The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-16
TAFT OFF FOR HAVANA TODAY
WILL FIND PLENTY or U. S. WAR
SHIPS AND MARINES THERE.
Preparation for Armed In%terVentIOn n 10
Becomes Necessary Go Forward ne
spite Presidents Peace Proposals
Marines Are landed at CicnfueSos.

-NhNEHRtb AHo M<aAluCu ~
WASHINGTON, Sept. B.-Mr. Taft, the
Secretary Of War. arrived in Warrington
this evening from New York on his way
to Cuba to investigate the political situation
and endeavor to suggest means Of pre-
venting a civil war. He said upon getting
here that he hoped TO start from Washington
for Havana tomorrow afternoon, but he
did not know at what point in Florida he
would get a steamer or what arrangements
had been made for taking him to Havana.
Mr.. Taft said he hoped to be back in about
ten days. Robert Bacon. the acting Secre-
tary of State, who will accompany Mr..
Taft on his mission, did not reach Washing
ton with the Secretary Of War. p
MIR. Taft had practically nothing to add
with regard to the purposes Of his mission
to what he had said in Oyster Bay and
what was contained in President Roosevelt's
letter TO ~ nor Quesada, the Cuban Minister
to the United States. in which the President
told Of his purpose to send Mr.. Taft and
Mr.. Bacon to Cuba.
Il don't know ANYTHING about the situa-
ton" said Mr., Taft. That's what we
are going TO cuba to find out"
Mr.. Taft was asked II troops were being
prepared for service in Cuta. He laughed
as lac answered, -Oh, yoa know we're
always prepared to send troops" In re-
sponSe TO another question, he said that
no orders had been issued by the Wal De-
partment for any military force to go to the
island.
From the railway station Mr.. Taft went
directly to the Wa Department, where
lie had appointments to meet several OF his
subordinates. II is supposed that the
question of getting troops in readiness for
any emergency in Cuba was discussed.
Although Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Bacon will
leave Washington tomorrow for Havana
as the Presidents peace commissioners
ito render such aid a. is possible" toward
reconciling the warning Cuban factions,
preparations are still going on in the Navy
and War departments to send an armed
force to the island il IL becomes necessary.
There are already three American warships
in Cuban waters, and two Others are hurry
ing there.
The Cleveland sailed at noon to-day from
Norfolk for Key West, where she will take
the place Of the Des Moines in awaiting in
structions to cross over to the Cuban capi-
tai. The Tacoma, with a force Of 800
marines. will also sail from Norfolk for
Key West tomorrow morning. The Mime
apoIis at League Island and the Newark at
Norfolk are preparing to sail a. soon as the
marines who are TO take passage on these
boats arrive at League Island and Norfolk.
They will sail probably the first OF the week.
According to the despatch received at
the Navy Department this afternoon the
cleveland carried her full complement OF
$50 marines and an additional 100 men for
the Denver. Owing to the fact that the
Denver, which left New London, Conn, for
Norfolk on September 8, was diverted
from her course and ordered by wireless
to proceed at once to Havana she did not
carry her full complement OF Arne
The company which left Norfolk on board
the Cleveland to-day will be transferred
TO the Denver.
The decision to send Secretary Taft and
Acting Secretary Bacon to Havana for the
purpose Of bringing about if possible a
cessation Of hostilities has not altered
the Presidents determination to be pre-
pared for any emergency in the Cuban
situation by having a sufficient force to
land and AFFORD protection to American
interests. Consequently the plan Of send
ing a force OF marines to Cuba will be adj
hered to. Whether or not they will land
on the island future events must deter
mine.
Officials here believe that it is clear from
the Presidents letter to Minister Quesada
tina he means not to intervene in Cuba II
such action can be avoided by an amicable
! settlement of the differences between the
two factions, but that if such a change
cannot be brought about there is no other
alternative than for American forces 90
take hold OF the situation and crush the
instruction and again establish peace and
order. For this reason the army as we'll
as the nav is being put in readiness. That
in the general plan, for the action of the
War Department has been gone over. and
it is pretty well understood what steps will
first be aiken in case armed Intervention "
necessary.
In other words, while the scheme for I'M
armed Intervention is being carried out.
the plans for armed Intervention. il peace
methods should fail; are being discussed.
Officials here know only, I'M a very general
way what course will be followed by Score
tary Taft and Mr.. Bacon, as the instructions
which the President has given them have
not been made public. Hence they are
simply following their instructions, which
como from Oyster Bay; TO be prepared.
A second force Of United States marines
has been landed in Cuba for the purpose OF
protecting American property. They went
ashore yesterday afternoon from the gun
boat MarisEa al, Cienfuegos, and are at the
present tluer engaged in extending pro-
lection to the large sugar estates in that
district belonging 70 American citizens. I
This action waS taken by Commander
Fullam OF the Marietta in accordance with
his general instructions from the Depart
ment before be departed from Monte
Cristi for CienfueRos, to use his hest judg-
ment in case OF IN emergency. His action
is not essentially different from that taken
by Commander Colwell in landing a force
In HavanaI which; as has been explainedJ
was taken because OF the admission OF
President Palma OF tho inability OF the
Government forces to protect American
interests.
There have been repeated raids upon
some OF the large plantations near Cien-
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