The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-26
sy Associated Press.

Warrington, May 25.-The insurrec-
tion and disorders in Cuba which
threaten life and property OF Ameri :
cans and which are believed by the
United States to be spreading beyond
the control OF the Cuban government.
caused the American government to-
day 70 take active steps In preparation
to cope with any situation which may
arise In the island republic.
Two divisions Of the Atlantic bat
tieship feet were ordered to take on
their full quota Of marines. making a
total OF 1900, in addition to 200 now
en- route to Guantanamo on the Prairie
and the rendezvous at Key West, ready
to move to Cuba at the instant their
presence IL needed. Dozens Of war
ships will be In the immediate vicinity
Of Cuba within few days. The army
- prepared with an expeditionary
force OF fifteen thousand men, If 1t Is
needed, and plans for a campaign to
stamp out the rebellion, prepared by
the general stan, are ready to be put
in execution at the call Of the presi-
dent.
The attitude Of the Cuban govern
ment In welcoming the dispatch OF
American marines to Guantanamo Is
accepted as an indication Of its per-
feet willingness to allow other marines
and bluejackets to be landed without
express permission from the local Gu
ban authorities. In any case the
American naval commanders will ex-
ercige their discretion where American
life and property seem to be In need OF
protection
OsTERHAUS IN COMMAND.
Admiral Osterhaus, commanding the
Atlantic feet, will command this mob
ilizeo neet from his flagship, the
Washington. Other vessels will be the
Georgia. Rhode Island, New Jersey and
Nebraska, composing the Tnird di-
vision, and the Minnesota, Mississippi
Missouri and Ohio, Of the Fourth di-
Vision. The hospital ship Solace and
the fleet tugs Petapsco and PaHixent
viii accompany the expedition
The Osterhaus fleet should arrive ut
Key West by Wednesday if the ves-
sells clear tomorrow as expected. The
gunboat Paducah has been ordered
from Guantanamo to Nipe. Plans call
for dashing campaign II 1t becomes
necessary TO use force against the
rebels. Officials disclaim any inten-
ton Of military occupation of Cuba
unless the insurrection gets beyond
the control OF the Gomez government
and a condition should arise demand
ing Intervention. They have no doubt
Of their right to intervene under
Clauses or the treaty.
CRISIS IMPENDING.
From the mass OF conflicting re-
ports that have reached the state and
war departments as to actual condi-
ttons In Cuba, conclusion was drawn
today that a crisis impends in the
island and that this is sufficient to
Justify fun preparations for protecting
American interests.
Therefore, word was passed to the
navy to hold itself subject for call
and at noon two divisions of the great
rendezvous at New York and Hamp-
ton Roads, within striking distance of
the trouble zone.
The navy does not expect that the
battleships, as such. viii be necessary
for Cuban operations, but 1t happens
that they furnish the only convenient
means OF providing a sufficient mum
Der OF the always ready" marines al
various points on the Cuban coast to
AFFORD protection and rallying points
for Americans on the island,
The immediate need for these ma
rines Is believed to be In the neigh
borhood Of Nipe bay on the north
coast OF the east end OF Cuba, where
an investment Of nearly $20,000,000 ot
American money is represented in the
great sugar plantations, iron mines
ana OIE0r In0uSITlo6, WlInln TdnBS
twenty or thirty miles.
The manner in which the state de-
partment emphasizes the explanation
that the purpose of these forces will
simply be to protect American in
teresta where the Cuban government
forces either cannot or win not do so
Il consonant with the declared pur-
pose to refrain from Intervention in 0
political sense. until II shall clearly ap-
pear that the Gomez government Is
unable to control the situation.
An interesting point to be decided
10 whether the American naval com
manders viii respond to the appeals oi
the American interests In Cuba for
protection without reference to the
CONTINUED on Page Nineteen.)