The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-25
is A SYMBOL OF PEACE
THIS is ASSISTANT SECRETARY
DAYS EXPLANATION.
SENATORS TAKE A DIFFERENT VIEW
Several of Them Express Satisfaction Minister
De LONE .Says 1T is Usual Among
Friendly Nations--But It Was a
Conclusion Suddenly Reached.

Conclusion Suddenly Reached.
Washington, Jan. 24.-Within forty
eight hours, for the first time since the
instruction broke out in Cuba three
years ago, the United States government
will be represented in the harbor of
Havana by a war ship. The decision to
send the United States ship Maine was
finally reached at a special meeting at
the White House this morning between
the President, Secretary Long, Attorney
General Mckenna. Assistant Secretary
Day and Gen. Miles, aud it is q striking
fact that with the exception of the See
rotary of the Navy and the Attorney
General not a member of the Cabinet
knew of the Presidents intention to take
this radical action. 1t is not denied. how
ever, that some such move has been long
in contemplation, as is evidenced i'll the
following statement of Assistant Sec
rotary Day made this afternoon.
THE sending of the Maine TO Havana
means simply the resumption of friendly
Naval relations with Spain. 1t is Gus
tomary for Naval vessels of friendly ma
tons TO pass in and out of the harbors
of other countries with which they are
at peace, and British and German war
ships have recently visited Havana. This
is no new move. The President has IN
tended to do it for some time, but here
tofore something has happened to post
pone 1t. The orders to the Maine mean
nothing more than have said. and there
is nothing alarming or unfriendly in
them. The Spanish Minister here is full
IL Informed OF what is going on. and so
far as | know has not made the slight
est objection to it,"
Further, Assistant Secretary Day said
that Consul General Lee had not sent
for war ship. This statement shows
that the move was made deliberately
and that it would not have been taken
if there were serious apprehension of It's
results in Havana. The general belief
here, however, is that in Madrid rather
than in any Cuban town is trouble to
be looked for, if there should be any
misapprehension of the purpose of our
government sending the Maine to Ha-
vana. The temper of the opposition
newspapers in the Spanish capital has
been threatening for some time and it
may require the strong hand of the
would lead to rioting.
Admiral Sicard's orders were not made
public in their text at the Navy Depart
ment, but it was stated that the sub
stance of them was contained i'll the fol-
lowing statement made by Secretary
Long:
SO far from there being any founda-
ton for the rumors yesterday of trouble
at Havana, matters are now in such con-
dition that our vessels are going to re-
sumo their friendly calls at Cuban ports
and go in a day or two on just such a
visit. The department has issued orders
for vessels to attend the public celebra-
tlODs in Mobile and the Mardi Gras at
New Orleans and for the torpedo boat
Flotilla TO visit Galveston, Texas"
The orders were not sent directly to
the Maine for THE reason that she is
now attached to the squadron and the
naval regulations require all such or
dcrs to- go Through the superior officer.
There is some question whether the tela-
gram reached fine admiral before he
sailed with his squadron from Key
West for T'ortugas harbor. The belief
h that 1T did not, but this will make
little difference on the program mas
much as the telegram doubtless will be
cent to the admiral by one of the tor
pcti0 boats3 or some other means of con-
yeyance. The details Of the Maine
movements are believed to he left for
the arrangement of Admiral Sicard, but
III Is Thought THAT tire ship, which put
TO sea with the squadron, will return to
Key West before going to Havana.
The German ships, TO which Assistant
Secretary Day referred in his statement.
are tine Charlotte and the Geyer, both
training ships and not of formidable
type, though one sufficed to settle
HASTILY the Haytian difficulty. Their
touching att Havana ia not believed to
be significant Ets their cruise wills ar
ranged in all details last September and
the same ships are due Mt Charleston,
$. C., early i'm February next.
At the Spanish lcgaton nothing was
known of the order for the Maine to
proceed to Havana. Minister De LONE
said that even in case it were true tina
it portended nothing serious. 1t was
perfectly Gn accord with usage for war
ships of two friendly powers to ENTER
and leave each others ports. The war
ships of Spain had visited American
ports ON complimentary missions three
times lin as MANY years and if there had
not been an American warship in
Havana I'm tlle same length of time it
was merely because The United States
government had not seen fit TO order
one there. As to the possible conse-