Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-17
SEC'Y TAFT AND PARTY
They Started Yesterday for
Havana.
TO LEARN THE CONDITION
OF Affairs in Cuba = Who Composed
It.
HosT1L1TIEs ARE SUSPENDED
Battleships and Cruisers Gin Touch"
Ready to Be Sent to Havana
If Necessary.
ARE SUSPENDED

Secretary Taft and Assistant Secretary
of State Bacon left Washington at 3:45
o'clock yesterday afternoon over the At
lantic Coast Line for Tampa, Fla, to en-
bark on a naval vessel there for Havana,
in accordance with the instructions of
President Roosevelt, to ascertain the exact
political situation In Cuba. Other members
of the party were Frank G. lockwood,
stenographer to Secretary Taft; Henry
Newcomb, private secretary to Assistant
Secretary Bacon; Capt F. r. Mccoy, U. s.
A., one of the Presidents military aids;
F. L. Cairns. surveyor of the port of
Manila; Jose NJ. Macias, q Spanish inter-
prefer from the insular bureau, and two
messengers.
Mr.. Cairns formerly lived in Cuba. his
step-father being a Cuban, and accom-
cause of his familiarity with Cuban mat
tiers. The party is due to arrive at Port
Tampa about 10 o'clock tonight.
Mr.. Edwin v. Morgan. U. s: minister to
Cuba Is on the way to his post at Havana.
Mr. Morgan Unexpectedly joined Secretary
Taft and Assistant Secretary Bacon in this
city just as the train left Washington. He
has been in Europe on leave since the
Cuban insurrection began.
The Truce Decree.
The Cuban legation has received cable
gram from its government announcing the
decree suspending hostilities. The message
was very brief and read: Announce to
government that the president has today
issued a decree ordering the suspension Of
hostilities. 1t is expected that the revolu-
tionists will do the same"
Senior Artu TO Padro Almetdo, the Gu
ban charge d'affafres, Immediately notified
Secretary of State Adee of the issuance of
the decree.
The Cuban legation has received a cable
gram announcing the arrival OF Mr.. QUE
sada, the Cuban minister, at Paris en- route
home from the Pan-American conference
at Rio and that he will sail on the first
available steamer from Paris to take
charge of affairs at his post here. It
is expected he will sail Wednesday.
Disposition Of Ships.
1t is announced at the Navy Department
that the battleships Louisiana, Virginia and
New Jersey have started down the Atlantic
coast on a shake-down cruise, and that they
have been directed to keep in touch with
the government at Washington by wireless
telegraph, and, If necessary, in the event
of an emergency arising, they will be sent
to Havana. 1t was also stated that the
cruisers Tacoma and the Cleveland have
sailed from Norfolk, Va, and that the
Newark, at Norfolk, will follow them at
once. The Minneapolis and Newark carry
about 100 men altogether, and the Tacoma
100 Should all Of these Sc YES, go, go to
force of 1900 men in Cuba by Wednesday
or Thursday If any developments should
occur rendering such action necessary.
Final instructions will be given the Cleve-
land and other vessels when they reach
Key West. The Louisiana and Virginia left
Newport yesterday, after hurriedly coaling.
The New Jersey sailed from Boston.
All three of the big first-class battleships
have been ordered to keep in touch"
with view to dispatch to Cuba If neces-
sary. They are the newest and speediest
~, <ba fhn nd ha
Jersey having been commissioned last May
and the Louisiana in June. These vessels
carry the heaviest armament, each having
twenty-four guns, not one Of which is less
than four-inch, while each also has a much
larger number Of guns Of smaller caliber
than four-inch.
Marines Depart.
A detachment of 100 marines from the
Washington barracks left yesterday for
Norfolk to go aboard warships under Or
ders for Cuba. Accompanying them was
detachment Of sixty marines from Ports
mouth N, H.