The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-14
which vii be left at the American I.e

which will be left at the American Le gation.
 This action followed the receipt of an official report by Acting Secretary of State Bacon from MT. Sleeper, the American Charge at Havana. regarding the landing of the men. The report was not made public, but it was am nounced officially shortly afterward that the sailors were landed from the Denver solely and simply for the pro- lection of the lives and property of American citizenss that such action was in pursuance of a discussion be- tween MT Sleeper and the naval com. mander. with the belief that 1t was a wise precaution looking to the protec- tion of the lives and property of Amer jeans. /E
 There was no intention. 1t Is sts1 7. to do otherwise than to safegtx I'd American interests and the services of the sailors were to be utilized only in case of disorders within the city which threatened such interests. That the landing in any way contemplated the protection of either the Cuban Gov ernment or the insurrectionary gov ernment or President Palma or any other persons than American citizens was discIained officially and 1t was pointed out that this fact could not be emphasized too strongly.
 Mir Sleeper's cablegram reported the landing of the sailors and gave the purpose of the landing as explained above--that there was no purpose of protection of anybody or anything ex- ,cept American lives and property. The announcement that the sailors had been ordered back to the ship except for the small legation detachment. follow ed from the White House very soon after the receipt of Mir. S1eeper's official report
 That the landing was a complete sur prise to the government here was evi- dent That It was not made under in- structiohs from Washington was also made plain but the reasons that act uated Commander ColwelI were set forth in. his dispatch 1t was distinctly stated today that the quiet prepera- ton of other vessels looking to possi- ble dispatch to Cuba does not contem- plate intervention; that there would be no landing parties except in the event of rioting, when international law de- mands restraining action by any neutral ship present in port, but it Is realized by this government that by some un- expected act of the contending forces the American government might be ob- liged to carry out the provisions of the Platt amendment. Acting Secretary Bacon was at the White House for some time tonight and left on the midnight train tonight.
 The landing of 12o of the bluejackets of the American protected cruiser Denver on Cuban soil and their camp ing in front of President Palma's pal ace in Havana tonight in anticipation of possible attack or uprising caused the most profound interest in official circles here. It was stated on official authority tonight that the instructions to the American officials were such tllat armed forced would not have been sent ashore upon the initiative of the American commander. but only on the request coming through Mfr. Sleeper, the American Charge at Havana, who, perhaps, is better acquainted with the in ternaI situation in the island repub- lie than any naval officer. It has been the expressed hope of the Washington officials that no such eyentua1ity as that which has neeessitated the land- ing of the troops would arise
 When word of the landing of tho sailors was conveyed to the State and, ,i Navy Departments 1t was stated that no official advices had been received.
 In the absence of official dispatches from the diplomatic or naval officers on duty in Cuba, the Government off, cials here declined to comment upon the action The Denver, the first Amer ican warship to enter the port of Ha- vana since the situation there became serious. waS&dispatehed to Cuba un- der instructions communicated to the vessel by wireless telegraph while the vessel was proceeding down the Att lantic coast. She was ordered to pro- ceed to Cuba for the protection of American interests. The Denver car ries 150 well drilled sailors and several field guns.