The times., 1898-01-14
Warship at Key West Thought
TO Be at Lees Call.
THE RIOTING IN HAVANA
Ii Creates a Profound Sensation in
Governmental Circles-rhe North
Atlantic SquadroB's Trip South at
This Time May Be of Considerable
significance

President and the State Department.
As was expected, the effort at both of
these sources of information was to
minimize the whole affair. as if it were
a sudden outbreak with which Ameri-
cans had nothing TO do
1t was learned, however,, on excellent
authority that while this outbreak was
ret predicted as TO the particular day,
on a recent visit here Vice Consul Gem
eral Springer said that occurrences
similar to the one in question might oc-
cur after the establishment of the So
called autonomous government. 1t had
been clearly foreseen by Mr.. Springer,
and certainly by Consul General Lee,
that The alleged self government of Gu
ba would be a dream, and that the
journals of the country not subsidized
or toadying to the royal side of the is
sue would denounce the sham of gov
ernmeni and also tell the truth about
the inefticiency of the Spanish arms.
The liberal independent or autonomist
newspapers took the course as predict
ed. and in this case il was the expected
that happened.
1t is believed that Mr. Springer eX-
pressed his view OF the situation both
on the President and the State Depart
ment. so that there is the pest Of rea
sons to believe. that at no time since
Mr.. Springer's visit here had there been
any intention on the part Of the Gov
emment to leave Consul General Lee
without a ship OF war at Key West
should he want one.
Notwithstanding the continued de-
malls. there is room TO believe that the
prospective visit of the North Atlantic
squadron To Florida water has pur-
pose somewhat different from that OF
mere naval pageant hundred miles or
so from Cuba
The impression grew stronger yester-
dav the more the incident of the riots
was discussed that il was an ausplclous
happening for the insurgent cause. All
that was wanted in fact, 10 assist the
insurgents was internal trouble among
the SpaniBrds. and ii appears TO nave
arrived in unmistakable guise. during
rhe riots some were bold enough TO
shout for Weyler, who is practically in
disgrace with royalists, some shouted
AGAINST Bianco. and at one time IL was
thought necessary TO suggest an addi-
tionaI guard for the palace OF the Cap
lain General. The greater part OF the
mob and the intention OF the demon
stration was. however, clearly IN laSor
nf the spanish military young fellows
who went out TO vindicate themselves
AGAINST attacks by newspapers on theiT
proUass. The mob. of course, folIoWeu
any leadership for a demonstration. All
The same. many Of the incidents OIL tne
demonstration indicated plainly thal IL
takes the military power To repTesS thS
,,eopls4 when they go out on thls KIM
Of a mission.
ID win probably be some days YET
fafn1-a all rhe facts in the affair VIII De
given out at the State Department Inc
news of the riots. at first blush, was
startling. even apart from seFefai OF
tne crotesque features with Whlch IL
was invested by some OF the he"si'"-
perS -. ,,,,+-
tn. immediate interest in these mat
tors cantered in Gen. Lee, ana appilca-
tion WAS made to Secretary Oh STATE
sherman for information MI. Shef-
man said that he could not at thls tlIile
discuss the affair, but referred me
Times to the President. 1t was Slaleu
at the White House s~ehll-oiilt ~ laLIs. aI--i
that The State Department was al Ilat
1i11,a il, possession Of the fact that the
situation WAS in no sense alarming
Judge Day. First Assistant Secretary
of state said a little after noon
Yesterday that the latest adVlces
showed that there was no appre-
hension Of danger to Consul Cen
eral Lee. Gen. Lee had telegrapheo
The fact of the riot briefly "Wednesday
NIGHT when he believed that affairs had
so ouieted down as not to warrant any
call for assistance Of any kind.
Al the Bureau of Navigation the story
about the Maine, now at Key West,
being cabled for by Gen. Lee, was to-
tally discredited as fiction. ana at
the State Department no authority
could be had for the statement that
a ship or ships had been asked LOT OF
would be asked for
The report is current that Gen.
Rlaneo undertook on Wednesday to
send a detachment of troops to guard
Consul General Lee, and that the gen.
,4ral promptly notified the Spanish mil
ita4y that he needed no such guard. III
is said that il is this information con-
Veyed by Gen. Lee which warranted the
State Department in making the state
nleN1 that all is quiet and no danger
is @ be apprehended.
Ono of the State Department officials
said that the news, although the riot
ing was confined TO the Spaniards
themselves. is the most interesting
that has been sent here since the be-
ginning of the war Ii shows that the
way has been opened for internal dis
sensions in the only city of Importance
i'm cuba. and that the spirit of the
1ioting. meaning the suppression OF
free speech, demonstrates that the
Spaniards will need another army to
repress the malcontents made by the
audacious attitude of the military Of
feers toward the independent press.
The Spanish minister called on the
Secretary of State yesterday before
noon and conveyed to him the latest
information from Havana. 1t is be-
lieVed that Senior Dupuy de Lone
told MIR. sherman that the Havana mil
itary government would see to it that
the danger would be confined to the
Spaniards themselves and that meas
ures had been taken TO suppress the
ardor of the officers who are chafing
under criticism. and especially the
gathering of lnobs on the streets.
Up TO about ! p. m, there was an
absolute denial OF any intention of the
President to call the Cabinet in extra
session or that the State Department
had asked the Navy Department to or
der any vessel or vessels to Cuba. In
general terms the scare was regarded
as having blewn over. the demonstra-
tion of the fact being the peaceful tele-
gram Of the sonsul general.
The further assurance. it is learned
has been given that General Bianco
will undertake to make it not at all
necessary for this Government to keep
q watch on the situation.
The news in brief was that mob of
about 100 military officers followed by a
crazy crowd. yelling for Spain and |
VIEWER, had damaged the. property of
La Discussion. and El Reconcentrado, |
and other independent or liberal pa |
pers; that the disturbance was SO |