The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-09-12
CUBA FACES
A CRISIS
President Sends Warship TO
Protect Americans.
CRUISER FOR HAVANA
Situation Absorbs Attention al
Washington Palma Not
Vigorous Enough.

WASHINGTON. Sept. - The crit
Teal situation la cuba Is absorbing the
attention OF the administration to the
exclusion OF all other foreign topics, as
indicated by the activity OF the officials
In the state, navy aud war depart
mcnts.
Fear Of an attack by the insurgents
on Havana Is spreading, and there are
rumors more or less authentic from all
directions OF new uprislngs In various
quarters.
The American Captain Reno'sl rapid
tire battery keeps nightly vigil al La
Fuerza castle. In front OF the palace,
prepared to sweep the Place de Arms
park fronting on the palace. In the
event OF amy surprises In that quarter.
The waterwOrks AT Nento Springs and
other outlying exposed points are be.
ing guarded with increasing vigilance.
Major 4. +. Laid OF the military sec.
rctary's department has been granted
leave Of absence for one month and has
left for Cuba. Major Ladd was for
two and half years an officer Of the
military government OF Cuba during
the time the island was under control
Of the United States.
The president. at oyster Bay. Is keep
ing In close touch with every develop
ment Of the revolutionary movement In
Cuba and Il In constant communlca-
ton 10y wire with the officials here.
who indeed are even In receipt OF de
tailed instructions from him as TO what
they shall do.
The prime object Of the admnistra.
ton ut present Is TO get at the facts
which Is no easy task In view OF the
mass Of indefinite statements that en-
anates from various quarters. Partlc
ularly is II desired 10 know the pre-
else strength Of the revolutionary senti.
ment In Cuba and the relative powers
Of the government and the insurgents
there. Mr.. Morgan. the American min
lister TO Havana, is understood TO be
Fastening from Europe.
So AS stated officially. II Is the pur
pose OF the administration TO proceed
with great dellberation In dealing will
the Cuban question. and II was said
on the highest authority that there
would be no Intervention by the Unit
ed states unless the rebellion assumed
the proportions OF general conhagra-
ton.
American shipping and commercial
interests about Havana are to have the
protection OF an American warship In
Cuban waters. While government OIL
cials show an inclination not TO discuss
Cuban affairs in any particular beyond
making public dispatches from Mr.
Sleeper. the American charge ut Ia
vana. confirming dispatches printed in
the daily press. there can be no doubt
from the attitude of the officials that
tie cruiser Des Molnes, which cleared
from Norfolk, Is sailing on Il state de-
partment mission, and ii Is rumored In
official circles that she will proceed
Immediately to Havana.
The secrecy concerning the Des
Moines extends to all officials of the
navy department, where 1t is said she
has been sent for cruise for the bene-
fit of the health of the sailors and ma.
rines.
President Roosevelt, II is rumored
here, is responsible for the sailing of
the Des Moines. II Is known that the
state department is keeping him ad.
vised daily of all information received
from Havana and that he is keeping In
close touch with the situation from ev.
cry possible source.
The sailing of the Des Moines has
chilled the sanguinary feeling in Off
cial circles of President Palma's ability
to promptly suppress the insurrection
and ii Is believed here that the revolu-
tonary force may be making greater
Roadway than would be supposed from
the meager news which comes from
the island. The very fact that 1t has
become necessary to dispatch United
States cruiser to Cuban waters is taken
as an indication that the seriousness
of the uprising has been belittled.