The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-20
| THE MOVE EXPLAINED
Lee Asked that the montgomery Be
Ordered from Havana.
he WANTED THE IOWA SENT THERE.
Not Done because Of Very Vigorous
Objection hya
MEMBER OF COURT or INQUIRY
He Knew Inside Facts at tho De-
struction OF the Maine.
DIDN'T WISH TO LOSE THE IOWA.
story from Key West to the Erect
that the MontRomcry Narrowly
ESCAPED Beinw blown U.
MEMBER OF COURT or INQUIRY
He Knew Inside Facts of tho De.
struction OF the Maine.
DIDN'T WISH TO LOSE THE IONA.

Boston. March IA. Maurice Low SENDS
the following from Key West;
Tho return OF the cruiser Montgomery
ulation which the authorities have declined
to end by giving reasons The real reasons
arc interesting and show how grave the
situation is. The accuracy OF my state
ment can not be questioned. The Mont-
eomery was ordered to return from Havana
harbor al the suggestion OF Consul Cen.
cral Lee. He pointed out to the authosi-
ties that the retention OF the cruiser In
Havana harbor was source OF tho circu-
lation of rumors and menace rather than
a protection In case OF outbreak. She
could not land sufficient force to be
much. II any protection TO American In
terests, while she was not sufficiently pow
erful to cope with the guns OF the forts and
Spanish warships in case OF sudden dec
laratlon OF hosiiiitics. In view OF these
circumstances General Lee recommended
the withdrawal Of the Montgomery and tho
substitution or the Fern or some other
vessel OF the same character. The Form
can perform equally good services ais the
Montgomery In the evcnt that General Lee
and other Americans haveato leave Havana
In hurry and the Fern stands In less
danger OF being fired upon than vessel
OF war. General Lee recommended the
sending OF the Iowa to Havana 10 bring
back the court OF inquiry here.
n y will be remembered that few days
ago a rumor was printed that the adinin-
istrntion had decided to send the Iowa 70
Havana 10 impress the spanlards with tho
power OF our navy. This was at General
Lees suggestion. He told our government
that the Spanards could not be made 10
believe that we had formidable navy UNI
less they had an ocular demonstration Il
the fact. The spaniards, he reported, be-
lieved the Maine was the finest ship In the
American navy and thu: her destruction
made 1t impossible for the United States 10
think about fighting Spain To correct
this impression General Leo suggested that
the Iowa should go to Havana harbor take
the court Of Inquiry on board and speed
out again. an operation which would give
the spaniards some material for sober re-
Election. When the facts of this RECON-
mendation came to the knowledge OF q
very high naval officer who Is familiar
with every word OF evidence brought out
by the court OF inquiry q can not use his
name or go more Into detailJ, no made :
vigorous protest and objected most siren
uously to the governments taking any
risks of sending the finest battieship OF
the navy into Havana harbor. He gave his
reasons for making this protest aud pointed
out dangers which might be Incurred.
can not go into details, 1t would not be
proper.
II is only necessary to add that the ar
giments by this distinguished naval Of
flccr were so urgent that the Iowa was not
sent to Havana. They influenced tne de-
partment TO accept General Lees sugses-
ton and to order the Montgomery back 70
Key West.
WAS THERE A SPANISH PLOT?
Key West, March There was story
here tonight that the destruction oil tho
Montgomery had been planned and would
have been accomplished had che not been
moved out OF Havana harbor by orders Of
the United States navy department.
Spanish officers were heard In an Havana
cafe speaking In regretful tones that she
had not been blown up. One said II WAS
not too late. but the next day the Montgom-
cry was moved out Of the harbor. Meap-
time Captain Converse had sent cipher
dispatch to Washington and received "
ancwer.
Naval officers here deny that the Mont.
gomery was ordered out OF Havana harooy
because Of any danger apprehended, hut
say the order was sent merely IN pursuance
OF the plan Of naval operations adopted y
d al n ~ Il +. u