The Irish standard., 1906-09-15
CRUISER Denver
Sent TO HAVANA
WARSHlP HAILED At SEA BY
WIRELESS AND GIVEN
RUSH ORDER.
GUNBOAT ORDERED
TO ClENFUEGOS
pes Moines to Remain at Key West
for Observation-Disclosures Policy of
Preparedness in Case of Emer.
gency in Cuba Announced.

Washington, Sept. 13.-Presidept
Roosevelt's policy of preparedness for
any emergency in Cuba, so lar as the
immediate operation of war vessels is
concerned, was announced at the state
department Wednesday. 1t includes
the arrival at Havana by night of the
protected cruiser Denver and the gun.
boat Marietta at Cienfuegos some time
Thursday. The cruiser Des Moines
will remain at Key West until further
orders.
No Plans for Demonstration.
In making public these acts Acting
Secretary Bacon of the state depart.
ment said that there was no disposi
tion on the part of this government to
make demonstration in Cuban
waters, but the insurrection had at.
tanned such proportions 1t had become
necessary to take steps for the pro.
lection OF American interests in Cuba.
The department believes that for
the present the Denver will be suffl-
cient for all needs along the northern
coast Of Cuba and the Marietta for
the southern coast.
The exchange of messages between
the state department and Mr.. Sleeper,
charge at Havana, and other Amer.
ican representatives in Cuba. which
are supposed to have told of condi-
tions requiring that prompt action be
taken to safeguard Americans and
their property. will not be discussed
by officials of either the state or navy
departments. 1t is admitted, however,
that all these messages have been for
warded, upon their receipt, to Presi.
dent Roosevelt at Oyster Bay and for
several weeks the president has per.
sonally directed the policy of the
United States concerning the Cuban
outbreak.
Wireless Orders to the Denver.
In this connection there was an i'm.
portant incident concerning ne orders
TO the Denver. After the maneuvers
in Long Island sound tho Denver pro.
ceeded to New London, Conn.,, for
coal, sailing on Saturday for Norfolk,
Va. In the meantime conditions in
Cuba seemed to demand ttat a war
vessel Immediately pro :ccd to Havana
and the Denver was the only one
available. Under orders from Oyster
Bay she was reached by sea by wire.
less cipher dispatch and changing her
course headed directly for Havana.
Nothing was made public concerning
this order until Wednesday.
Des Moines to Prevent Filibusterjnu,
The gunboat Marietta was at Mono
Christi, attached to the West Indian
squadron. She has Just been ordered
to proceed up the southern coast of
Cuba to Cicnfucgos, where she will
, be stationed until further orders. The
programme for the Des Moncs does
! not call for her to proceed to Cuban
waters and It Is said she probably will
be used in preventing filibustcring ex
petitions from the United States en-
barking to Cuba.
In spite of the sudden activity Of
this government IT is declared that
there is no intention to take any part
in the conflict beyond that demanded
by the critical situation in which
Americans have been placed in the
island
President Ready to Use Force.
That the president has considered
the ultimate possibility of interven
ton or at least the use of force in
safeguarding the interests of this gov.
ernment there can be no doubt. This
is shown by the fact that the navy dc.
partmcnt has been called upon for Il
statement Of the number of marines
that might be available in the event
of trouble. There are between 600
and 700 marines now in the vicinity
of the West Indies. They are scat.
tered through Santo Domingo. Porto
Rico and Culebra islands, and some
are on the lsthmus of Panama. There
are 800 marines Oh the Dixie alone.
The cruiser Columbia has just arrived
at the navy station, Guantanamo,
where she landed 100 marines to take
the places Of an equal number who
have seen long service there and now
will be given sick leave. The Colum.
bia will then proceed to Colon in or
der to bring Secretary Root home
from his South American visit.
Fear Attack on Havana.
Havana, Sept. 13.-Fears of an at
tack on Havana by Cuban rebels are
growing. The government is taking
extreme precautions to guard the cap.
ital against any possible surprise.
II is reported that the rebels near
Cienfuegos are planning u concen-
tratcl attack on the city. They
claim to be several thousand strong.
The government is taking precau-
tions.
The determinedly belligerent atti-
tude of the government has not yet
brought a resumption of fighting, but
everybody believes that the real war
is yet to come. The only offset to
this is the faint hope that congress
may undertake some sort Of negotia-
ton with the insurgents. This, how
ever, is not likely as the congress is
strongly moderate, and determined to
stand absolutely b., President Palma.