Evening star., 1898-12-14
NAVY TAKING PRECAUTIONS
Four Warships Will Be Stationed at
Havana.
Recent Disorders in the Cuban Capi.
tai Hesponsibie for the Dispatch
of the Vessels.


material increase in its naval representa-
ton at the port of Havana. The fagsbip
New York and the cruiser Topeka are the
only American warships now i'm that har-
Dor but In accordance with orders Just Is
sued they will shortly be reinforced by the
battle ship Texas, the armored cruiser
Brooklyn, the gunboat Castine and the aux
iliary cruiser Resolute. These vessels are
all attached to the North Atlantic squad
ron' and in making the cruise to Cuba they
40 not go beyond the limits of their ret;u-
lar station. Most of the fleet has been
rendezvoused at Hampton Roads for sew
eral weeks, and the movement toward the
west Indies is in accordance with the usual
practice of sending the vessels to the south
ern limits OF the station in winter time
"hlle there is not the faintest desire TO
convey a threat in the assemhlinp of tbiS
meet OF warships at the Cuban capi;al a:
TINS time, 1t has been deemed advisabla as
measure of precaution. to increase the
mliltary FORCES of the United States there
pending the change of government fron
Spain to the United States and from tbe
united States to Cuba. Although not adj
mltted officially, it is understood that the
recent disorders In Havana are resnonsi-
Die Tor the prompt dispatch of additional
naval vessels to that port. At anv rate
the recent eruptions have brought the au
mo @.norltles TO sudden realization of the
'"N SN'o VI dldlTS IN havana, and the
imminent danger of uprising which
might result in serious loss of life and
property. anu
To Protect Americans
with only small force of American SOL
olers IN Havana province, and those re-
moved at such a distance from the city ss
10 make 1t difficult of access in time to be
Vi service TO the American element In the
CITY, now swollen to large proportions by
nffy
men and others, seeking opportunities for
employment, the necessity for some nro
tectlon was apparent. To increase the
NUMBER OF soldiers materially is not easy
IN view OF the difficulty of TRANSPORTING
them, as we'll as providing for them when
they reach Cuba, and it was decided TO
hasten the ships named to Havana TO form,
formidable bulwark against any anarchic
outbreaks that might occur before the com
pletion Of the American occupation of the
city.
When the naval reinforcements reach
tHeTe tne United States will hold the har-
toF ana city of Havana in perfect subiec-
uon and their presence will prove a strong
moral agent in the preservation of peac,
and good order
Admiral Sampson VIII Command
Admiral Sampson, whose flag now flies
from the New York. will be in actual COM
mand of the naval forces in the West In
dies, regardless of the fact that he is still
acting as member of the Cuban evacua.
ton commission. When his presence I'm
Havana is no longer needed in the work of
tnat commission he will board the flagship
and return to the United States for a we'll
deserved rest. In case the conditions jus-
tify it, the New York will be accompanied
by two 0" mere of the warships in Havana
harbor.
Warships Already on Their Way.
Within four hours from the moment the
ord.
commands the Brooklyn, to proceed to Ha-
vana, that ship was speeding away on the
high seas AT 9:45 yesterday morning the
order was sent and at 1:36 word came that
the snip had left Tompkinsville. Such re-
markable rapidity in the execution of the
order eXcites the admiration of the Navy
Department.
The Texas did very well also She was
tetegraphed at o'clock yesterday to leave
for Cuba, and got away soon after mid
night from Hampton Roads. The order In
her case was not to wait for the Brooklyn,
as was at first intended, but to start at
once for Havana, where she is due Sunday
Probably the Brooklyn VIII owe! haul her
before she makes port. On the Brooklyn,
as passenger, is Commodore Cromwell who
goes TO take command of the Havana naval
station. There are also some of the Off
of the Texas who happened to be in
New York when their own snip Was ordered
south.
The Castine. which is to form part of The
Havana squadron, Will make her way alone
south from Boston. The Resolute, which
was also ordered to Havana, Will not be
anle TO start from League Island Tor u few
days.
~ of the ships carry marine guards and
it Is not doubted that they VIII be able TO
maintain the best of order in Havana
should the local authorities prove unable
TO do so. All of the torpedoeS which OBJ
structed the entrance to Havana harbor
have been removed, and although the bat
teries commanding the entrance are still
technically in Spanish control, ii is not be-
ueved that any objection Will be offered to
our forces taking possession of them at
any moment.
Gen. Ludlow's Intentions