Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-09-20
PRESIDENT IN CLOSE TOUCH
UNITED STATES SENDS CRUISER
TO KEY WEST.
when the Time Arrives For InterVen'
ton, the United states Will
Be Found Ready.

Washington, d. Cit has been
officially admitted that the American
cruiser Des Moines, which sailed Mon
day hastily for Norfolk, had gone
southwark to Key West. with the ulti-
mate purpose of proceeding to Has
vana, II Developments within the next
two days seem to warrant such action.
At Key West the Des Moines will be
about eight house run from Havana,
and while waiting, Commander Hal
sey will be in close communication
with the navy department, prepared to
carry out Immediately any request,
from the department of state.
Uncle Sam VIII Be Ready.
There is no intention In this move
ment Of the BEST Moines Of par
TALLY toward one side or the other in
the present conflict in Cuba. The
ship will be at Havana to serve as an
asylum in case of need, and be at the
disposition Of the American charge.
In case the United States government
finds its necessary to intervene in
Cuban affairs, under the provisions OF
the Plat amendment forces that
would have to be used for that pur-
pose would be found in a much better
state of preparation than when hos
tilities began between the United
States and Spain.
u. 8. Officers Know Cuba.
The long military occupation of Gu
ba by the United States Afforded an
opportunity to army officers to be-
come familiar with the island. and
probably no portion of the earth is
better known to the military authori-
ties Of the United States than the ISL
and of Cuba. In addition to the ia
miliarity Of the army officers with the
geography and general conditions OF
Cuba, all Of the supply department are
better equipped.
President In Close Touch.
The critical situation in Cuba is abb
sorblng the attention of the admins
tration to the exclusion Of all other
foreign topics, as indicated by the ac-
| tivity of the officials in the state, navy
and war departments. The president
at Oyster Bay is keeping in close
touch with every development of the
revolutionary movement in Cuba, and
is in constant communication by wire
with officials here, who, indeed, are
even in receipt Of detailed instructions
from him as to what they shall do.
To Get at the Facts.
The prime object of the administra-
ton at present is to get at the facts,
which is 70 easy task. Particularly is t.
desired to know the precise strength
| of the revolutionary sentiment in
Cuba, and the relative powers of the
governm emit and the insurgents there.
Mr.. Morgan, the American minister to,
Hanava, is understood to be fastening
from Europe, where he has been on
vacation, to the Cuban capital, and
meanwhile Mr.. Sleeper, the secretary
Of the American legation at Havana,
is supplying the state department
with a daily bulletin containing such
facts as he is able to gather there.
1t is realized, however, that Mr..
Sleeper is bound to accept the official
rendition of the daily collisions be-
tween President Palmas troops and
the insurgents in the field. He has no
means of securing the rebels state
ments of those same occurrences, and,
in the view of the officials here, there
is good reason to believe that the
whole truth is not disclosed by either
side.
1t is the purpose Of the administra-
ton to proceed with great delibera.
ton in dealing with the Cuban Ques-
ton, and it was said on the highest au-
thority that there would be no inter-
vention by the United States unless
the rebellion assumed the proportions
Of a general confagration, 1t was
further stated that there had been no
application from any of the foreign
: governm ents for the United States gov
eminent to step in and preserve the
peace.