The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-14
REQUESTED BY PALMA.
Reason Given for Landing of the
American Sailors.

Reason Given for Landing of the
American Sailors.
Havana. Sept. 13.-Six score sailors
from the United States protected cruiser
Denver are camped tonight i'm front of old
La FuerZa castle, facing the Plaza de
Armes, the little park in front of the
presidential palace which is the seat of
the Cuban government. The American
flag is planted just inside the low stone
coping which separates the castle grounds
from O'Reilly street, which thorough
fare passes between the camp and Plaza
de Armas. The sailors are armed with
regulation rifles, with the exception of
few who carry revolvers or carbines.
Two field howitZers and two rapid fire
guns point across the park.
The Denver, which was originally an
chored further up the bay, dropped down
this evening to position abreast of the
foot of O'Relly street and in front of
the offices of the captain of the port so
as to be conveniently near the detach-
ment
Suggested by Palma.
The sudden landing of the American
sailors followed a conference between
President Palma. Charge d'Affaires
Sleeper and Commander Colwell this aft
ernoOn. On the occasion of the latter's
formal call upon President Palma Mr..
Sleeper asked the president directly
whether he considered the government
able to protect all American interests in
Havana. The president replied that he
hoped the government would be able to
do so. but himself suggested that ii might
be advisable as a measure of precaution
in the interests of Americans, as well as
for the maintenance of order in general,
to land sailors at some convenient point,
suggesting the Plaza de Ormas. Sleeper
and Commander Colwell after a brief
conference decided that the landing
| should be made, and this evening at $3.50
o'clock the detachment under command
of Executive Officer Miller began coming
ashore. Two hours later the commissary
outfit followed with supper for the Off
GERS and men.
Questioned whether their duties on
shore would be protection of American
| interests or defense of the palace and
President Palma, Executive officer Mil
| Ter replied that IL the town should be at
tackled or if an uprising occurred in the
city they probably would have something
to do regardless Of the question as to
who attacked.
Statement of CoIweIl.
After reading an Associated Press dis
patch from Washington i'm which Secre-
tary of the Navy Bonaparte was Quoted
as saying that there would be no landing
of United States forces in Cuba except in
the event of extreme and unrestrained
rioting, Commander Colwell said TO the
Associated Press:
II have landed a force after consulta-
ton with those best advised as TO the
situation. and especially on the request
| or PRESIDENT rama himself who informed
Mr.. Sleeper and myself that he gravely
doubted the ability of the Cuban govern
ment to protect American property and
persons. President Palma did not suggest
this location Tor our forces: I selected IL
because in my Judgment it is the best
strategical point and commands the two
principal business streets of Havana
am not considering Intervention or the
/ protection of the palace or the president.
but am simply being in readiness to pro-
/ tect American interests. l have teIe-
! graphed these facts to Secretary Bona
parte and also the fact that / have Of
fered asylum on the Denver for Ameri-
! cans who may desire to seek such
/ safety
Cuban President Urgent.
/ Commander Colwell suggested tonight
| that if quiet continued the sailors from
/ the Denver might return on board ship
/ President Palma. however urgently re-
Quested that they remain. The president
| expressed satisfaction with the Influence
/ their presence was producing. and said
| he considered II a guarantee against ar
attack on or an uprising I'm Havana