Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-31
NO WORD FROM GEN. LEE.
Belief That Quiet Prevails in
Hayhna.

Belief That Quiet Prevails I'm
Havhna.
Assistant Secretary Day of the State De-
partment told Star reporter about noon
today that he had not received any word
from Consul General, Lee since Saturday.
and therefore he deemed it a safe assump-
ton that there has been no change in the
situation at Havana and that quiet and
good order still prevail. In response to a
direct inquiry he said he had been informed
that the Spanish authorities had seized
certain supplies consigned to private in
dividual in Havana and said to be intended
for the relief of the suffering Cubans, but
that he did not attach any special sgnifi-
canoe to the matter. for the reason that the
understanding with the Spanish government
was that all supplies intended for the re-
lief of suffering on the island should be
consigned direct to Consul General Lee In
order to insure free entry and prompt de-
livery. u
In order to avoid the POSSIBILITY Of fraud
upon the revenue it was mutually agreed
that the privilege of free entry should not
apply to cases Of goods consigned to pri-
vate institutions or individuals. This point
was made clear in the several appeals Is
sued by the State Department and pub
lished in all the newspapers asking for
contributions of money and supplies for the
benefit of the distressed inhabitants of
Cuba. Assistant Secretary Day said he
was confident that there Will be no trouble
whatever in this matter IL psople will SIM
ply follow the advice of the department
and consisn their supplies to the consul
general.
Naval officials Not Alarmed.
Naval officials are not alarmed over the
report that the hafbor Of Havana is pro-
tected by torpedoes and submarine mines,
irasmuch as the same 10 true of the har-
bors of all up-to-date counties, including
our own. 1t Is incomprehensible to them,
however. that the battle ship Maine is in
any danger in the port of the Cuban capi-
tai while the United States and Spain are
at peace. The port is in daily use by the
vessels of all countries, and 1t is not be-
lieved that The Maine is in any greater
jeopardy than the vessels of Great Britain
and Germany or even those of the Spanish
navy or the merchant ships that visit the
harbor daily. A naval officer stated that
while the harbor may be arranged for sub
marine mines and torpedoes he was con-
fident that they were not charged inasmuch
as It would be unusual and as DANGEROUS
to Spanish shipping as well as to others
to adopt such a course in time of peace
with the outside world.
No Injury to the Indiana.
A good deal of amusement was excited
among the officials of the Navy Department
at the attempts made II convey the i'm
preston that the fine battle ship Indiana
had suffered some severe and dangerous
breakdown while on the way south recent
ly through the fallure of her boilers. AS
q matter of fact, the extent of the mishap
was the leakage Of one or two tubes in
boiler, an event SO insignificant ana of
such frequent occurrence on all kinds of
steamships, that Admiral Sicard made
but q passing reference to 1t as an explana
ton why he took the Indiana in tow for
six hours to prevent her, from delaying the
progress of the remainder of the squadron.
Otherwise the matter would not have been
called to the attention of the department
save In one Of the monthly work reports.
Expected Spanish Fleet.
No official advices have been received
here as yet to confirm the reported inten-
ton Of the Spanish government to send a
fleet of warships to Havana. The Spanish
legation was informed some time ago that
the small gunboats- now engaged in
patrolling the Cuban coast would be
strengthened soon by the addition, of a
number of torpedo boats and it is this
flotilla that is expected to sail for Havana
as soon as conditions permit. The boats
are said to be wanted particularly for serv-
ice on the Canto river and In Havana har-
Dor. The coming Of the fine cruiser Girls
tobel Colon, one of the"best ships In the
Spanish navy, with the torpedo boats, is
said to be necessary to their safety, as
these little craft must have a convoy to
come to their relief In case of severe
weather. and to help out their coal supply.
Even with this assistance 1t Is said the
boats Will have risky voyage.