The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-09-14
OUR men IN HAVANA
Sailors From the Cruiser Denver
Encamped Before President
Palma's Palace.
MAY HELP IN CITYs DEFENSE
Officers Declare They Will Have Some
thing to Do if Cuban Capital Is At
tacked-Commander CoIweII Aston
ished by Report That His Men Have
Been Recalled.


Been Recalled.
Havana, Sept 14.-One hundred and
twenty sailors from the United States
protected cruiser Denver landed and
are in camp in this city in front of old
La Fuerza castle, faosNg the Plaza de
Armas, the little paxk in front of the
presidential palace, which is the seat
of the Cuban government
The American flag is planted just in
side of the low stone coping separating
the castle grounds from O'Reilly street,
which thoroughfare passes between
the camp and the Plaza de Armas The
American sailors are armed with regu-
lation rifles, with the exception of
few who carry revolvers or cSrbines.
Two field howitzers and two rapid
fire guns were sent ashore with the
sailors and novSpoint across the pretty
little park, significant waI1ing to
any one approaching the executive
headquarters of the Cuban government
with hostile intent
The Denver, which originally an
chored farther up the bay, dropped
down to position abreast of the foot
of O'Reilly street and in front of the
offices of the captain of the port SO as
to be conveniently near the detachment
sent ashore and close at hand in case
of need.
The whole business was done so
quietly and quickly that itscaused the
greatest surprise. The reason for the
sudden landing of the American sail
ors was a conference between Presi
dent Palma, Charge d'Affaires Sleeper
and Commander Colwell
Landing Suggested by Palma.
On the occasion of the latter's form
al call upon President Palma Mr..
Sleeper asked the president the direct
question whether he considered that
the government was able to protect all
American interests in Havana unaid
ed The president replied that he
hoped the government would be able
to do so, but suggested that it also
might be advisable as a measure OF
precaution in the interests of Aneri
cans as we'll as for the maintenance of
order in general to land marines at
some convenient point, suggesting the
Plaza de Armas as the place.
Mr.. Sleeper and Commander Col
well, after brief conference, decided
that the landing should be made The
detachment, under command of Exec
utive Officer Miller, was landed, with
arms, ammunition and camp parapher-
MALTA, and took up a position command
ing the approaches to the palace Two
hours later the commissary outfit fol.
lowed with supper for the officers and
men.
Questioned whether their duties on
shore would simply be protection OF
American interests or defense of the
palace and President Palma. Executive
Officer Miller and the other officers OF
the detachment unanimously replied
that if the town should be attacked OF
if an uprising occurred in the city they
undoubtedly would have something to
do regardless of fine questions as to
who made the attack.
Commander CowelI Astonished.
Commander Colwell was shown a
dispatch from Washington stating that
the sailors from the cruiser Denver
had been ordered to return He ex.
pressed great astonishment and said
he had received no such order, add
ing that he believed the navy depart
ment had not deciphered his code mes
sage explaining the situation Com
mander Colwell said he believed he
had done right However, if, after
reaching an understanding of the sit
uation, the navy department ordered
the return of the sailors on board ship
the order would be carried out within
half an hour.
Alfredo Zayas, president of the Lib
eral party, who has offered to sur.
render if guaranteed a fair trial. has
sent Commander Colwell word that he
hoped to visitShim.
Commander Colwell was approached
also by an emissary Of General Cas-.
tillo, one OF the insurgent leaders, of
fering to surrender to, him if guaran-
teed fair trial.
A dispatch received here from Glen
fuegos says the United States gun
boat Marietta has arrived and debark
ed a detachment there. Cienfuegos is
besieged by insurgents, and some OF
the fortifications already have beer
damaged
CITY Feels Safer,
The general impression here seems
to be that it is the intention of the
| United States not only to protect Amer
! ican interests, but also the government
Of President Palma. The presence in
the city of American sailors has had
| the effect of creating a feeling of com
| parative security against attack from
without or Of an internal uprising.
| Reports have been current that the
worst elements of the population were
| planning to set fires. under the cover
/ of which robberies might be commit
ted. 1t was also reported that insur.
gents in considerable numbers were
approaching Havana from several di-
rections
! There has been no news received
here from the western portion of Pinar
del Rio province, as the wires are cut.