Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-14


sition, and consequently it is difficult to ex-
tract any official information bearing on
the present crisis from Washington.
Dispatch From Commander Colwell.
However, it is admitted that late last
night a long cablegram in cipher was re-
ceived from Commander Colwell of the
Denver dealing with the stirring events OF
the day in Havana. The officials refused
any information as to the details of the
dispatch. 1t is believed, however, that 1t
shows clearly that the naval officer was
acting entirely within his instructions in
landing his sailors and If there is any dis
position to question the propriety of that
action the responsibility must rest upon Mr..
Sleeper, the United States charge. for the
Denver forces were placed entirely at his
command. 1t is also believed that the dis
patch contains the proposition referred to
in the news from Havana from President
Zayas of the liberal party and General Cas-
tillo to surrender to Commander Colwell
with their forces, provided they are as
sured a fair trial. That. however, being an
essentially diplomatic matter, would nat.
uraly be decided by the President himself
at the conference which is expected to take
place at Oyster Bay today.
The big triple screw cruiser Minnea polls,
now under preparatory orders for Ctroa,
had been ordered out of commission sew
eral days ago at the League Island navy
yard and as her last duty was to take ON
practice cruise some of the naval militia
men her complement of officers. and men
was considerably reduced thereby.
However, 1t was said at the Navy De-
partment that the officers detailed at
League Island could be drawn upon to sup
the big ship, which has not yet been Or
dered to sail for Cuba, but merely to pre-
pare in all haste for such orders.
At the Norfolk navy yard the cruiser
Newark is under orders similar to those
given to the Minneapolis, and is hastily
preparing for sea, although it was intended
to reduce her to the rank of a mere station
ship. Her captain is Lieut.. Commander
Levi C Bertolette Both of these ships.
the Minneapolis and the Newark, are very
much larger and more powerful vessels
than any of those SO far ordered to Cupa.
The cruiser Tacoma is expected to sail to-
day from Norfolk for the island and the
Cleveland, another cruiser, will follow to-
morrow.
The Columbia Sails From Cuba.
That there is no special demand for
United States warships at the western end
of Cuba is indicated by the fact that the
big cruiser Columbia left the naval station
at Guantanamo yesterday for Colon with
view to her possible use by Secretary Root
and party in case they conclude to return
to the United States by the Atlantic route.
1t is generally believed that Secretary Root
Will come home from the Isthmus of
Panama on the Columbia, but it is admit
ted as a possibility that on his arrival at
Panama he may conclude to continue on the
cruiser Charleston to San Francisco and
come to Washington overland. The report
that the President may ask Secretary Root
to stop at Havana on his way home, In Or
der to investigate personally the situation,
is not taken seriously in official circles here
for the reason that the government has al
ready good and ample sources of informa-
ton in all parts of the island and is being
thoroughly informed as to the progress of
events.
her was back to the United States will
again stop at Guantanamo for the pur-
pose of picking up a detachment of about
100 marines whose terms have about ex-
pired. These men are from the Dixie and
other vessels Of the Dominican patrol.
President Palma's Purpose.
Considerable doubt as to the ability Of
President Palma to secure quorum of
the Cuban congress to consider war meas
ures today is expressed by Mr.. Sleeper,
charge at Havana, in dispatch to the
State Department. 1t Is believed here that
II the president fails in that step it may
be fatal to his administration, as it would
indicate that there are desertions from his
own party to the revolutionary cause.
The congress was called to assemble to-
day. No dispatches were received here of
the actual meeting and Mr.. Sleeper's dis
patch suggests unexpected difficulties.
There was great opposition to the program
of calling the congress together but it
Senor Pardo, the charge of the Cuban
legation in Washington, called at the State
Department today. He said that he had
no communications from. his government.
Minister Quesada is reported to have ar
rived at Lisbon today en- route home from
the Rio conference.