Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-03-10
GEN. FITZHUGH LEE.

/
subject The disclosures from Madrid
left no further ground for reticence in
/ Washington, and after a conference
at the white house between the presi-
dent. Assistant Secretary Day, of the
state department, and Secretary Long,
of the navy department. the following
authorized statement was given out by
Judge Day, as comprising everything
that was to be said by the administra-
ton on the subject:
President Refuses.
THE president will not consider the re-
call of Gen. Lee. He has borne himself
throughout this crisis with judgment fidel-
ity and courage, to the presidents entire
satisfaction.
LAS to the supplies for the relief of the
Cuban people. all arrangements have been
made to carry a consignment this week
from Key West by one of the naval vessels,
whichever may be best adapted and most
available for the purpose. to Matanzas and
Sagua."
Beyond the foregoing those who had
participated in the conference at the
white house would not discuss the sub
ject, and it was stated positively that
the authorized statement comprised
everything that would be given to any
one. Although the officials here are
noncommittal on the subject it is be-
| lieved that the request of Gen. Lees re-
call was made at least day or two ago.
and that the Spanish government. after
receiving the reply of the state depart
ment. has not insisted either upon Lees
recall or upon it's contention that the
relief supplies should not be sent to
| Cuba in naval vessels.
stand by the President.
Washington, March livery mem
Der of congress who could be found
stands by the president in his refusal
! TO recall Lee and his declination to
abandon the plan of sending relief to
/ Cuba in war vessels. To a man, ire
| spective of party, the president will be
sustained by them. 1t is noteworthy
that throughout the long delay and the
/ various controversies over Cuba and the
/ Spanish complications not one word of
censure has been heard of Gen. Lee
| from republican, democrat or populist.
/ All believe Gen. Lee is the one Amer
lean who can fill the position at Ha-
vana, and with one accord they will
/ sustain the president, even should the
stand lead to war.
Talk of War Plans.
Havana, March AS the conviction
becomes settled that the court of in
quiry will decide that there was mine
explosion under the Maine discussion
/ among American naval officers and civ
| iians here is prevalent as to the war
like measures which it is believed the
nited States government will adopt
in case the question of the payment of
indemnity by Spain is overruled. a ma
jority believe that American troops will
BE- landed at some point east of Havana
and the insurgents communicated with,
that the Spanish soldiery will be de-
featcd or captured in detail. and that in
the meantime fleet of United States
vessels will blockade, if not lombard
Havana. No one seems to doubt that
the reduction Of this city would be
comparatively easy. Four 12-inch guns
| two west and two east of the city
IRE the only ones that are considered
dangerous. These are not likely to be
well served. while their emplacements
are not modern.
SpanIards Look for an Attack.
That some Spaniards are of the opin-
ion that an attack on Havana will be
| made is believed TO be shown by the
abnormal activity displayed on board
the Vizcaya. On the best naval authori-
~ the statement is made that the Viz
caya is in a constant state of readiness
for emergencies. and that picket boats
are on the alert day and night inside the
harbor and outside the harbor a night.
1t IS pointed out that the men-of-war
vizcaya and Almirante oquindo might
be caught in blockade and fall an
easy prey to the United States feet.
The cruiser Alfonso NIL IS without
boilers, and would be of no account.