Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-02-02
WARSHIP TO HAVANA
MAINE is ORDERED TO THE
CUBAN CAPITAL,
1t Is Simply a Precautionary Measure
to Protect Americans Congress De-
lighted with the Plan, Which in No
Sense Is alton to War.
No Menace In the Mf.ve.


The battleship Maine has been ordered
TO Havana. Other American warships
VIII drop in there from time to time. The
warship. go to make friendly calls, after
many years of STAYING away for fear of
fousirs the suspicious of Spain. The POI
lice sometimes make friendly calls at
houses thai re under suspicion, but they
are always ready to show their authority
II necessary. So it will be with Uncle
Sans callers at Havana They go with
their best clothes. but the bunkers are
iilled with shot and shell, and with enough
men on board to man every gun.
Ii Spain receives these friendly callers
in a friendly manner, they can drink tea,
salute and depart. Uncle Sam has not
waited for invitations. The warships will
call at Havana whether they are welcome
or not. They will call as the right of a
friendly power, entitled 10 enter every
port in time of peace.
a Washington correspondent says there
has been no international reason why our
navy should have kept away from Cuban
waters for tie last two or three years.
President Cleveland took extraordinary
care not to offend Spain by allowing war
ships to appear in Cuban waters without
invitation. That policy has been followed
until now, and the situatio'l in Cuba has
grown worse until to-day dot only Amer
lean citizens and American officials in
Havana are in danger, but Gen. Blanco
himself is not safe from his own army.
That policy has been changed, and or
ders were sent to Admiral Sieard that the
Maine should call at Havana. 1t will
be only friendly call if the situation in
Havana warrants that Interpretation. 1t
will be q call for business, If necessary.
The reports from Gen. Lee have not
been encouraging since the outbreak u
week ago. Havana is q smoldering vol
cano, ready to break out at any moment.
Anarchy is the greatest danger, and an
archy produced by Spanish soldiers. Gen.
Lees reports make it almost imperative
that warships should be near enough to
protect Americans. Strict orders were
given not to allow the forces fl IN the
Maine to land, unless necessary. They
will not go into the city for pleasure.
When they go it will be for business.
The New York Worlds Washington
correspondent says that the battleship
Maine was ordered to Havana in response
to a cablegram from Consul General Lee.
He asserts that after o'clock Monday
night three cipher dispatches from Gen.
Lee were received at the State Depart
ment, translated, and sent to Judge Day,
who took them to the dinner given by
Judge McKenna. At that dinner all the
members of the cabinet except Gen. Alger
were present, and consultation, prac-
tically cabinet meeting, was held to
consider the situation in Cuba. After re-
turning to the executive mansion the Pres
ident ordered direct telegraphic connec-
ton between there and Key West.
The news that at last an American YES
sci is to be stationed at Havana was en-
Enthusiastically received in Washington.
This move is obviously popular, since it
offers protection to our citizens and in
terests, and puts us in the field in case
events should require the presence there
of strong force of American marines
with big guns to back them. No we'll
informed man in Washington expects war
as the direct outgrowth of such trifing
thing as the dispat n Of naval vessel to
guard American interests in Havana. Nor
does any well-informed man believe the
Cuban problem is to be solved in any other
way than by virtue of the force and pres
tige of this Government behind de-
mand that the war stop, the starving be
fed and the homeless be sheltered, with
the United States as an admitted and
most potent factor in the reconstruction
of the Government of the island. The
next move of the United States is likely
to take this form.