In the harbor of Havana by o. warship.
The decision TO send the hattlesfip
Maine was finally reached at q special
meeting at the White House this morn
ing between the President, Secretary
Long, Attorney Geenral NIcKenna, AS
sistant Secretary Day and General
Miles. 1t is u 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 radi-
cal action. 1t Is not denied, however,
that some such move has been long in
contemplation, as is evidenced in the
following statement by Assistant Sec
retary Day, made this afternoon:
The sending of the Maine to Havana
means simply the resumption of friend
~ naval relations with Spain. 1t is
customary for naval vessels of friendly
nations TO pass III and out of the har-
bors OF other countries with which they
are a 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 l have said,
and there ia nothing alarming or un-
friendly in them The Spanish minis
Ter here is fully Informed of what Is
going on, and so far as l know has
not made the sligh test objection to It."
Further, Assistant Secretary Day
said that Consul General Lee had not
sent for a warshsp. This statement
shows that the move was made de-
liberately. and that it could not have
been taken If there were serious appre-
hcnSion OF it's results in Havana.
The general belief here, however, is
that in Madrid IA ther than in any Gu
ban Town ig trouble 10 be looked for,
II there should be any misa pprehension
OF the purpose Of our government In
sending the .laine to Havana. The
temper of the opposition newspapers
In the Spanish capital has been threat
enng for some time, and it may require
the strong hand of the news censor to
repress utterances that would lead to
rioting.
Admiral Sicayd's orders were not
made public in their text al the Navy
Department, but it was stated that the
substance OF them was conained in the
following statement made by Secretary
Long:
80 far from there being any founda
tion for the rumors yesterday OF trouble
In Havana, matters are now in such
condition that our vessels are going
to resume their friendly calls at Cuban
ports and so in and out just as vessels
OF other nations do. The Maine will 20
In a day or two on just such n visit.
The Department has issued orders for
vessels to attend the public celebration
dn Mobile and the Mardi Gras at New
orleans, and for the torpedo boat flo
tilla to visit Galveston, Texas"
The orders We're not sent directly IN
to the Maine for the reason that sho is
now attached to the squadron and The
naval regulations require that all such
orders go through the superior officer
There is some question whether the
telegram reached the Admiral before
ne sailed with his squadron from Kew
west for Tortugas harbor The belief
IS that II did not, but this will make
little difference in the programme mas
much as the telegram doubtless will ba
sent to the admiral by one of the torpedo
boats or some other means OF convey
ance. The details OF the Maines move
ments are believed to be left for the
arrangement of Admiral Sicard. but n
: is thought that the ship, which nut TO
sea with the squadron, will return to
Key West before going to Havana.
lhc German ships, to which Assist
ant Secretary Day referred in his
statement. are the Charlotte and tho
Geyer. both training ships and not or
formidable type. though one sufIiced
TO settle hastily the Haytian difficulty
Their touching at Havana is not he
lieved to be significant, as their cruise
was arranged in all details last SEN
tember, and the same ships are due at
Charleston, S. c., early in February
AT the Spanish Legation nothing was
known of the order for the Maine to
proceed to Havana. Minister dc LONE
said that even in case 1t was true that
II portended nothing ser.nus: II was
perfectly In accord with usage for war
ships CT two friendly powers to enter
and leave each others ports. The
war sa!ps OF Spain had visited Ameri-
can ports on complimentary missions
three times In as many years and ir
there had not been an American w,,r
ship in Havana in the same length Of
time 1t was merely because the United
States Government had not seen lit to
order one there. AS to the possible
I consequence Of the Names annenrinfs
!, at Havana rs this time, the Min,etcr
expressed himself as not at all uneasy
There was no doubt, he said OF the
K Conservative behavior Of The loyal