Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-13
INSULTED GEN. LEE.
incidents of tbs Departure of the
Consul-General and Party
from Havana,

New York, April ia dispatch to
the Tribune from Key West says Consul
General Lee went north via Tampa III
the belief that his presence was wanted
III Washington to give information about
the probabilities in Cuba during the next
fortnight. He did not receive instruc-
tons until he reached Key West. Vice
Consul Springer and Consul Barker of
Sagua are also instructed 20 report at
headquarters This was construed as
indicating the belief in official quarters
that an early reopening of the American
consulates in Cuba is not probable.
The Maine Plot.
Gen Lee may be able to add some
Knowledge to what is already known re-
garding the plot by which the Maine
was blown up, though not, perhaps, to the
extent of fixing the conspiracy officially
on the Spanish government. After the
departure of the Sampson court of in
curry it was left to him to follow up the
clue regarding conspirators. While the
board reported its inability to fix the re-
sponsibility for the explosion on any per-
son or persons, it was we'll understood
that the suspicious of its members were
definite. Had they received assurance
that the Spanish authorities could be
depended on to cooperate in the inyesti-
been placed in the hands of the latter.
But with Spain stubbornly holding to
the theory Of accident the only effect of
placing in their hands evidence as to
the probable identity OF the conspirators
would have been its destruction. So Gen.
Lee continued his inquiries on indepen-
dent lines. The result was to show the
fallacy Of some of the clues, but not Of
all
Perhaps Gen. Lee would not feel justi-
fed in making stronger assertions Of
fcially than did the board about the
identity of the conspirators, yet he OBJ
served enough TO satisfy him that a
single fanatic could not have fixed the
mine which blew up the Maine in Ha-
yana harbor or have fired it. When Ma
val Attache Sobral gave out in Wash
ngton an official statement that no
mines had been laid in Havana harbOr
evidence that this was mistake was
quickly accumulated at the consulate be-
fore the board had established that fact
to It's own satisfaction. Whether some
IF the junior officers who were stationed
1T the arsenal under Weyler were direct
Y implicated in the plot may be matter
IF individual opinion rather than of
demonstrated evidence.
WeyIer's Letter.
On one point information is definite
Gen. Lee believes the letter of January
'
Weyler speaks bOastfully of having pre-
Dared Havana harbor SO that Yankee
ships could be destroyed, is genuine
Whether he has seen the original is not
Known, but his opinion that such a letter
was written by Weyler is clear.
Since the Maine disaster is expected to
De a feature Of the general Cuban case.
instead of mere incident, the CONSUL
generals presence in Washington may be
useful IN supplementing with later de-
tails the information gathered by the
court of inquiry.
Gen. Lees personal opinion was indi-
eated when the Fern was leaving Havana
larbor Saturday night, and he pledged
hose on board with him a silent toast to
he memory of the officers and men of
he Maine blown UP by a Spanish mine"
Ills was the first eye to catch sight of
cannon on Il Spanish gunboat which was
eyeled directly at the Fern and kept
aim for several minutes If meant for
lest It was an ill-timed jest indeed.
Insults to Gen. Lee.
The number of persons who lined the
waters edge on either the city or
the Cabanas side did not exceed a few
hundred. Nevertheless their boots and
whistles and calls Of "Fuera! fuerar
which Is Spanish for Get outr' could not
oe construed as indicating a healthy senti-
ment towards Americans. Cen Lees
only comment was 70 call the attention of
his companions to the Spanish flag flying
over Moro castle. and to tell them that
hey would see another flag flying there
Capt.-Gen. BIancO's refusal to see Gen.
Lee when the latter called at the palace
on Saturday to say gooGby was an os-
Gentatl0us aTrOnt Blanco was transact
ing business and seeing various persons,
but sent word begging to be excused on
the ground of illness. Secretary General
CongOstO was openly insulting.
a I'll hon no L.
and Ohyette went out loaded with Ameri-
cans, there were some evidences of i'll
feeling, which were stronger when the
c0aSt-survey steamer Bache followed in
their wake; but the browning exhibition
was when the Fern, with Lee and his
party. left. The catcalls and boots and
whistles did not come alone from the
Dopulace lining the shore; they also came
from the Spanish gunbOats and from the
soldiers at La Fuerza fort and at Ca
banas.
Spanish Suspicious
The Spanish authorities have a suspi-
zion that Lee is taking to WASHINGTON
With him the original of Weyler's letter
about the mines in the harbor, as we'll as
4 full plan of the mines.
Havana itself for some time to come
promises to be the most isolated cOmmu-
nifty in the world. Probably, if there is
40 outbreak, and none is probable at
present, 4 very little news of what is
happening may be transmitted to the out
side world. Nothing is permitted to be
known of what is going on in either
Madrid or Washington till Gen Blanco
IS ready to have it known. The contents
IF President Mckinley's message and
he subsequent action of Congress will
probably be withheld for a week.
Deceiving the People.
The authorities have already reached
The point not only of Indicating what the
papers shall not publish, but also of fur
lishing copy for them. The effort to
break the effect of Gen. Lees absence
5y false statements that it is of a tenn
Dorary nature and due to personal and
family reasons will not be credited. By
his time everybody in Havana knows
that the American flag is down from the
consulate; that Lee and all the other con-
sulate officials have left their affairs in
charge Of the British consul. and there
has been an exodus of Americans. Next
they will learn that financial houses hav-
ing connections with houses in the Unit
9d States will do no further business
while the present strained international
relations continue, and that vessels ply