The Mena weekly star., 1906-09-13


 Washingtoz, Sept. 12.-American shipping and commercial interests about Havana, Cuba, are to have the protection of an American warship in Cuban waters. While government off cials show an inclination not to dis cpss Cuban affairs in any particular beyond making public dispatches from Mir. Sleeper, the American charge at Havana, confirming dispatches printed in the daily press, there can be no doubt from the attitude of the off cials that the cruiser Des Moines which cleared from Norfolk Monday is saiiing on state department mis- sion and it Is rumored in official cir cles that she will proceed immediate ly to Havana.
 The secrecy concerning the Des Moines extends to all officials of the navy department, where it is said she has been sent on a cruise, flor the benefit of the health of the sailors and marines"
 President Roosevelt, it is r,imored here, is responsible for the sailing of the Des Moines. It is known that the state department is keeping him ad- vised daily and that he is keeping in close touch with the situation from every possible source. The sailing of the Des Mcines has chilled the san guinary feeling in official circles of President Palma's ability to promptly suppress the insurrection. The fact that it has become necessary to dis patch United States cruiser to Cuban waters is taken as an indication that the seriousness of the uprising has been belittled.
 Havana, Sept I2-President Pal ma Monday night is sued a decree .s.s- pending all constitutional guarantees with special reference to articles 15, 16. IF, 19, 22, 23, "A and 27, in the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Havana and Santa Clara The law enforcing pubi, order, which is equivalent to martial law, also is put in immediate effect in the three provinces named. A supplemental decree has been is sued suspending the decree of August 2s pardoning repentant rebels and ordering that all rebels be arrested and jailed.
 Both decrees have been communi- cated to all officers in the field
 Coincident with the issuance of the decrees, which followed Monday nights decision not to yield to the peace demands, the government or dered the arrest of practically every prominent liberal. Alfredo Zayas, president of the liberal party, and several others have disappeared.
 When the news of the issuance of l these decrees reached the veterans peace commission which was in ses- sion at the home of General Menocal. there was immediate and almost un- animous denunciation of President Palma and other members of the gov ernment
 Senor Sanguilo, independent, who was present and who usually is mod. crate in his utterances, made an i'm passioned speech in which he declared that there remained for Cubans but two roads to travel, one of honor and the other of disgrace. The govern ment, he said, had refused offers of endeavors to settle the difficulty pa officially, and so nothing was left but side with it's opponents
 General Collazo and other promin- ent veterans made similar speeches and General Menocal coincided with the views of the other speakers. It appears probable that most of the members of the veterans peace com mission will join the insurgents Tues day.
 Rumors are consistently rife that the government was assured of the backing of the United States before the issuance of the fresh declaration of war