The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-12

Il
| part Of the Spaniards, arises from The iact
tina, the first appointments OF officers TO
| put into force its provisions were made
| generally outside OF their party. in order
| 10 show Cubans in arms that autonomy
was Instituted for their benefit and pro-
| tecticn.'
January Fl General Lee transmitted a
copy OF the decrcos which established the
autonomy on the island OF Cuba.
ON January IS and % General Lee re-
ported by cable daily that all MAS quiet in
Havana and that the rec0nccntrados had
caused some delays but that no difficulty
was apprchended rs TO the landing OF sup
plies.
i February 4 he reported tho receipt OF
money from various sections OF the United
States for relief purposes aGi the manner
In which II Is being distributed.
| February 10 he tclegraphad The State
i department as follows;
| The captain general returned yesterday.
! but he met with no success OF any sort.
Spaniards everywhere unfriendly; rumors
LOT coming demonstrations against him
| here, | think him an excellent man hut
| In an unfortunate position, three serious
combai5 within week. In which insuf-
gents were Victorious
The same day he sent to the State d.
partment statement OF the condition In
the towns In the neighborhood OF the city
OF Havana, made by q person he had sent
to the places for the purpose OF inspect
Ing the number and condition of the starry
ing. The statement covers four towns in
The neighborhood of Havana. and is a re-
iteration of the awful tale of suffering
which came from the other portions OF the
island. AT Molnna del Sur, the statement
says 1t Is impossible for the mayor owing
to the unhealthy condition prevailing and
the want OF resources, 10 relieve the miser-
able people, who die IN numbers from
starvation, fever and smallpox"
There are other towns in the same CON
dition. For example, Guines. Catalina and
Nadruga. whose distress could BE- in some
degree relieved If the country people were
of food"
The consular correspondence in part was
devoted to the Maine disaster and il is in
this part of the correspondence that some
interesting parts developed. The CORE
spondencc consists largely OF cablcgrams
exchanged between Assistant Secretary OF
state Day and General Lee. The first is
dated Havana January Il, and relates to
the riots which were then occurring In
The city. This and the subsequent tele-
grams on the same subject have been pub
iished either in whole or in part.
On January "A, General Lee was noti-
fled by The state department that the
Maine would call at Havana In Il day or
two, and was directed to make arrange
ments for an interchange of friendly calls
between officers and authorities. Under
the same date General Lee advised a pre-
raratlon of the Names visit for six or
seven days that the excitement might sub
side Later General Lee was notified that
the Maine would arrive in Havana on The
next day. Wiring the state department
The next day, General Lee informed them
that the Spanish authorities prolesscd to
think that the United States had an Ill
terror purpose in sending the ship.
Say 1t Will obstruct autonomy. produce
excitement and most probably a demon
stration. Ask that it is not done until
they can get instructions from Madrid. and
say that II for friendly motives. as claimed.
delay is unlmportaut." The kilograms
from January % TO February 4 relate
merely to the reception of the Maine and
the exchange of visits between her officers
and the civil and naval authorities in Ha-
vana. on February Assistant Secretary +!
Day informed General Lee that the scecre-
AIRY of the navy thought 1t important for
sanitary reasons not to keep the Maine |
long in Havana. He asked II some vessels |
having been kept there all the time. and |
requested his views
In reply General Lee said he thought |
there would be no danger to the health of
the vessels crew before May. I'VE should |
not relinqush our position OF peaceful |
control OF the situation conditions |
would be worsa than IL the vessel never |
been sent. Americans would depart with |
their families in haste If no vessel was in |
harbor, on account of dstrust of preserva-
ton OF order by authorities. II another |
riot occurs IL would be against the gov
ernor general aud autonomy. but might in
clude anti Ameripan demonstrations also.
First class battleshlp would replace present
one as an object lesson and to counteracI |
Spanish opinion of our navy, and should
have Torpedo beat with 1t to preserve conf
munication with the admiral"
The next telegram OF Importance was
sent by General Lee early on the morning |
OF February 10, announcing 70 the state
department The destruction OF the Maine.
That telegram has been published.
During the sixty eight hours that fol-
lowed General Lee kept the department
Informed OF the occurrences In chronology
ica order, In a dispatch of February is
he said that after the divers under Captain
sigsbee had made q cursory examination
OF the wreck 1.-The Spanish government
would like to unite with ours in getting
at the bottom OF the ship. Jointly eXamn-
ing the wreck"
The next day Judge Day informed Gem
erai Lee that this government had already
Instituted Nn investigation of the disaster
which would be conducted independent
He added. however, this government will
afford every facility 1t can to the Spanish
authorities IN Whatever investigation they
may see ut 10 make upon their part"
Tho first intimation OF the cause of tho
explosion was given by General Lee on
February -, when he telegranhed; ,Coa-
PER cylinder OF ammunition found intact
in fo-inch forward magazine starboard side
this morning. Seems to show that mega.
sine never exploded. Evidence beginning
to prove explosion on port side by tor
pcdo"
General Lee informed the department on
concluded for both governments TO conduct
concluded for both government to conduct
Independent Investigations Of tho disaster.
ms CORRESPONDENCE With General Blanro
being transmitted in full. In concluding
his letter TO General Bianco. General Leo
said; II am quite sure THAI neither gov
eminent has any other object than to as
certain all the facts connected with the
explosion and that the great desire OF both
governments Is TO proceed tremendously
with the work.