Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-26
WARSHIPS AT HAVANA
Their Assembling is favorably Re-
garded Here.
NEWS FROM CONSUL GENERAL LEE
No Disorders Reported at the
Cuban Capital.
LATE RUMORS FROM MADRID

HAVANA, Cuba, January 26.-The Ger
man cruiser Charlotte (school ship has just
arrived here British warship has reached
here from Key West and some French
warships are expected here from New Or
leans.
officials Here Are Pleased.
The officials here are pleased at the suc-
cess attending their movement in dispatch
ing the battle ship Maine to Havana, and
at the reception accorded the ship at that
port. The report that British and rench
warships are to join the American and Ger
man warships in Havana harbor is regard
ed here as highly favorable although no
official notice of such intentions on the
part of the British and French governments
has been received. The presence of vessels
Of these nationalities alongside of the
United States warship will go far, it is be-
ieved, to convince the people of Havana
and Madrid that there is no sinister pur-
pose in the Names visit, while 1t will make
it exceedingly difficult for the Spanish gov
ernment to find any reasonable ground for
complaint against the United States gov
ernment without laying itself open to the
charge of discrimination, for the same OBJ
lection must lie against the presence of the
warships of any or all nations.
No Disorder at Havana.
Consul General Lee teiegraphed last
evening. He said: Have just received a
visit from the commander Of the Maine and
will return it tomorrow. He had already
returned official visits of Spanish and other
naval vessels No disorders of any Sort
He telegraphed substantially the same
thing today.
o7H olc haV h.
ing officially If any trouble or misunder-
standing between Consul General Lee and
Secretary General CcnSosto, and attach
little importance to the rumors to that ef-
feet. 1t is suggested that the basis may be
the report current several days ago that
DIR. CongoSto had expressed displeasure be-
cause General Lee had declined to state
officially that he had not predicted failure
for the autonomy plan.
1t is said at the Navy Department that
es matters stand there is nc call for fur
tier Instructions at present to Captain
Sigsbee, who Is permitted to use his own
discretion in dealing with the events of the
cay, although he has been enjoined to con-
suit freely with Consul General Lee and
Vas also mtnutely instructed before he ar
rived at Havana as to the wishes of the
Secretary of the Navy.
The North Atlantic Squadron.
Secretary Long this morning received a
telegram from Admiral Sicard saying that
the North Atlantic squadron had gone into
the inner anchorage at Dry Tortugas. The
telegram was brought to Key West by the
Fern, which is serving as dispatch and
supply boat for the fleet. The torpedo boats
in the vicinity of Key West are under Ad-
miral Sicard's orders while near the squad
ron to serve also dispatch vessels and to
give the vessels some practice in the drills
for repelling torpedo attacks. This does
Int farfn vx,ffI tta
orders to Lieut.. Commander Kimball, the
commanding officer of the torpedo-boat flo
tilia, and the little craft will continue on
their cruise along the coast as far west as
GaFeston, and then, returning, go up the
Mississippi river in the early spring. The
Porter, one of the fleet, sailed yesterday
from Port Tampa for Mobile in company
with the Ericsson, to be present at local
celebration there. but they will probably
return to the squadron before resuming
their alongshore cruise.
The North Atlantic fleet will be augment
ed In day or two by the cruiser Montgom-
cry, which left Port au Prince yesterday
Tor Key West. She has been on a cruise to
Navassa to investigate labor conditions on
the island
Orders have been received at the New
York navy yard to hurry the work on the
cruiser Brooklyn, in order that she may
sail Saturday, the date named by the Navy
Department. Night and day gangs are
working on the vessel According to the
yard officials the Brooklyn will be ready to
sail Saturday and will be with the fleet
In the gulf on the following Monday.
Reports About Spanish Ships.
Secretary Long said today that he had
received no notice from Spanish Minister
De Lcme or from any other source that
Spanish men Of war have been ordered to
visit United States ports. They were per-
fectly welcome to come and go as they
pleased, he said, and, far as he was
concerned, he would be delighted to have
them come. Spanish warships have fire.
quently visited the United States since
the insurrectionary outbreak in Cuba three
years ago without having excited the least
unfriehdly comment. and there was no rea-
son why any Significance should be at
tached to their coming again whenever
they feel disposed to do SO. The Spanish
flagship on this station took part in the
ceremonies connected with the dedication
Of the Grant monument at New York about
a year ago. and also at a subsequent cele-
bration in Philadelphia last summer. after
which the Spanish admiral and his staff
visited this city and paid their respects
to the President ard the members of his
cabinet. Secretary Long said he recalled
with pleasure the visit Of the party to the
Navy Department
From Secretary Longs statement It
would clearly appear that the administra-
tion would be glad If the Spanish govern
ment. following Washington's example"
should instruct Spanish warships to visit
a few American ports," as a dispatch from
Madrid this morning said was the purpose
of the Spanish government. One naval
official remarked this morning, In discuss
ing this alleged plan, that in the present
excited state of the American mind, 1t
was more probable that trouble would
follow the visit of a Spanish warship to
certain American ports filled with Cuban
sympathizers, like Key West and Tampa,
than that 1t would occur in Havana in con-
sequence of the presence Of the United
States warship Maire.
Secretary Sherman also said he had heard
nothing of the plan to send Spanish war
ships to American ports, but he said he
saw no reason why they shouldn't come
and be welcome, 'apd," he added, II would
be glad II they did come'
Personal Mention.