The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-28

in Madrid Over This Ne WIS -Uneasiness in
Havana-Extra Guards Around Lees OF
fce-yoIunteers Called for to Protect
the American Colony
Jacksonville, Fla, January 23.-(Sun-
day.)-A telegram from Wey West says
Admiral Sicard, with the battleships
New York, Indiana, Massachusetts, Iowa
and Texas, arrived off the bar at 10
o'c.ock. The Maine, Montgomery and De-
troit and the torpedo boats Gushing and
Dupont went out and Joined the fleet.
kilograms from Havana last night
state that extra guards have been placed
around General Lees office for protec-
ton. Circulars were distributed around
Havana calling on volunteers for the
protection of the American colony.
The commander of the naval station at
Key West received a message from Cen
eral Lee this afternoon. He is safe, the
city is quiet, but there is suppressed ex-
element in tine American colony. The
white squadron is anchored at Key West
and will sail for Tortugas tomorrow.
Madrid, January 23-(Sunday.)-The re-
port that American warships have been
ordered to Cuban waters has caused
great excitement mere.
The Impartial in the course of a violent
article, sa VS.: we see now the eagernesS
of the Yankees to seize Cuba"
A grand banquet was given at the
palace this evening in honor of the name
day of King Alfonso. The members of
the cabinet and the principal members of
the diplomatic corps were present.
The cabinet met afterward and decided
so it is repOrted-to address a manifesto
to the country. One minister, in the
course Of an Interview, said the govern
ment was quite tranquil respecting the
of the American warships,
which were fully known TO the minister
of marine.
THE MAINE ORDERED TO HAVANA.
Washington, January 24.-Within forty
eight hours, for the first time since the
instruction broke out in Cuba three
years ago., the United States government
We'll be represented i'm the harbor of Ha-
wanna by a Warship. The decision to send
The United States steamship 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 General Miles, and it is a
striking fact that, with the exception of
the secretary of the navy and the attOr-
ney general, not a member Of the cabinet
knew of the presto =nt'S intention to take
this radical action.
1t is not denied. however, that some
suCh move has been long in contempla-
tion, as is evidenced in the following
statement of Assistant Secretary 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
tiOnS to pass in and out of the har5orS of
other countries with which they are at
peace, and British and German warships
have recently visited Havana. This is no
new move. The president has intended to
do it for some time, but heretofore, some
tLhing has happened TO postpone it. 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 fully informed
of what is going on, and, so far as L
know. has not made the slightest objec-
tiOn to it,
Further, Assistant Secretary Day said
that Consul General Lee had not sent for
Il warship. This statement shows that
the move was made deliberately, and
that it could mot have been taken if
there were serious a~pprehenSionS of it's
results in Havana. The general belief
here, however, lis that in Madrid rather
than in any Cuban town is trouble to be
hooked for, if there should be any misap-
prehensiOns of the purpose of our gov
ernment sending the Maine to Havana
TIL temper of the opposition newspapers
i'm the Spanish capital has been threat
ening for some time. and it may require
the strong hand of the news censor to re-
press utterances that would lead to riot
ing.
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 in the fol-
Rowing statement made by Secretary
Long:
so far from there being any founda-
tion 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 and out just as the vessels of
other nations do. The Maine will go in
II day or two on just such a visit. The
department has issued orders for vessels
to attend the public celebrations in Mo-
bile and the Mardi Gras at New Orleans
and for the torpedo tiOtilla to visit Gal
weston, Texas"
The orders We're not sent directly to the
Maine for the reason that she is now at
tached to the squadron and the naval
regulations require all such orders to go
through the superior officer. There is
some question whether the telegram
reached the admiral before he sailed with
his squadron from Key West for Tor
tugas harbor. The belief is that it did
NOT. but this will make little difference
in the programme. inasmuch as the tele-
gram doubtless will be sent to the adj
miral by one of the torpedo boats or
some other means of conveyance. The de-
tails of the Names movements are be-
lieved to be left for the ~rrangement of
Admiral Sicard. but it is thou ght that the
ship. which put to sea with the squad
ron. will return to Key West before going
to Havana.
The German ships to which Assistant
Secretary Day referred in his state
ment are the Charlotte and the Geyer,
both training ships, and not of fomida-
BILE type, though one sufficed to settle
hastily the Haytian difficulty. Their
touching at Havana is not believed to be
significant. as their cruiSS was arranged
i'm an details last SepteNNber and the
same ships are due at Charleston, S. c.,
cary in February next.
AT THE SPANISH LE&ATIoE.
AT the Spanish legation AothiE was
known of the order for the Main/ to pro-
coed to Havana Minister de lone said
that even in case it were true that ii
portended nothing serious: it was per-
fectly in accord with usage for warships
of two, friendly powers to enter and
leave each others ports. The warShips
of Spain had visited American ports or
complimentary missions three times in
as many years and if there had not been
an American warShip in Havana in tbs
same length of time, it was merely be.
cause the United States government had
not seen fit to order one there. AS tC
the possible consequences of the Names
appearing at Havana ait this time, the
minister expressed himself as not at al