The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-04-07
MESSAGE DELAYED.
AMERICANS ARE LEAVING
CUBA.
Other Important Information.

President Mckinley postponed his
message, yesterday because of the urgent
message from General Lee representing
that if warlike message were to be sent
to Congress before Monday, he could not
be responsible for the lives of more than
2C00 American citizens in Cuba. He
served warning that the volunteers and
the mob of Havana might rise at a
moments notice and massacre all Ameri-
cans who were found on Cuban soil. He
intimated that indiscrimnate slaughter
might result. General Lee had sent a
dispatch on Tuesday, saying that he
could not get all Americans off the island
before the 10th. But the President
thought that there would be ample time
before war would actually result, and so
he did not abandon his original idea of
sending In the message, yesterday, but a
second dispatch from Gen. Lee was more
specific in charac er and intimated plainly
that the treacherous SpaLiards in Havana
would not wait for the formal declaration
before beginning their work of slaughter
but would take a message which was
threatening in tone as sufficient provo
cation.
He was told moreover by agents of the
steamship companies on whose vessels
the Americans In Havana were to be de-
ported, that it would not be safe to risk
lives on any ship caught in Havana har-
Dor after the die of war was cast. He
was informed that the mouth of the
harbor was filled with mines and that
the vessel with it's human freight would
be blown out of the water from Moro
Castle unless it could reach the open sea
ocloiO thS hoi "oo SifSh'
The President was so deeply impressed
with this information that he summoned
committees from the House and from the
Senate to the White House for advice.
Senators Aldrich, Davis and Lodge were
the first to arrive. The dispatch from
Gen. Lee was shown TO them and the
President said that he would leave it to
their decision whether the message
should be sent in at once or not. They
did not hesitate, but told him by all
means to postpone 1t until Gen. Lee
could get American citizens back to
American soil. Messrs. Cannon, Ding
ley and Adams from the House of Repre-
sentatives gave him similar advice.
Senator Davis informed the Senate,
while the House leaders carried the news
to that body. That the danger to
American life was considered sufficient
reason for non-action appeared in the
postponement of all proposed meetings
to consider the situation.
The delay in the commencement OF
hostlities brought about by the post.
ponement of the Presidents message and
the consequent action of Congress, is
welcomed by the navy department. The
few days or perhaps week which may
lapse before war is declared will be
utilized by the department to carry to
completion some important preparations
which declaration of war would have
prevented. The delay will assure the
arrival of several consignments of arms
and ammunition purchased in Europe.
The department was informed, Wednes-
day, that these consignments are now on
the high seas.
The powers of Europe, material and
moral, it is known, brought to bear all
their influence on the government of
Spain, and still are actively at work
seeking by the wisest and most polite
course necessary in view of the circum-
stances and sentiments of the two great
nations involved, to bring peace out of
the gathering war clouds.
On the highest authority the Associat-
ed Press can announce that the British
government has assured the United
States that the latter has its fullest and
most cordial sympathy on its Cuban
policy. This assurance was given with
complete knowledge of the latest de-
velopments in the negotiations between
the United States and Spain and on the
understanding that events are steadily
tending toward armed Intervention in
Cuba.
Capt. lSigsbee, in the course of his ex.
animation before the House committee
on foreign affairs, stated it to be his
opinion that his vessel, the Maine, was
blown up by submarine mine located
by the Spanish authorities. As to
whether it was fired by the Spanish
authorities or not he declined to express
an opinion.
The Mascotte sailed from Havana, yes
terday afternoon, with IA full consigD-
ment of passengers. During the last "A
hours there have been issued 1886 pass
ports to persons proceeding or about to
proceed to the United States.
The family of United States Minister