The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-01-29
Fl NAMES MISSION.
How the Dispatch Of the Battle
ship to Havana is Interpreted.
simply a Resumption of Friendly Naval
Relations with s~pain-The Spanish
Ministry Fully Informed of
Our Intentions.

WARRINGTON, Jan. 24-Within24
hours, 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 harbor
OF Havana by a war ship. the deci-
sion to send the United States steamer
Maine was finally reached at a special
meeting at the White House yesterday
morning, between the president, Sec
rotary Long, Assistant Secretary Day,
Attorney-General McKenna and Gen.
Miles, and it is a striking fact that,
with the exception of the secretary of
the navy and the attorney general, not
a member of the cabinet knew of the
presidents intention to take this radi-
cal action. It's notdenied, however, that
some such move has been long in con-
temptation, as is evidenced in the fol-
lowing statement of Assistant Secre-
tary Day, made yesterday afternoon:
The sending of the Maine to Ha-
vana means simply the resumption of
friendly naval relations with Spain.
1t is customary for naval vessels of
friendly nations to pass in and out OF
harbOrs of other countries with which
they are at peace, and British and Ger
man war ships have recently visited
Havana. This is no new move. The
president has intended to do it for
some time, but heretofore something
has happened to postpone it. The or
ders to the Maine mean nothing more
than L have said, and there is nothing
alaruoinr mr. pfria Il ~ ~ fhn-, Tha
Spanish minister here is fully informed
of what is going on, and, so far as l
know, has not made the slightest OBJ
lection to to it,"
Further, Assistant Secretary Day
says, that Consul-General Lee has not
sent for a var ship.
This statement shows that the move
ment was made deliberately, and that
it could not have been taken if there
were serious apprehensions OF its re-
suits in Havana.
The general belief here, however, is
that in Madrid, rather than in any
Cuban town, is trouble to be looked
for, if there should be any ~misappre-
hension of the purpose of our govern
ment in sending the Maine to Havana.
The temper of the newspapers in the
Spanish capital has been threatening
for some time, and it may require the
strong hand of the news censor to re-
press utteranceS that would lead to
rioting.
Admiral Sicard's orders were not
made public in their text at the navy
department, but it vas stated that the
oIhStonna nf than ~ "a ,,ntaioal in
the statement made by Secretary Long.
The orders were not sent directly to
the Maine, for the reason that she Is
now attached to the squadron, and the
naval regulations require all such
orders to go through the superior
officer. There is some question
whether the telegram reached
the admiral before he sailed
with his squadron from Key West for
Tortugas harbor. The belief is t that it
did not, but this will make little diff
ference in the programme, inasmuch
as the telegram doubtless will be sent
to the admiral by one of the torpedo
boats, or by some other means of con-
veyance. The details of the Names
movement are believed to be left for
the arrangement of Admiral Sicard,
but it is thought that the ship, which
put to sea with the squadron, will re-
turn to Key West before going to Ha.
rana.
The German ships, to which Assist
mi Secretary Day referred in his staff
ment, are the Charlotte and the Geyer,
both training ships, and not of for
midable type. though one sufficed to
settle hastily the recent Haytian diff
Guilty. Their touching at Havana is
not believed to be significant, as their
cruise was arranged in all details last
September, and the same ships are due
at Charleston, S. c., early in February
next
The commander of the Maine, Capt.
Sigsbee, is a favorite in the navy de-
partment. For four years he was chief
of the photographic office, and by his
energy brought the Office to a high
standard. He was lucky to get SO i'm
portant a ship as the Maine. consider
ing his actual rank, which is that of a
commander, but Immediately he justi-
fed the departments judgment in the
selection by running his ship straight
into a dock in New York harbor
TO avoid running down a packed excur-
sion boat. This was a display of quick
Judgment, nerve and pluck that
pleased the department SO highly that
the captain was sent q complimentary
letter.
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