The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-01-26
It Looks as IF The Lives Of
Our Citizens in Habana
We're in Peril.

Washington, Jan. 24.-Within 4S
honrs, 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 har-
Dor of Habana by warship- The
decision to send the Main to Habana
was finally reached at special meet
ing at the White House this morning
between the: President and Secretary
Long. Assistant Secretsry Day. At
tornev General 'McKenna and Gen.
eral Miles, and it is a striking fact.
that, with the exception of the secre-
tary of the navy and the attorney
general. not member of the CABINET
knew of the Presidents intention to
take this radical action. 1t is not
denied, however, that some such
move has been long in contemplation,
as is evidenced in the following state
meat of Assistant Secretary Day,
made this afternoon
.sThe sending of the Maine to Has
.bana means simply the resumption of
friendly naval relations with Spain
It is customary for naval yes
sells of friendly nations to pass in and
out of the barbors of other countries
with which they are at peace. and
British and German warships have
recently visited Habana. This is no
new move The President has intend
ed to do ii for some. but heretofore
something baithappponed to postpone
It. The orders TO the Maine
mean nothing more than | have said,
and there is nothing alarming or un.
friendly in them The Spanish min
lister here is fully Informed of what
is going OBJ, and, so far as know,
has not made the slightest objection
to it,
Further, Assistant Secretary Day
said that Consul General Lees re-
quest was for warship.
This statatement shows that the
move was made deliberately and that
It could not have been taken if there
was serious apprehension of it's re-
suits In Haballs
Tie general belief here. however.
is that ia Madrid, rather; than many
Cuban town, is trouble to be looked
for. if there should be any misappre
hension Of the purpose Of our gov
ernment in sending the Maine to
Habana. The temper of the opposi
ton newspapers ia the Spanish capi
cal has been threatening for some
time, and itmay require the strong
hand of the. news censor to repress
utterances that would lead to rioting
Admiral Sicard's orders were rot
made public, In their text at the navy
but it was stated that the
subtaDce of them was contained in
the statement made by Secretary
Long The orders we're not sent di
rectly tc the Maine. for the reason
that she is not attached to the squad
ron from Key West for Torsugas har-
bor The belief is that it did not,
but this will make little difference in
The programme inasmnch as the tele.
gram doubtless will be sent to the
admiral by one of the torpedo boats
or aone other means of conveyance
The details of tie Names move
nents are believed to be left for the
arrangement Of Admiral Sicard, but
It 10 thought the ship, which put to
sea with the squadron. will return to
Key West before going to Habana
The German ships to which As
sistsnt Secretary Day referred in his
statement are the Charlotte and the
Guyer, both training ships. and not
formidable, though they suficed to
settle hastily the recent Haytlen
difficulty Their touching at Habana
IS not belived TO be significant. as
their cruise was arranged in all de
tails last September and the same
ships are due at Charleston. S G !,
early in February
The commander of the Maine,
Capt. Sigsbee. is favorite in the
navy department. He was lucky to
get 80 important ship as the Maine.
considering his actual rank, which is
that of commander. but Immediately
he justified the departments judg.
ment in the selection by running his
ship straight into dock in New
York harbor to avoid running down