The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-14
NO WARSHIPS NEEDED
State Department; Hears from
Consul General Lee.
RIOTOUs PROCEEDING IN HAVANA,

The Outbreak Begun by the Ultra Spanish
Element and Volunteer Army Onicers -
The American Consulate Threatened
Secretary Long Favors Roosevelt's Naval
Reform Bill-Proceedings In the Nation
al Leglslature-washingto Notes.
Washington, Jan. 14.-Consul General
Lee has reported to the state depart
ment from Havana the facts connect
ed with the rioting there. The ultra
Spanish elements and army and volun-
teer officers began the rioting The riot
ers mobbed several Liberal newspapers
and gathered in crowds in the public
squares crying: Long live Spainp
Long live the army!" Long live the
volunteers!'
AS the jeering crowd was headed by
army officers in uniform, the police
made no attempt to stop the demon
stration, and all appeals to the military
governor for protection of property
were unanswered. The riots, after be-
ing queled for time, broke out afresh
In the evening, when a crowd OF excit-
ed persons gathered in the Plaza de
Armas, in front OF the palace, shout
ing: Long live the king, Weyler and
Spain!" The cavalry dispersed the
group and the avenues leading to the
palace are now held by the mounted
forces.
Threaten American Consulate.
1t is said the riots were caused by
the refusal of Captain General Blanco
to suppress the Liberal press. Down
with he ~ no
rioters as they gathered around the
American consulate. General Blanco
ordered a heavy guard of Spanish SOL
diers TO the scene to hold the rioters.
According 10 General Lees report the
disturbance had been quelled for the
time being but he was apprehensive OF
another outbreak at any moment.
Nothing has been heard from the con-
sui general since, so II Is assumed at
the state department that the situation
remains unchanged in Havana. Gen
eral Lee did not ask 60 have war
ship sent to Havana. and. in the opin
ion of the state department. officials
that is a sufficient reason for the as
sumption that thsre Is no occasion for
sending one.
Not Apprelssnsive Of Trouble.
The officials are evidently not appre-
| hensive of any trouble In the immedt
ate future that Will require the forci-
bic Intervention OF our government. The
disquietins feature of the situation Is
the horrible condition of the poor In
Cuba. According to General Lees ad-
vices no less than eo.000 people on the.
|sfsland are In the last stages of destitu-.
tion and are wholly dependent upon
charity. To feed these people on a 10
cent ration per day would cost 5000
daily, which sum Is double the amount
so far received in contributions during
the past ten days by the state depart
ment In the opinion of General Lee
no less than 20 per cent. of these poor
people are surely doomed to death from
starvation and disease. In such a state
OF affairs the existence of any form OF
organized government is threatened and
the autonomy plans Of the Spanish gov
ernment command little attention.
Naval Authorities Remain Serene.
The naval authorities maintain their
serenity notwithstanding many ru-
mors of radical action, such as the dis
patch OF warships to Havana and like
stories. Secretary Long was asked
whether any Of the American ships had
been ordered to be ready to sail for
Havana. He replied that while he could
not discuss the matter he would say
that he had not made any change In
the battleship Maine. now lying ct
Key West.
Senior De Lone the Spanish minister,
has received dispatches from DR.. Con-
gosto, the secretary general of Cuba,
stating that there had been an outbreak
in Havana, but that 1t was over and
that no apprehension was felt OF fur
ther trouble of q serious nature.