The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-23
PREPARED FOR WAR
EARLY IN JANUARY.
Despite the Denials the Navy Was
Made Ready for HOstilities Be-
fcre the Maine Disaster.

WASHINGTON Dec 22-Daspite the
vigorous deniais made at the time it is
BOW a matter OF public recor1 that prssi-
dent Mckinley's administration became
convinced as long ago as the first day of
January that war with Spain was proba-
ble If not inevitable.
Official dispatches have just been made
public which establish this fact complete
~. In January Admiral Selfri1ge was IN
command Of the European station, and on
January H. 1895, he was instructed 10 re-
tain his sailors in spite of the expiration
OF enlistment. Five days later the gunboat
Helena, al Funchal, Madeira, which had
been ordered 20 the Asiatic station, receiv-
ed orders marked secret and confidential"
20 delay its departure and the next day Il
was ordered 10 Lisbon. At the same time
Capt. Chester, In command Of the South
Atlantic squadron. received a confidential
dispatch directing him to announce unof-
ficially that the cruisers Cincinnati and
Castine would so to the Northern station
for drill and exercise, then proceed TO
Para. Brazil. without causing comment
The same day, which was January IT, the
Wilmington. at Guadaloup. received in
s;ructions canceling It's orders to so TO
South America. and retaining i, in the
Windward islands without touching at
Spanish ports. Commodore Dewey. at Yo-
kohama, as early as January D. was in
structed 10 disregard enlistments and keep
his sailors. The Maine was blown up Feb
ruary Is: ten days later Theodore Roose-
welt sent TO Dewey the first warlike dis
patch OF the administration. which read:
Secret and confidential. order the
squG 1ron, except Monocacy, To Hongkong
Keep full of coal. In the event OF decara-
ton Of war with Spain. your duty will be
to see that the Spanish squadron does not
leave the Asiatic coast. and then begin
offensive operations in the Philippine ISL
ards. Keep Olympia until further orders"
The Monacacy was practically Useless,
and the Olympia was under orders 10 re-
turn home. The day after Rooseve,t's stir
ring dispatch 20 Dewey. Secretary Long
sent dispa tches 10 Chester. in the Barba-
does Miller AZ Honolulu Howell at Lis
bon, Dewey at H0ngkong. and S!card at
Key West all OF which read significantly:
Keep full OF coal-the best that can be
had
March :. six weeks before the declaration
If war IN ordering the Brooklyn 10 Hamp-
Ton Roads 10 leave the flying squadron
Secretary Long used the unusual express
sion:
'~rhe situation is getting worse"
April : a little over two weeks before
the declaration OF war. Commodore Dewey
was cabied:
Land all woodwork. stores. etc, il IL
not considered necessary to have for opera
tions" an order which Of course. contern-
plated nothing less than an attack on the
Philippines. Three days before .that Adj
mral Sampson. a. Key West had been in
stgucted 10 b, ready at any time 10 take
possession OF the Key Yves; cable office.
ana assigned an officer 10 stop the trans
mission 10 Cuba OF any telegram re.at-
ing 10 the action OF the president or con-
gress These official dis,s tct.es show
clearly that war was inevitable.
CAMERAS for Christmas. all kinds a,
Partayss los Cherry street.