The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-25
ORDERED TO HAVANA
Battlcship Maine Departs for Csbaa
Waters. ~
DIPLOMATS TALK OF THE NATTER.
They Consider It to Be Of No Sig
nificance. sSs
1T MEANS NOTHING SERIOUS.
Ministcr De LONE snys Hts Govern-
mcnt Can Not Regard II M Un-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Pleased.
MEANS NOTHING SERIOUS.

Washington. January 2i.--within forty.
cisht hours. for the first timc since the Inc
surrection breite out In Cuba three years
| ago, tho United States will pc rcs,resc'l 20
IN the harbor of Havana by warsi
decision to send the United states sN
Maine was finally reached at a rpcclns
meeting at tho White House today be-
tween TIE president. Secretary Long. At
torney General Mckenna and General Miles
aud il is striking fact that with the ex-
coption of the navy and the attorney gem
eral. not cabinet member knew OF the
presidents intention to take this action.
II is not denied. however. that such move
has beer, long In contemplation. as Is evi-
denced by the following statement OF AS
sistant Secretary Day. made this aftor-
noon:
Tho sending OF the Maine to Havana
means simply tho RESUMPTION OF friendly
naval relations with Spain. It is CUSTOM
AIRY for naval vessels OF friendly Iatlons
10 pass In and out nf tho harbors OF other
countries with which they are at peace.
and British and German ~arshlps have re-
Gently visited Havana. This is not a new
move. The president has intended to do
IL lUT SuUit ttulS, Dul utIttUtOlc tOiuttuiuB
has happened to POSTPONE It, The orders to
the Maine mean nothing more than l have
said. but there is nothing alarming or un-
friendly in them. The Spanish minister
hore Is fully informed OF what is going on.
and so far as ] know hns not made the
slightest objection to it,
Farther, Assistant Secretary Day said
that Consul General Lee had lot sent for
a warship, This statement shows that the
move was made deliberately. and 1t could
not have been taken II there were serious
approximations OF It's results In Havana.
the general belief here, however. is that
in Madrid rather than In any Cuban own
w trouble 10 be locked for. n there should
u, fS-Ya sss-afp-sheiisis~sf Of the purpuatY,ss
r>tSs goSernIneht IN sesdsns the siairxsaFlS
Havana. This temper or the opposition pa
pers IN the Spanish capital has been threat
ening for some time. and II may require
the strong hand Of the new censor to re-
press utterancea that would lead to riot
ing,
Admiral Sicard's orders were not made
public In their text at the navy depart
ment but 1t was stated that the substances
of them was contained In the statement by
Secretary Long. The orders We're not sent
directly to the Maine, for sho is not attach
cd to the squadron. and the naval regula-
lions require all such orders to 40 through
the s,,poror officer. There is some uues-
ton whether the telegram reached the al
mir;tl before he sailed with his squadron
from Key West for Tortugas harbor, TINS
will make little difference however. In the
programme. as the telegram will liRcly be
sent to the admiral by ono OF th&torpedo
boats or some other means OF conveyahee'
The details OF the Names movements are
believed to he left for the arrangement OF
Admiral Sicard. but 1t Is Thought the snlp
which nut TO sea with the squadron will re-
turn TO Key West before going to Havana.
The German ships to which Assistant
Secretary Day referred In his statement arc
the Charlotte and the Geyer. both framing
ships. and not OF a formidable type. though
one was sufficient to settle hastily the re-
cent Haytan difficulty
Touching at Havana rs not b>levcd to bo
MS tho cruise was arranged IN
all details last September. and the same
ships are due at Charleston early IN rep
ruary
The commander of tho Maine, Captain
siesbee l. a tavorite In the navy depart
lnent. He was lucky to get so important
ship as the Maine. az his rank IL only tnat
Of a commander, but Immediately he 1usti-
fled tho departments Judgment In the So
lection by running his nhjp straight into
dock IN New York hartor TO avoid run
ming down packed excursion boat, This
display OF quick ncrve and pluck pleased
tho department so highly that the captain
was sent complimentary letter. His OIL
GERS are also u good lot
Washington, January "a 1.-The United
states ship Maine was ordered to Havana.
II Is said a. the navy department that no
disturbing news has been received from
there, but that the movement is rather In
the limo of a resumption OF free intercourse
Of our naval vessels In Cuban waters, the
same as prevailed prior to the withdrawal
nm acco,,nt nj the outbreak OF hOstilitIeB.