The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-26
THE PRESS AT MADRID
FAILS TO SEE FRIENDSHIP IN
THE WAR-BOATlS VISIT.
LEE AND coNGosTo DID NOT DISAGREE
They Are on Friendly Terms--The Crew Ct the
Maine viii be Kept Close in Order to
Avoid Possibility Of Street
Disturbances.

DlSluIUdHCeSI
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 2J.-The Ca
binet met at the usual hour to-day, but
gave only short notice to the subjec,
of the Cuban situation, and that was
confined closely TO expressions of salts
faction at the manner in which the
American press and people had received
the news of the administrations ac.
tion in sending the Maine to Havana.
There was no news from Consul Gener.
al Lee of later date than yesterday. Two
cablegrams came from him last night
but they We're not of particular signi-
ficance. 1t was said they were both in
answer to questions put previously by
the State Department, and it is pre-
sumed one at least had reference to the
reported presence of German ships In
Havana. harbor The other reported
that he was able to feed 1000 persons
daily in the city.
1t was stated positively that in Meth
er eablegram was there any request foI
a warship or reference to the Maine's
movements.
\ message came to the Navy Depart
ment this morning from Admirale Sicard
He wired that he had received and exc
cuted Secretary Longs orders respect
ing the Maine, and that she would sail
Mt once. The order probably was re-
eeiyed 10y the Admiral about ten O'Clock
last night off Tortugas harhor, and the
answer came back to Key West on the
torpedo boat Dupont, which carried
over the order.
A telegram from Consul General Lee
was received at the State Department
to-day at two O'Clock and was carried by
Assistant Secretary Day over to the
White House for the information of the
President. In this telegram General
Lee said that the Maine had been re-
ceived with every courtesy. The com
manders of the German and Spanish
ships of war in the harbor had called
upon the commander of the Maine who
had returned their Calls, the Spanish
forts had fired salutes and all the cere3
monies called for by the naval etiquette
had been observed In addition the Con-
sui General stated that everything was
tranquil in Havana.
The Department officials have heard
nothing officially of any trouble or mis-
understanding between Consul General
Lee and Secretary General Congosto
and attach little Importance to the ru-
Inors to that effect. 1t is suggested that
the basis may be the report current sew
eral days ago that DIR. Congosto had ex-
pressed displeasure because Lee had de-
clined to state officially that he had not
predicted failure for the autonomy plan
1t is said at the Navy Department
that as matters there is no cali fol
further instructions at present to Captain
Sigsbee, who is permitted to use his owI
discretion in dealing with the events o.
the ady, although he has been enj0inef
to consult freely with Consul Genera
Lee and was also minutely instructed
before he arrived at Havana as to tht
wishes of the Secretary of the Navy.
1t is likely that the Names crew vii
be kept closely aboard ship. In this way
the probabilities of an unfriendly en-
counter between a convivial of sailors
and rowdies will be reduced. Moreover
the confinement is believed to be neces
sary as O mans of prsrving tn shiptao
sary as means Of preserving the ships
company from the danger of contra citing
yellow fever, which it is understood il
now in evidence in Havana.
Because the Names men must remain
under this close restriction it is likely
that the ship will nC be kept long IN
Havan harbor. but that she Will be re-
placed i'm the course Of a few weeks by
one Of the cruisers, such as the Marble
head or the Montgomery. 1t Is not deem
ed proper to venture one OF the heavs
draft battleships like the Iowa or In
diana into Hayan harbor save on III
emergency, because it would be need
less exposure of the vessels to accident
1t is said at the Navy Department
that the presence of the German SNIP
at Hayan has no significance at thls
time as it is the custom for the training
ships III the West Indies to call at thai
port every year on the'r return to Ger
many to secure supplies.
The Spanish government has numer
Gus fleet in Cuban waters, but most OF
the craft are small srn-boats for main.
tanning the blockade against fiiibmsters
There are, however. seven cruisers, OF
which one, the Marques De La Ensana
da. is protected with some armor. al
thou gl she is not larger than some of our
gurfboats, being 1.06t tons displacement
There are 19 gun-boats none over 55C
tons.
Besides these gIn-boats there is a
transport. the Legaspi, 1.249 tons, five
torpedo vessels and twenty-four small
launches.
FEAR OF A CONFLICT.
Madrid. Jan. 25.-1'he impartial ex-
presses fear that the dispatch of the
United States battleship Maine to Ha-
vana will provoke conflict, and adds:
ffEl,rone cannot doubt Americas atti.