The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-08
OUR SCHOONER STOPPED
A Spanish Warship Intercepts
One Of Our Vessels.
THE NEWS is WITHHELD
Havana Greatly Excited Over the
News From America-Geu. Lee in
Great Danger but Serene and
Determined More Revolutionlsts
Are Arrested.

Havana March An American
schooner is said to have been stopped
by a Spanish warship on the southern
coast of Cuba. The authorities say that
it was ap expedition, but no more de-
tails can be obtained officially or are al
lowed to be sent by the press censor.
There is great excitement in Havana.
The volunteers are wildly enthusiastic
over the reports of war and they have
had cannon exercises today at Cabanas
fortress to test the new big guns.
The volunteers declare that they Will
defend Havana until the last one of
them is dead. The firing of the cannon
by the volunteers today at La Cabana
frightened many Havana families and
foreign residents. The cause of the
shots was soon explained
The Spanish police are making more
arrests. At o'clock this morning eight
well-known residents of this city were
driven out of their homes and sent to
Cabana fortress.
The press here comments upon the
resignation of the American consul at
Sagua Mr.. Barker. and says that he
was too uncompromising an American
for a diplomatic post in Cuba. He is
charged also with having tried TO pro-
| woke rupture of relations between the
/ two countries, and of helping the insur-
| gents instead of the starving pacificos.
Havana Greatly Excited.
| Ia Lucha and the Diaro de la Marina
received this morning dispatches from
their correspondents in New York, an
nouncing that President Mckinley had
refused to recall Consul General Lee or
| substitute merchantmen for the United
| States naval vessels that are to carry
supplies for the starving reconcentrados.
/ The dispatches added that there is
| great excitement all over the United
| States and that the consensus of opinion
/ is that a crisis is imminent in relations
| between that country and Spain. These
/ dispatches We're suppressed by the press
| censor. The editors personally applied to
I him and after long consultation be-
| tween Gen. Blanco and Gen. Gonzales
! Parade and Secretary Congosto a brief
| alIuson to the situation in the United
| States was permitted to be printed But
| all the facts as they came from New York
were soon made known by the editors of
| the newspapers to the leading politicians
here thereby kindling a blaze of indigna-
| tion against the American people.
! In the newspapers in Havana, without
| exception. and all the political parties
| from the Weylerites to the radical auton-
omists. from Senor Santos to Senior Am
! blard, are united to a man in their ha-
/ Il cd af nj
this afternoon only the efforts Of Gen.
Blanco prevented hostile demonstration
against the Americans.
If the news of President McKinley's
firm attitude is spread abroad among the
| crowds which are now parading the
| streets full OF enthusiasm over the ar
| rival of l,20O Spanish soldiers and the
| presence in the harbor of the AImirante
Oquendo and the Vizcaya, very serious
| trouble may occur at any moment
Lee Is Serene in Danger.
The Spanish garrison of regular troops
are kept in their barracks ready for any
emergency. But it will be very difficult
for Gen. Blanco to compel the troops to
| charge on anti-American rioters as the
| general feeling in the army is one of deep
| hostility to the United States Even at
the palace among the highest officials and
the staff OF Gen. Blanco. this feeling is
very evident. There is no doubt that
Consul General Lee is in great danger
and ii may also be said that no man ever
! conducted himself with more serene cour-
age than he is doing under the trying
circumstances in which he is placed
Gen. Blanco has privately summoned
the editors of the newspapers and asked
them not TO excite the passions Of the
people and to make very few editorial
comments on the situation.
La Lucha, however says that Spain
has never feared war before and does
not fear war now, and that she is ready
manfully to repel any unjust aggression
The editorial even suggests that wal
with the United States may be a good
thing for Spain under the circumstances
because "she has nothing to lose"
Gen. Blanco has sent long cable dis
patch to Spain describing the gravity OF
the situation, and saying that the con
tinued presence of Consul General Lee
in Havana is a source of trouble anC
adds to the grave responsibility of tn,
captain-general.
The eighteen persons arrested ar,
charged with belonging to the secre
revolutionary society called THE CluI
of Public Salvation" founded by tn,
Cuban journalist, Ricardo Arnauto VIII,
recently escaped to the United States.
Senator Proctor and Miss Clara Barton
We're reported today to be in Sagu.
and are expected here at any moment.
The American Board of Inquiry will i
is said, end its sessions in Havana OI
Thursday next and start immediatel!
for Washington to submit it's report
The wrecking tug Right Arm left Ha
vana today at ] p. m.. but no information
can be obtained about her destination