The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-12

justined in making stronger assertions
ofmcially than could the board about
the identity OF the conspirators. yet he
uncovered enough to satisfy him that
q fanatic could not ave ixed the mine
which blew uo the ain in Havana
harbor- or have fred IL. When Naval
Attache Sobral gave out in Washington
an oficial statement that no mines had
been laid in Havana harbor evidence
that this was q mistake was quickly
accumulated at the consulate before
the board had established that fact to
its own satisfaction. Whether some OF
at the arsenal under Weyler were d.
rectly IMPLICATED in the plot may be a
matter Of individual opinion.
On n point information 10 definite.
General Lee believes the letter Of jan
uary last. attributed to General Wey-
Ter. in which Weyler speaks boastfully
of having prepared Havana harbor so
that Yankee ships could be destroyed.
Ii genuine. Whether he has seen the
original Is not known, but his opinion
that such a letter was written by Wey-
Ter Is clear. Since the Maine disaster
Is expected to be a feature of the gen.
eral Cuban case instead of a mere incl
dent. the consul generals presence IN
Washington may be useful In supple
menting with later details the informa-
ton gathered by the court of inquiry.
General Lees personal opinion was
indicated when the Fern was leaving
Havana harbor Saturday night. and he
pledged those on board with him a ST.
lent toast to the memory of the officers
n men of the Maine. blown up by a
Spanish mine" His was the first eye
to catch sight Of a cannon on q Spanish
gunboat which was leveled directly at
the Fern n kept aimed for several
minutes. II NEAR for Jest, it was an
il-timed jest indeed.
The number Of persons who lined the
waters edge on either the city or the
Cabanas side did not exceed a hundred.
Nevertheless. their boots and whistles
and calls of "fuera, fuera," which In
Spanish for Get out" could not be
construed as indicating a healthy SEN
timent towards Americans. General
Lees only comment was to call the at
tention OF his voyage companions to the
Spanish flag flying over MORO Castle.
and to tell them that when they re-
turned they would see another nag
floating there.
Captain General Blanco's refusal to
see General Lee when the latter called
at the palace or Saturday to say good
bye was In ostentatious affront. Blanco
was transacting business n seeing
various persons, but sent word begging
to be excused on the ground of illness.
Secretary General Congosto was openly
insulting.
In the harbor when the vessels Eve
Ign and Olivette went out loaded with
Americans. there We're some evidences
Of i'll feeling which were stronger when
the coast survey steamer Bache fol-
lowed in their wake; but the browning
exhibition was when the Fern with Lee
and his party left. The cat-calls n
boots and whistles did not come alone
T..v~ th4 nD-aA lt-sn& thA Shnra.
they also came from the Spanish gum
boats and from the soldiers at La Fuer-
"a fort n at Cabanas.
The Spanish authorities have a suspi-
| cion that Lee is going to Washington
with the original of Weyler's letter
about the mines in the harbor, as well
as a full plan Of the mines. Havana
| itself for some time to come promises
to be the most isolated community In
the world. Probably, II there Is al out
break, and none Is probable at present.
a very little news Of what Is happen
ing may be transmitted to the outside
world. Nothing is permitted to be
known of what is going on in either
Madrid or Washington till General
Blanco is ready to have 1t known. The
contents of President McKinley's mes
sage and the subsequent action of con-
gress will probably be withheld for a
week.. Thu authorities have already
| TcdCneO the OH UOt Only VI lHuitdtinR
what the papers shall not publish, but
also of furnishing copy ~ them.
The effort to break the effect of Cen
eral Lees absence by a false statement
that il is Of a temporary nature and
due to personal and family easons. will
not be credited. BY this time every
body in Havana knows that the Ameri-
can flag is down from the consulate,
that Lee and all the other consulate
officials have left their affairs in charge
of the British consul. and there have
beer an exodus OF Americans.
Next they will learn that all financial
houses having connections with houses
In the United States will do no further
business while the present strained in
ternational relations continue and the
vessels plying between American and
Cuban ports have suspended their voy-
ages.
The effect of this will soon be felt in
the scarcity of provisions. 1t vas anti
cipated on Saturday afternoon when
dealers all over the city began raising
prices. In these circumstances even the
Spanish classes in Havana may have a
sober season Of reflection as to the
meaning of war with the United States.
The answer of the Cubans to the pro
posal of an armistice will be by large
numbers of them joining the insurgents
in the field.