The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-25

| which for several years past. or ever
! since the beginning of the Cuban in
| surrection. had been performed with
difficulty and under all kinds of dis
couraging conditions of wind and
weather, off the Chesapeake capes.
| This movement, being received with
| equanimity, the next step followed.
when some of our little gunboats were
sent to cruise in the West Indies. the
Wilmington and the Annapolis now be-
ing in those waters. 1t only remained
to send one of our ships to Havana to
completely restore the old practice.
Naturally this was a more delicate
step than had been called for previous
ly, and it was not until the administra-
tion had satisfied itself that conditions
in Havana had resumed their normal
state that existed before the recent mill
itary riot against the newspapers that
it was deemed timely to make the last
move This decision was not reached
without consideration of all the results
that might follow.
The Maine. which has been selected
to make the trip to Havana, is battle
ship of the second class, and is regard
ed as one of the best ship in the
new navy She was built at the
Brooklyn navy yards and is BIS feet
long. 50 feet broad. 21.6 mean draught
and 6,6S2 tons displacement. She has
two vertical tu1rets and two
military masts, and her motive power
is furnished by twin screws with a
triple expansion engine. having max
imum horse power of 9,293 capable of
making a speed of 175 knots. She car
ries four 10-inch and six 6-inch breeh-
loading guns in her main battery, and
seven 6-pounder and eight 1-pounder
rapid firing guns and four gatlings in
her secondary battery and four white
head torpedoes
While administration officials miss no
af
peace, it may be noted as matter of
interest that the United States has as
sembed at Key West the most formid-
able fleet of warships that has gotten
together in our home waters in many
years. 1t is made up of the North At
lantic squadron, under command of Ad-
miral Sicard. flagship New York; first
class battleships Iowa. Indiana, Massa-
chusetts; second-class battleships
Maine and Texas: cruisers Detroit and
Montgomery: dispatch boat Fern and
the torpedo boat fiotilla. composed of the
Cushing, Ericsson, Dupont and Porter,
which will be reinforced in few days
by the Foote. The big protected cruiser
Brooklyn, almost equal to battleship
herself. is fitting out at the New York
navy yards, and Captain Cook, who
commands the ship. was at the navy
department this morning expecting to
sail the latter part of this week to join
Admiral Sicard's squadron. The gun
boat Nashville and the training ship
Essex are at Port Royal, $. c.. within
easy call. and the entire navy may be
said to be in a state of preparedness
that is gratifying to the officials. in
view of the limited resources placed in
their hands by congress.
Senior Quesada, secretary of the Gu
ban junta, and Senor Albertini of the
Cuban staff in Washington We're about
the capitol during the day comforting
members Cuban
status. Mr.. Quesada said: 1.-THE send
ing of the Maine to Cuba. whatever be
the official version, is, in our opinion,
proof that things are in such condi-
ton in the few Spanish strongholds.
that anarchy reigns and that American
citizens and property, unable to find
protection at the hands of the impo-
tent Spanish government, must have
now the protection of their own vessels.
IT is a declaration to the world that the
United States are not afraid of the
Spanish rabble, which seems to control
the Spanish officials. The attitude of
the Spanish papers and officials has
been that the presence of an American
warship in Havana means intervention;
undoubtedly they will now say that it
is the most natural thing for nation to
send its vessels to the ports of friendly
power, and Mr.. Delome will declare that
his government is delighted. But we
shall soon hear from General Weyler's
subordinates in Cuba and from Spain,
that is. if the cannon of the Maine do
not bring to the Spanish minds the con-
viction that prudence in this case is
the better part of valor."
Senior Albertini says the sending of the
Maine will justify itself with future
events. With his acquaintance with
Spanish methods. he says there is
greater reason for apprehension than has
yet been shown, and he declares that
as soon as Spain finds that Cuba is lost,
carnival Of slaughter will be inau-
gurated, with the guns of Moro castle
and the Cabanis fortress trained on the
city of Havana.