The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-09


Spanish government. the answer was
made that the plans for the trip were
completed aud that the stay OF the
ships would be as brief and of the
most pacific character.
In responding TO the request for
Gen. Lees recall, the President does
not appear TO have deemed the subject
open to such discussion as would re
quire the views of his cabinet aasoci-
a.es, and after brief exchange be-
tween the White House and the state
department the negative answer was
dispatched to Minister Woodford
One phase of the incident that tends
TO show the firm stand taken by the
administration is the expedition with
when the action was accomplished.
Such matter is ordinarily laid be-
fore the cabinet. the views Of all its
members personally given and the
fullest opportunity afforded for discus,
sion. Bot in this case the Associated
Press bulletin furnished to some
members of the cabinet the first init
nation they had that Gen. Lees ser
vice was open to question Before
the cabinet meeting no hint or com
plant of any kind relating to Gen.
Lee had been made.
The grounds on which Gen. Lees re-
Gall was aeked are Dot officially dis
closed. It is known. however, that the
Spanish government has chsted for
some tiue over Gen Lees preseose IN
Habana. although this has pever taken
The form Of definite protest prior to
the present time Il began to assume
/ more serious aspect shortly after the
ssIissl Of the Maine at Hsbsoa. At
that time Gen. Lee escorted Capt.
Sigsbes on his roupd Of oficial eallss
There we're made with due formalisy,
bns the Spanish officials took ofenss
uhen tbs calls uere restricted to Gen.
Biaoco, Admir.i Mantsrola and the
representative Of the military arm of
.Spain's g service, and did not Include
Premier Gaiyex and his associates OF
the ausonomous cabinet, who repre-
sent the new civil regime which Spain
is seeking to enforce. The matter
came to the at.eosion Of Senor Dupuy
De Lone, then Spanish minister at
Washington. and elthongh there we're
30 protests the situation doubtless
reached the state department, as snis-
able amends we're made by Capt Sigs
bees ealing on DR. Copgesto. the civil
secresary general. Premier Galves and
HE associates. There was like irrisa-
sioo over dinner given by Consul
General Lee to the officers of the
Maine. The list Of guests on that 90
cssion is said to have omitted SONS Of the
Spanish aaval officers. and to have inclu.
ded, quite conspicaously, the names Of q
number Of American newspaper cor
respondents Who we're regarded BY the
Spanish officials at Habana as ausago
niistic to them This also came to the
attention of the ofieials here, but vas
not made the basis for any action. but
rather Of uoof6oial Spanish criticism
of Gen. Lees general mode OF. pro-
csdure.
Within recent days it has been un-
derstood BY officials here that the feel
ing against General Lse had been
smoothed over, and the request for his
recall vas for shat reason in the nature
of a complete surprise There are
circumstances. however. which clearly
disciose the groupds for the recall, al
though it is not known that Spain has
made any exact specifications Of CON
.plsins. Since the Maine disaster re-
port had been circulated that General
Lee held the personal opinion that the
explosion Vas due 20 external causes
No official report of this character w.s
ever sent 20 Washington 80 far ~ il
known Bot the mere circulation Of
the report II Madrid. .tsribusing sucb
views to General Lee. has been the
source Of much feeling 10 Spanish Of
fcial circles. The press dispatches
from Madrid also disclose that General
Lee is held accountable At the Spanish
capital fer sbe project of the purchase
of Caba by .he Uaised States from
Spain, rs we'll as for general senti
men. Of sympathy soward the insur-
gents
The suggestion of The Imparcisl. a
lsadioe government organ, that the
next se.sion of the corses will consider
the case of General Lee. shows tbe
strong influence which induced The Sa
gasta cabinet to ask his recsll 10 this
connection. the fact is noted sbas Senor
Dupuy De Lone is due 10 Spain at this
time. His enforced retiremeos, 90 a
demand by the United States. is felt
to have awakened counter sentiment
a. Madrid which 6ods expression
against Consul General Lee. There is