New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-11
ruE FEELING IN HAVANA.
>rcu CLASSES PUZZLED BY THE AR
RIVAL OF THE MONTGOMERY.
.,.su,xc prrENCEs OF THE HARBoR IN TIE
,r,rr,Y, THAT CRISIS is AT HAND-THE
MAINE INQUIRY IN ITS
FINAL STAGES
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Havana. March 9. via Key West. March TO-
The Montgomery lay in sight Of the harbor sew
.-al hours this morning before entering. Many
.N5,ers were among the people the water
,,o,, who watched the ship. The feeling was
,o,her sullen, and an occasional utterance was
heard against the Americans" This
,ec,ally the case when the salutes fired.
however there was no open demonstration. The
cscials have complied with all Of Captain Sigs-
he's requests regarding anchorage. He stated
vigorously but courteously that the place origi-
naly selected was not satisfactory. The Mont
romery is now anchored within few hundred
feet Of the wreck Of the Maine.
People here are puzzled by the coming Of the
ship. The ignorant Spanish classes make
favorable comparisons with the OQuendo and the
Vizcaya. Nevertheless. the knowledge that the
United States is determined 10 have q warshp
in Havana Harbor has good effect.
THE MAINE INQUIRY ABOUT OVER
The Naval Board has substantially completed
its investigations Everything Is in the
nature Of cumulative testimony. strengthening
the evidence that the Maine was blown up by
an external explosion. The divers this week
have been able to add little TO what they pre-
viously learned. In effect. the proof from the
condition Of the hull and the keel. as we'll as the
magazines. makes what might be called COM
plete case Of structural evidence OF an external
cause. How far the Board determine the
agency Of the explosion ls very uncertain. Many
accounts Of conspiracies are sifted by It with
out result A full digest and analysis Of the
testimony has been made. Il IL understood that
this IS on its way TO Washington.
The Spanish divers are continuing their work
internationally and in a perfurctory manner. The
superstructure Of wreckage Is now fairly well
cleared away. Nothing definite can be learned
REGARDING the Spanish Admiralty Boards In
,ention to close It's investigation. The Spanish
authorities will do nothing until the American
inquiry is closed
THE LEE EPISODE.
Little publicity has been permitted for either
the Lee episode or the talk Of warships as
means Of bringing provisions. The papers have
published more from Madrid than from the
United States on that subject These have con-
sisted in denials from Sagasta that the recall OF
Consul-General Lee was demanded. At the
same time President McKinley's declaration
that Lees course had been satisfactory to the
Government and under no circumstances would
he be relieved was published. This, with the
statement that the Consul General had been
eulogzed in Congress. has had a good effect
and strengthens Lees official influence. The
ultra Spanish now know IL Will be useless TO
make any further objections. General Blanco
had no par; In the movement against the Con-
sui General. but other official representatives or
Spain did as we'll as members of the Autono-
mist Cabinet. General Lee not Informed
OF what had taken place unit, the incident was
closed. The commercial classes who are yet
hopeful Of peaceful Intervention or mediation by
the United States are pleased 20 have General
Lee remain. They assure him that no outbreak
against Americans will occur.
PREPARING FOR DEFENCE.
The authorities apparently think crisis in
the relations with the United States is close.
but do not believe the time is quite ripe for
them 10 meet II. They are receiving information
Of the CoalinE Of American vessels and
pushing their own preparations for the defence
Of Havana Harhor. This is in the face OF semi
Official statements from the Captain Generals
confidential advisers that the diplomats will set
tie the questions growing out OF the Maine dis
aster and all other matters OF dispute which
may arise between the two governments. New
ertheless every suggestion Of Intervention by
the United States to end the present conditions
IN Cuba is resented with bitterness THE Army
Gazette" publishes a map Of the coast and
points out whore SPANS navy will strike ef
fec,ively when war begins" The action Of
Congress IN voting $50O00OO0 credit is pub
nshed without a comment. Neither the officials
nor army officers seem to understand its mean
ing Coincident with this action Havana com
mercal houses have news further weakening
credit 10 the effect that the Spanish Bank in
Madrid is refusing Government bills Of exchange
from Cuba.
COLLAPSED GOVERNMENT
The Autonomist or Colonial Government is in
a state OF collapse. The claim that the Cubans
who have been arrested charges Of
splracy are implicated in dynamite similar
plots is false. They are held on political charges
" assurance can be had that they VII have
trial before deportation. This is an illus
traton OF the panic stricken feeling Of the au-
thorities. The Autonomst Cabinet iS made TO
bear the odium of these arrests Nobody heed's
Madres proposals for modifying and broaden
:rs autonomy or pays any attention 10 the
long uan!Festocs issued by the Autonomist fac
lions in Cuba The sole topic now IS the rela-
tons with me United States. The authorities
cite the qule; prevailing this week during the
exciting reports. but this is not conclusive.
The Havana population has been engaged in ad-
mrirg the Spanish warships. and has known
little Of what was going on elsewhere
Senator Proctor during his ten days stay has
learned much concerning the real conditions on
the ISLAND lie returns with no faith in the
Continuance Of Spanish sovereignty in Cuba
He has found II everywhere impotent
CAPTAIN CONVERSE CALLS on BLANCO.
AQlr- DAY IT TIE CUBAN CAPITAI,-cAPTAIN
SAMPSON INDIsPosED
Havana. March l0-Captain Converse. Of the
United States cruiser Montgomery. in company
with Consul-GcneraI Lee. called Captain
General Blanco to-day. and was received cor
daily and courteously. The officers OF the Mont
gomery pay and receive the usual cour;esies
here visiting the Spanish Admiral and other