The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-07
GENERAL LEES -.
RECALL ASKED
Iconcluded from Page IL

lle pan mas Dttu W HhNt thN SONNih
ment ship start next Thursday for
Cuba,
The decision of the administration
to send supplies to the reconcentradoes
in Cuba was arrived at early in the
week. General Lee had represented
that he had been unable to distribute the
goods that had been received in answer
TO the proclamation of the president
TO the American people. He reported
that many tons of these supplies were
stored in Havana and could not be
forwarded to the eastern end of the
island. The United States consuls
at Matanzas and Sagua Ia Nrande had
come in person to Havana to seek for
relief after reporting to the state de-
partment the terrible conditions exist
ing in iheir respective districts.
The state department Immediately
instituted inquiries, and learning that
the original decree Of the Spanish gov
ernincnt authorizing the free admission
of supplies applied only to the port Of
Havana secured permission for the free
reception of these supplies at all ports.
Tie next obstacle met was the diff
Guilty of trans. shipping the goods from
Havana eastward, there being a semi
weekly service by steamer and that
ltlt'I ~ many NtNHllOuS lOCdl GtSlllC-
TORS When the United States cruiser
Montgomery returned from her cruise,
which Included the Cuban ports Of Mat
anzas and Santiago. the officers
brought narrowing tales of lne distress
existing there.
Captain CrOwninshield. the chief Of
the navigation bureau Of the navy de-
partment. an officer of the soundest
discretion and judgment was on the
ship, an accidental passenger. He told
President Mckinley directly what he
had learned. The result was the i'm
mediate decision of the navy depart
ment to accedc to the request of the
relief committee I'm New York to for
ward their supplies to the eastern ports
of Cuba. one of the American lines of
steamships running to New York had
offered to take the bounteous contri-
buttons of the American people to Key
West and the president himself gave
the order for their carriage to Eastern
Cuba by any of the available ships of
the North Atlantic squadron.
WHEN SPAIN RESISTED.
The announcement by the Associated
Press of the purpose of the government
TO send supplies to Cuba on naval VeS-
sells was made last Wednesday. With
in tWenty-four hours there were signs
OF resistance on the part Of the Span
lSh government. At first this took the
shape of formal inquiry by the Span
ish charge, SenOr du Bose, as to the
correctness Of the report, the inquiry
being couched in an incredulous tone,
and later when the affirmation came,
there was lodged, not a formal protest
but rather an insinuation that the
movement of the naval ships would not
be acceptable; that it would be con-
strued into an active sympathy on the
part of the government of the United
states with the insurgents. But the
president had satisfied himself that the
course he had chosen, that of sending
the supplies in naval vessel, was the
only one that promised sufficient and
prompt relief. There was no time for
polite diplomatic exchange of notes
when. according to General Lees ad-
vice, people were perishing from hunger
by hundreds every day in Cuba, and
the Spanish charge was so informed.
Senior du Bose, when seen at the
Spanish legation today, could add little
to the fund of information on the two
subjects which We're attracting so
much official and public attention. He
had received no word from his govern
ment concerning General Lee and he
stated positively that no suggestions
concerning General Lees retirement
had been submitted by him to the state
department.
As to the sending of relief supplies
by the Montgomery and Nashville, Mr.
du Bose said he felt that merchant
, vessels were much better equipped for
such service and their use was not open
10 that misconstruction possible in
sending supplies by vessels of the navy.
The news concerning General Lee
aroused the deepest interest, and no
little excitement throughout Washing
ton and for the time being the usual
quiet of Sunday evening was put aside.
In hotel corridors at the clubs, and in
all public places it was the absorbing
topic and not since the Maine disaster
was such widespread popular interest
eVnced in the Spanish situation.
The report was denied officially to-
night that the Columbia had been or
dered to Key West as soon as she could
he made ready for the voyage The
frigate Essex, which was sighted off
Sandy Hook, it was stated, was on her
way from Norfolk with the apprentice
boys to New York.
OPINIONS OF CONGRESSMEN
Speaking of the Madrid dispatch and
the statement made by Assistant Sec
rotary Day, Senator Davis, chairman
of the foreign relations committee, said.
1T is a circumstance which added to
the present strained condition makes
things more VeXatiouS. ] approve the
presidents action in every particular"
Senator Pettigrew said: II certainly
approve the presidents course in the
matter. | should judge the request to
recall our consul general is somewhat
unusual and under other circumstances
would be complied with. but the con-
ditions precedent to this case take it
out of the usual rule and justified the
presidents action. l think that in view
of the fact il is conceded the Maine
was blown up, the president would be
justified in sending battleships loaded
with cOmbustibles as well as food and
filled with armed men. 1t seems to me
we cannot accept any settlement short
of the independence of Cuba"
Senator Collum said: II regard the