The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-01-27
NO WARLIKE MOVEMENT
Inthe Sending ofthe Steamer Maine
to Havana.
VISIT TO A FRIENDLY NATION.

The Spanish Minister at Washington
Fully Informed, and Sees No Reason
For Ohjectiou-Consul General Lee
Did Not Ask For warship.
Washington. Jan. 25.-within q few
hours, for the first time since the in
surrection broke out in Cuba three
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 q special
meeting ut the White House yesterday
between the president, Secretary Long,
Attorney General McKenna, Assistant
Secretary Day and General Miles, and
II is a striking fact that with the ex-
ception Of the secretary OF the navy
and the attorney general not a member
Of the cabinet knew of the president $
intention to take this radical action.
1t is not denied. however, that some
such move has been long in contempla-
ton, as is evidenced In the following
statement of Assistant Secretary Day:
THE sending of the Maine to Havana
means simply the resumption OF friend
ly naval relations with Spain. 1t is
customary for naval vessels of friend
ly nation to pess In and out of the har-
bors 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 II for some time
but heretofore something has happened
to postpone 1t. The orders to the Maine
mean nothing more than I have said
and there is nothing alarming or un-
friendly in them. The Spanish minister
here is fully informed Of what Is going
on. and so far as know has not made
the slightest objection to It,"
Further. Assistant Secretary Day
said that Consul General Lee had no,
sent for warship.
This statement shows that the move
was made deliberately, and that II
could not have been taken II there were
serious apprehension Of it's results ir
Havana. The general belief here. how
ever Is that in Madrid. rather than II
any Cuban town, Is trouble to be looked
for, II there should be any mlsapprehen
sion Of the purpose Of our government
In sending the Maine TO havana. Int
temper Of the opposition newspapers II
the Spanish capital has been threaten
| ing for some time. and It may require
the strong hand of the news censor t,
repress utterances that would lead t.
rtoting.
Admiral Sicard's orders were no
made public in their text at the nav!
department. but 1t was stated that th'
substance OF them was contained in tn,
statement made by Secretary Day. Th
orders were not sent directly to tn,
Maine for the reason that she is nov
attached to the squadron. and the nava
regulations require all such orders to &
through the superior officer. There Il
some question whether the telegram
reached the admiral before he saile'
with his squadron from Key West 70
Tortugas harbor. The belief is that !
did not, but this will make little diff
! ference in the program, inasmuch a
the telegram doubtless will be sent t
the admiral by one Of the torpedo boat
| or some other means OF conveyance
The details Of the Maine's movement
are believed to be left for the arrange
| ment Of Admiral Sicard.