The times., 1898-01-26
He Announces the Names Arrival
in Havana Waters.
Sonnet hing About the Movements of
the North Atlantic
Squadron.

and the distance is about ninety miles.
This shows that she must have lost
no time in getting to Havana. Her ar
rival was also reported by Capt. Sigs-
bee, her commander, the cablegram be-
ing timed at Havana at p. IN. This
latter telegram was TO the Bureau of
Navigation and it was promptly buile
tined for the information of the press.
After the receipt of all these tele-
grams, Judge Day, who received the
news from Consul General Lee, went
to the White House and had a talk
with the President. When he came out
he expressed himself as pleased with
the events OF the day. The Maine had
saluted the Spanish fortress, MORO
Castle. with the regulation salvo of
twenty-one guns,and the castle had re-
sponded. 1t was also stated that the
German ships join in the feu de joie.
Notwithstanding the pacific assur-
ances of the authorities, more naval
vessels are apparently being hurried
toward Cuba. The gunboat Castine left
Montevideo for Rio JaneirO this morn
ing, and the torpedo boat Winslow left
Newport for Key West.
The impression has gone abroad
largely from the official statement Of
the fact of the new orders to the At
lantic squadron from Secretary Long,
that the visit of the Maine to Havana
would be followed by the call at this
port and also at several other Cuban
ports of the other vessels of the squad
ron. This would look very much like a
demonstration, and would certainly be
so regarded by the Spanish authorities.
Secretary Long was asked by The
Times yesterday at what time the
movement of the other vessels on this
mission was to be expected. Mr.. Long
replied that no orders would be issued
for the visits of other vessels for the
present.
The Navy Department reiterates it's
statement that Consul General Lee did
not make the request for the sending
of the Maine 1t may be remembered
nevertheless, that the Maine was the
particular vessel that had been held in
reserve under the orders of Gen. Lee.
The determination of the Secretary of
the Navy to send this vessel immedi-
ately was not made on Monday. 1t
was stated on that day that she would
be sent in day or two. On Monday
night, however, Secretary Long tele-
graphed to Admiral Sicard to order
the Maine down, and she went at day
break yesterday The Secretary re-
ceived from the admiral the acknowI-
edgment of the formers telegram yes
terday morning, and the arrival of the
vessel was reported to the State De-
partment and the Bureau of Naviga-
tion as above.
No one doubts that the North At
lantic squadron will be kept within
easy call of Havana until the close of
the war 1t may be necessary to have
other SduadronS sent to those waters.
1t has been stated that Admiral Dewey
on the Asiatic station has been notf-
fed 10 hold himself in readiness to re-
turn This report was almost sirnulta-
neously denied at the Navy Depart
ment. 1t is all the same believed to
be true. This order was given, it is
said. on account of the contemplated
visit of the Maine or some other vessel
of the North Atlantic squadron to
Cuba, and the further order that all
the other vessels of that squadron
shall go to Cuba at some time this
season.
1t was not known probably as late as
ten days ago how the Spaniards would
take the tentative order to the Maine.
Judging from past history it was to
be expected that the Maine would have
will be remembered that when this Gov
ernment made public it's order for the
torpedo hotilla to go on a Southern
cruise. it was resented at Madrid, and
the talk in that city was that Spain
should send her feet to Cuban waters.
1t was in view of a repetition of this
folly that, when the North Atlantic
squadron was about to be ordered to
Cuba. the order was issued to the
Asiatic squadron.
The unsettled condition of affairs in
Cuba at this moment-any outbreak
which would call for interference by
the Maine or any other American ves-
sci there-would almost inevitably re-
suit in orders for the Spanish fleet to
sail for Cuba. Some of the best vessels
Of the fleet are on the Pacific coast,
while the Asiatic squadron, it will be
remembered, was REINFORCED at the
time of the expected trouble off the
Chinese coast. 1t is easy to see. how
ever. that the position of vantage is
now held by this Government 1t has
a strategic superiority which could
not possibly be equaled by Spain with
in a month. Cuba is now surrounded
by many old gunboats, which would be
brushed aside if the fleet desired to
enter Havana waters.
Another consideration and an i'm
portant one, is that Spain is now shut
off from sending her great vessels to
Cuba, without assigning a reason for
it which will be accepted by this Gov
ernment. The dispatching to Cuba for
instance, of feet to match the North
Atlantic Squadron. would be instanta-
neously taken at its face meaning, and
if Spain persisted there would be a
naval battle. The next question would
he the assembling of the American fleet
from the four quarters of the globe to
deal with the modern toy Armada.
Some days ago ii was shown that
other vessels had their noses pointed
towards the Florida rendezvous. The
Castine is reported at Rio Janeiro
coming north, and the Helena, which
was bound for the European station,
has been stopped at the Madeira Is
lands for further orders. 1t is not un-
likely that this Government may be
called on by Spain at an early date to
explain the movements of its vessels,
and there diplomacy will end.
AS to the present peace in Havana,
Secretary Long said yesterday that
there was no reason to fear any dis
turbance by reason of the visit of the
Maine. The news had been commune
Gated in Havana by Consul General
Lee. for the exchange of civilties, etc.
It is also we'll known that any out
break would have been checked at
once by the Spanish military authori-
ties, to whose advantage it is to place
America at present in the attitude of
a nation friendly to Spain, and by in
direction hostile to the insurgents.
DO you know that you can have
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