The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-25
MISSION OF U. S. S. MAINE
CONFLICTING OPINIONS As TO IT'S
ACTUAL PURP0RT.

Means the resumption OF Friendly he
lations With spain-A General Belief
That Warship is More Needed at
Madrid Than at Havana.
Washington, Jan. 24,-Within forty
eight hours, for the first time since the
years ago, the United States govern
ment will be represented in the harbor
of Havana by a warship. The decision
to send the United States steamship
Maine was finally reached at special
meeting at the white house this morn
ing between the president, Secretary
Long, Attorney General McKenna, AS
sistant Secretary Day and General
Miles, and it is a striking fact that,
with the exception of the secretary of
the navy and the attorney general, not
q member Of the cabinet knew of the
presidents intention to take this action.
1t is known, however, that this move
has been in contemplation for some
time. Assistant Secretary Day said
"The sending Of the Maine to Havana
means simply the resumption of friend
ly relations with Spain. 1t is custom
ary for naval vessels of friendly ma
tion to pass in and out of the harpors
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 intended to do it for some time, but
heretofore something has happened to
postpone it. The orders to the Maine
mean nothing more than | have said,
and there is nothing alarming nor un-
friendly in them. The Spanish minis
ter here is fully informed of what is
going on, and so far as I know he has
not made the slightest objection to it. !"
Further, Assistant Secretary Day said
that Consul General Lee had not sent
for a warship. This statement shows
that the move was made deliberately,
and that it could not have been taken if
there were serious apprehensions of its
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 in sending the Maine to
Havana. The temper of the opposition
newspapers in the Spanish capital has
been very warm for some time.
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 that such or
1orJ, ha OH
There is some question whether the tel
egram reached the admiral before he
sailed with his squadron from Key
West for Tortugas harbor. The belief
is that 1t did not, but this will make lit
tie difference in the programme, as the
telegram doubtless will be sent to the
admiral by one of the torpedo boats or
some other means of conveyance. The
details of the Names movements are
believed to be left for the arrangement
Of Admiral Sicard, but it is thought
that the ship which put to sea with the
squadron will return to Key West be-
fore going to Havana.
The commander of the Maine, Captain
Sigsbee, is a favorite in the navy de-
partment For four years he was chief
of the photographic office and by his en-
ergy brought UP the Office to high
standard. He was lucky to get so i'm
portant ship as the Maine, consider
ing his actual rank, which is that of a
commander, but Immediately he justi-
fed the departments judgment in the
selection by running his ship straight
into a dock in New York harbor tc
avoid running down packed excursion
boat. This was display of quick
Judgment, nerve and pluck that pleas
ed the department so, highly that the
captain was sent complimentary let.
ter.