The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-26
SOCIAL DUTIES OF THE MAINE.
Customs Observed by the Warship
ON Reaching Havana.

ON Reaching Havana.
Washington, Jan. 25.-The Cabinet met
4 at the usual hour to-day and gave only
short notice to the Cuban question and this
was confined closely to expressions of sat
sfacton as to the manner in which the
4 press and the people had received the news
Of the admins trations action in sending
the Maine to Havana.
The procedure to be followed by the
Maine on her arrival off Havana was laid
down at the navy department as follows:
Being daylight (for no craft is permit
ted to enter the harbor during darkness)
81 the entrance to the harbor, the Maine
will begin to fire a salute of q guns. AS
soon as the last gun has been fired the
guns on Moro Caste will begin a return
salute of the same number of guns. Then
if there is a Spanish admiral in the har-
Dor a salute must be fred by the
Maine in his honor. This
would be Is guns if he be
vice admiral and thirteen guns if rear
admiral This salute will be returned in
kind and probably the Spanish admiral
will send a staff officer aboard the Maine
TO greet Capt. Sigsbee. This call must be
returned and then there may be Wis
iation from port officials, health officers
and others.
Meanwhile, presuming that Consul Cen
eral Lee has not appeared, Capt. Sigsbee
will send one of his officers ashore to the
United States consulate general with
message to Gen. Lee, stating that the
Maine is waiting his order and intimating
that he would be pleased to receive the
consul general aboard or to call on him
ashore, at his pleasure.
These calls having been exchanged, the
10 ~, .1.Y. Nil 1Ar n
the acting captain general, for it is re-
ported that Captain General Blanco has
gone eastward from Havana as far as
Btabano. With this call the ceremonies
conclude, so far as the custom prescribes,
though there may be some entertainment
extended to the Names officers by Off
cials in Havana.
1t is likely that the Maine's crew will
be Kept closely aboard ship. In this way
the probabilities of an unfriendly encoun-
Ter between a convivial party of sailors
ana roWdies will be reduced. Moreover,
the confinement is believed to be neces-
tafN as a means TO preserve the ship from
Danger Of contracting the yellow fever,
which, it is understood, is now in evidence
AZ Havana.
Tie second telegram from Consul Gen.
eFaI Lee received at the state department
Today came al 2 o'clock and was carried
mite House for the information of the
PRESIDENT In this telegram Gen. Lee said
mat the Maine had been received with
every courtesy. The commanders of the
Hefman and Spanish ships of war in the
Narhor had called upon the commander of
lhe Maine who had returned their call,
me Spanish forts had fired salutes and
an lne ceremonies called for by naval eti-
PLetie had been observed.
IN addition the consul general stated
U,al everything was tranquil in Havana.
ne department officials have heard
no'hlng officially OF any trouble or mis-
yN0erstanding between Consul General
Ice and Secretary General Congosto, and
az az tIch little Importance to the rumors to
That effect.
III is SAID at the navy department that
a. a. matters stand there is no call for fur
.e' Instructions at present to Capt. Sigs-
we VINO is permitted TO use his own dis
~ ion in dealing with the events of the
~ although he has been enjoined to
o,n7dt freely with Consul General Lee
%'' was also mlnutely instructed before
n arrived at Havana as 10 the wishes
VI 'he Secretary Of the Navy.