Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-01-29
ORDERED To HAVANA.
BATTLESHIP MAINE HAS GONE.
High officials Declare II Is Only "a
Friendly visit, with No hostile
Intent-Formidnble Fleet mt Key
West--N hat Does 1t Mem?

Washington, Jan. 2G - The United
States government will be represented in
the harbor of Havana by warship. The
decision to send the United States ship
Maine was finally reached at special
meeting at the White House yesterday
between the president, Secretary Long,
Assistant Secretary Day, Attorney Gen
c1al Mckcnna and General Miles, and it
is striking fact that with the exception
of the secretary of the navy and attorney
general. not Il member of the cabinet
knew of the presidents intention to take
this radical action.
The commander of the Maine, Captain
Sigsbe. is a favorite in the navy depart
ment 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 important a ship rs
the Maine, but justified the departments
Judgment in the selection by running his
ship straight into dock in New York
harbor in order to avoid running down
packed excursion boat This was dis
play of quick Judgment nerve and pluck
that pleased the department so highly
that the captain was sent compliment
AIRY letter
The Maine which has been selected to
make the trip to Havana, is a battleship
of the second class. and is regarded as one
of the hest ships in the new navy. She
was built at the Brooklyn navy yard and
is BIS feet long. 81 feet beam, PIG feet
mcna draft, and GGS2 tons displacement.
She has two l0-inch vertical turrets and
two military masts, and her motive pow
cr is furnished by twin screws with triple
expansion engines having n maximum
horse-p power OF 9203, capable of making Il
speed OF 10 knots an hour. She carries
four lO-inch and six Ginch brecch loading
guns in her main battery, and seven 6
FOUNDER and eight lpounder rapid-fre
guns and four Cuttings in her secondary
battery, and four Whitehead tOrpedoes.
While administration officials miss no
opportunity OF declaring their belief of
peace. it may be noted as a matter of in
tcrcst that the United States has assem-
bled at Key West the most formidable
Hcet III NdlSulpS Itdl mas SbC together Ill
our home waters in many years. 1t is
made up of the North Atlantic squadron
. under command of Admiral Sicard on tho
flagship New York; the first class battle
ships Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts: sec
ond-class battlcships Maine and Texas
cruisers Detroit and Montgomery; dis
patch boat Fern; and the torpedo boat
fotiIa composed of the Cushing, Fries
son. Dupont and Porter. which will he re
inforccd in few days by the Foote.
The big protected cruiser Brooklyn, al
most equal TO a battleship, is fitting out
at the New York navy yard, and Captain
Cook, who commands the ship, was mt
the navy department this morning. He
expects to sail the latter part of this week
to Join Admiral Sicard's squadron. The
gunbcat Nashville and the training ship
Essex are at Port Royal S. C., within easy
call, and the entire navy may be said to
be in Il state of preparation that is graft
flying to the officials in view Of the lin
/ tied resources placed in their hands by
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