The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-13
US. WARSHIP GETS TO HAVANA
TIE DENVER RUSHED THERE TO
PROTECT AMERICANS.
Others at C~ienTuegos and Guantanamo
? IT Dee MOlnes Held at Key West
for Emergency wOrk-Army WIN ne
Ready n IL IL Necessary 90 send Troops.

for Emergency WOrk-Army WIN he
Ready n It 10 Necessary % Send Troops.
Special Gable Despatch 70 TEE SUN.
Havana. Sept. I2.-The United States
cruiser Denver arrived here at $50 o'clock
this afternoon.
WASHINGTON. Sept. I7.-There will be
four American naval vessels In Cuban
waters to-morrow-the Denver at Havana,
the gunboat Marietta OF CenfuegOs and
tha auxiliary Dixie and the cruiser Column
bia at Guantanamo, the United States naval
station on the south side OF the island. The
Dixie and the Columbia are at Guantanamo
for the purpose Of exchanging marines, and
the Columbia is soon to sail from there for
Colon 70 bring home Secretary Root. who
is due on the Isthmus Of Panama the
last OF this week. The Dixie, however,
with her force OF upward Of 800 marines,
will be in readiness to join her sister
ships in protecting American interests in
the event Of there being need for action.
The cruiser Dee Moines is at Key West
awaiting further orders. She will remain
there during the present crisis, so that she
nav be despatched to Havana IL her pres
pnce there is demanded. h run from
Kew West to Havana Is only about eight
hours.
In addition the Newport, the Paduoah.
the Don Juan de Austria and the Dubuque,
under Commander Switzerland. are patrol
ling in Dominican waters, and AZ the
situation in that republic is quiet at present
one or more Of these ships might easily be
sent to Cuba if further trouble occurs.
The action in sending the Denver and the
Marietta to Cuban waters and having others
held in readiness, it was asserted at the
State Department to-day. was merely pre-
stationary. The President is being kept
advised of the situation and 10 manifesting
the keenest interest in every movement
made. He wants TO be ready to meet any
emergency that may arise.
1t is pointed out that the sending OF ships
10 Cuba does not mean that the United
States intends TO intervene in Cuban inter-
nal matters under the Plat Amendment, but
il intended to show that the United States
stands ready to protect American interests
in the island. When the question OF inter-
vention arises it will be met. No state
z N lAhA o. Liz NVhohIAhCAht WhASh "AA
tend to commit the President to any definite
plan in this respect, but emphasis Is laid
upon the statement that the action now
taken Is precautionary
The decision to send the Denver to Ha-
vanas was made somewhat Unexpectedly.
The Denver went to New London, Conn,
after the Oyster Bay review for the p1r-
pose Of coaling, She was then ordered to
Norfolk, and JAILED on September Nearly
twenty-four hours after she had put out to
sea the decision was reached to send her to
Cuba, and in order that no time might be
lost, az dispatches from Mr.. Sleeper. the
United States Charge in Havana, indicated
that the situation was critical, the wireless
telegraph was put into operation and soon
picked up the Denver at sea- She was
directed to proceed to Havana, and imme-
Giately changed her course for that point.
At the same time a despatch was sent 20
Commander Switzerland orderi ng the Mar
ietta TO proceed to Cienfuegos, at which
ONT the insurgents were reported to be
assembling preparatory to making an attack
on the city. 1t il expected that the
Marietta will reach there tomorrow morn
ing.
Willie the American ships are in Cuban
Writer'S for the purpose Of protecting Amer
| IN interests, they will also be used to pre-
vent the landing Of flibustering expeditions.
A. far az the State Department is able to
8a rrtain there are no expeditions fitting
out in this country. Ever since the insur-
gent movement started Department agents
have been on the lookout for expeditions,
but have not discovered any.
While the Navy Department is making
ready for an emergency, the War Depart
mont IL also preparing. Thus far there
has been no intimation that American
soldiers would he sent to Cuba, but army
officials admit that, in view Of the alarming
conditions, they nave been giving the sub
jet consideration. That is. they have
Leen considering what could be done II it
should become necessary to send a force
of men to the island.
II should be understood, however, that no
steps have been taken such as the massing Of
troops ready to sail, but the army situation
has been carefully gone over, n officials
know just about what will be one In case
It becomes necessary TO do anything. The
transport Sherman could be utilized on short
notice for carrying eroope, and the Meade
and the Fitzpatrick are on their way home
and will be available within a few weeks.
Besides, it is pointed out, II the presenos Of
q AAC "o1 hApDAabhNO ghASAO
are plenty Of warships which could land a
force OF fighting men on the island.
There are upward OF seven hundred
marines in the vicinity OF Cuba who could
be sent there on short notice. They are on
board the squadron under command OF
Commander Switzerland in Dominican
waters, in Porto Rico, at Guantanamo and
at Culebra Island. Besides, there is a small
force on the Isthmus.
State Department officials assert that the
matter Of landing a force Of men in Cuba
Ia a subject which they do not wish To dis
cuS. Even In the present crisis it is regarded
az somewhat premature, although II 1t be-
came necessary to protect American in
terests the President, IL h declared, would
not hesitate 20 order troops there.
REBELS MOVE TOWARD HAVANA.