The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-20
Accordingly twenty /


consulate and guard
residence of Gen. Lee.
They acted as an emery
no occasion arose for tn
be brought into actual
Throughout the disturbance a.
at the legation there was not a o..
against the United States nor a hama
raised against an American citizen. The
Spanish authorities at Havana sent the
strongest possible assurance to Minister
De LONE that they are entirely able to
cope with the situation. They minimized
the demonstration, saying that it was
nothing more than a wind" uprising.
They added that If by any possibility
an emergency should require it-which,
however, they in no way expected-the
government authority is ample to pro-
tect every interest. A large body of
troops is quartered in the city, and these
are said to be more than enough for all
requirements. This statement is made
by way of assurances, however, for the
authorities say the trouble is at an end.
One of the late dispatches state that
an insurgent leader, Col. Lopez Marin,
of the general staff, accompanied by two
others, have turned in their arms in
Pinar del Rio. and have declared for au-
tonOmy, and that Lieut.. Col Aurelio
Sambria, another insurgent leader, had
turned over his arms and those Of his
companions in Matanzas.
The Spanish minister went to the state
department about IL o'clock this morn
tary Day on the situation in Havana.
There is every reason to believe he
conveyed assurances of u restoration of
order and of ample power to protect all
American and other interests substan-
TALLY as set forth above. No word
came to the department from Gen. Lee
during the forenoon, but from other
sources the department learned that
Havana was quiet today, and Judge Day
was assured there was no danger of an
other outbreak, and the Spanish author
tiles have taken every precaution to
guard against a demonstration against
the American consulate by liberal use
of gendarmie. This news confirmed the
officials in their resolution not to make
any changes in the orders of the war
ships and avoid complicating the situa-
ton any further by sending ships to
Havana. 1t was felt that The appearance
of an American warship in Havana har-
Dor would likely be misc construed by the
eXcitable populace and be regarded as
manifesting purpose on the part Of
this government to interfere in favor of
the insurrectionists and this might pre-
cipitate the very trouble 1t was now try
ing to avoid. The department was sup
ported in this by the facts received by
the Spanish authorities late this after
noon.
Meanwhile, as has been said, the navy
is fully prepared for all
emergencies, and although the officials
repeat their statements that no orders
has been sent to the ships in Florida
waters to so to Havana, they have pru-
IDENTIFY shaped their program so as to
have a ship ready Mt any moment that
she might be needed by Consul Gen.
Lee. 1t was said that in case at any
time It should be determined to send a
ship to Havana, the choice would fall
on the Marblehead rather than the
Maine. The right for this choice prob
ably is that the former is swift cruiser
and could cross the strait to Cuba in
much less time than the Maine.
During the day telegram came to
the department from the commander of
the Essex. announcing that he had sail
ed from st. Thomas for Port Royal, so
the fleet of American ships in West In
dian waters has thus another accession,
the Essex, though a training ship, be-
ing still serviceable and excellent for
landing parties The dsquieting stories
that have appeared relative to special
cabinet meet. aad import- 100 con-
fcrcnccs at the ', hite 4 - TO fOrwsrd
war preparations have no ..>andation IN
fact ana are emphatically denied by
ev""vhodv mentioned in the stories.
This naval force is made up with one
exception, the Maine, of unarmored but
lightly protected cruisers and gunboats.
1t will be powerfully REINFORCED, how
ever. in few days by the North Attain
tic squadron under Admiral Sicard, COM
posed of heavily armored vessels, the
most powerful fleet that the United
States has had together in many years.
The vessels of the squadron are now
distributed as follows:
The flagship New York and battle
ships Iowa and Indiana, in Hampton
Roads; the battleships Massachusetts,
and Texas at New York. The former
are to sail OH the 10th for Florida waters,
while the last two are to leave New
York Saturday and Sunday, respective
ly, falling in with and joining the squad
ron on the southern drill grounds of the
capes.
1t is authoritatively stated at the navy
department that this southern movement
of the squadron is in no degree attribute
BILE to the troubles in Havana, but that
the movement is part of The program
for winter maneuyers Of the southern
squadron, prepared by the navy depart
ment months ago after consultation with
Admiral Sicard and Capt. Taylor, and
duly announced through the daily press
Mt the time.
~nNcUTU rISNEn U.EE