The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-12
AT SAGUA LA GRANDE

! Taking all these facts into conSidera-
ton, it is hard to see in what way Spain
| is going 20 establish this new system. L
| will always De without a stable founda-
ton. without basis and maintained by
q very irfrm, insignificant auxiliary. II
| the meantime, reconcentrados. a majority
Of whom We're innocent persons. who mad
no more aspirations than to till their ht-
tie farms, continue perishing. Il is I'M
| possible 10 describe the extent and inten-
! sity of such tremendous suffering, of such
an iniquitous. unjust and sinful !nquisj-
/ zion, to annihilate thousands Of women
and children If this goddess combination
! could be accurately represented it would
seem an exaggeration, induced by stirred
| fellowfeeling with sensibiIity of heart.
! Moving among the unceasing crowd of
/ furnishing beggars one can scarcely do
more than commiserate their undeserved
nisfortunes. No history in the world, an
cient or modern, furnishes an instance OF
| this frightful, dreadful suffering. Perhaps
civilization has not seen its like.
IN conclusion I beg 20 state that in
my humble judgment, the efforts toward
the enforcement of the reform of auton-
omy will prove altogether futile"
LEE AND THE MAINE WRECK
The consular correspondence in part
was devoted to Maine disaster and in
| this part of the correspondence some i'm
portant and Interesting points are devel-
oped. The correspondence consists large
ly of cablegrams exchanged by Assistant
Secretary of State Day and Consul Cen
eral Lee. The first of the kilograms is
dated in Havana January 12sand relates
to the riots which We're then occurring in
the city. This and the subsequent tele-
grams upon the same subject have been
published either in whole or in part.
On January q General Lee was notified
by the state department that the Maine
would call at Havana in day or two
and was directed to make ARRANGEMENTS
for an Interchange of friendly calls be-
tween officers and authorities.
Under the same date General Lee ad-
vised postponement of the Names visit
for six or seven days, that the excite
ment might abate
Later. on the same day. General Lee
was notified that the Maine would ar
rive in Havana the next day and was
authorizes
for her friendly visit.
Wiring the state department the next
day General Lee informed the state de-
partment that the Spanish authorities
professed TO think that the United States
had an Interior purpose in sending the
ship.
Say that il will obstruct autonomy.
produce excitement and most probably a
demonstration. Ask that it be not done
until they can get instructions from Ma
drid and say that if for friendly motives
as claimed, delay unimportant"
The kilograms from January o to Feb
ruary relate merely to the reception Of
the Maine and the exchange Of visits be-
tween her officers and the civil and naval
authorities in Havana
On February Assistant Secretary Dav
informed General Lee that the secretary
of the navy thought it fmprudent, for
sanitary reasons. to keep the Maine long
in Havana. He asked if some vessels
had been kept there all the time and rc-
quested his views.
In reply General Lee said he Thought
there would be no danger to the health
eve should not relinquish position of
control of the situation or condf-
tons would be worse than if the vessel /
had never been sent. Americans would |
depart with their families in haste if no /
vessel in harbor on account Of distrust /
Of preservation Of order by authorities. |
II another riot occurs will be against |
governor general and autonomy, but /
might include anti-American demonstra-
ton also. First class battleship should
replace present one If relieved, as an OBJ
ject-lesson and 70 counteract Spanish
opinion Of our navy. and should have
torpedo boat with It 10 preserve COM
with admiral"
The next telegram of importance was
sent by General Lee early on the morn
ing of February Is. announcing to the
state department the destruction Of the
Maine. That telegram has been pub
lished.
During the forty-eight hours that fol
lowed General Lee kept the department
informed Of occurrences in chronological
order
In dispatch Of February q he said
that after the divers under Captain Sigs-
bee had made cursory examination Of
the wreck, the Spanish government
would like to unite with ours in having
The bottom Of the ship and harbor in VI
2inity jointly examined"
The next day Judge Day informed Cen
'ral Lee that this government had al
'eady instituted an investigation of the
disaster which would be conducted indie
1endently. He added. however:
This government will afford every "a
'ility it can to the Spanish authorities in
whatever investigation they may see e.
o make on their part"
The first intimation Of the cause u the
.-nloSion was given by General Lee on
February q. when he telesraphed.
Cooper cylinders ammunition found f--
act in 1o-.nch forward MACHINE star
'7ard side this moraiue. Seems 70 show =
nat magazine not exploded Evidence .
BEGINNING 20 prove explosion on port side
Y torpedo"
General lee informed ths department +
n February . that arrangements bad
zen concluded for both govercmsutz -
onduct Independent investigations ~ the.
isaster. his correspondence win General
'larco being Transmitted in full II con-
lUding his letter 70 Bianco General Lee
aid,
Il an cutie sure tha: neither govern
1snt has any other object than 20 ssce-- =
ain all The f4c-z connected WITH the *
lesion ot the ,Iaire ard 5hat iae eres-
eS-re q f1t7 -lva----a--- is u r-rl~--rs z