New-York tribune., 1912-04-07

call from General Lee had proceeded to Dry Tortugas
in company with Rear Admiral Slcard squadron. Inc
order for this movement had been tclcgraphcd from
Washington on the day before, January -, at "hCn
time it was considered that the continued presence OF
the batt'ehp at Key West was an unnecessary annoy
ance to Spain. In the evening OF the tWcn'youIlh
torpedobs was rushed from Key West 10 the IortugaS
with orders the Maine to proceed 10 Havana al once
~o make friendly visit for the protection OF American
citizens and % afford them an asylum II necessary
The frs, word Of this reached Havana lhc Afternoon
Of the tw,r-v-fourth through the following ccsP"lch'
sent by THE Herald to its correspondent:
kindly send story and pictures ordered food supply
We want r ..~ main sheet within few days.
Translated. the code part Of this message WiHIn was
confined 20 the first sentence, read ~ United States
warshp h- been ordered to Havana. The second sen
tence explained that it the Maine and lhat SAe
could be expected within few days Caldwell huI'cq
up Gcnc-a. Lee and told him OF the information nc A'd
received
Lee did no. believe it. He said he had not asked for
a warship and he was none would be sent "i'n"u'
a requcs' from him. "Your informant IS mistaken ne
said Nv may have the Maine or some ot9cr SNIP nt'S
Of th,-. davS: but certainly not Tor the present.
Caldwell however expressed full confidence IN the
corectne o' his despatch As General Lee was dTcsS
ing the n.y morning he astOundcd 70 sec the Name
Steaming ,rr0 the harbOr. Going down 10 the lhlH8
room he found Caldwell a, breakfast. He walked over
10 him am. said very gravcly "Nou were nghj last
night ait.~ ALL The Maine has just entered inc nHoof
! saw her pass the Moro ten minutes ago Hhc IIad
been despatched in such frantic haste that u" n'iHa-
ton had been sent 10 Lee and ne had consequently been
unable aEyisc General Banco Of her expected arrival
THE inoal,ivc blundcr that caused the Maine to be
sent o. Havana was not the only iortmtouS 4iShaP
that advanced the cause Of the rcvOuuomSlS IL was
through another nquiring accident that the famous
de Lone letter. which would have resulted IN American
mtervcn.u viii hOut the resentment born OF tc d'S'uC
ton Of CAPTAIN Sigsbccs historic ship, fell INTO me
hands Of '.e Cubans. This pleasing but unexpected
deyeOpmeu. oi q war that filled with surprises mas
always been urroundcd with mystery; but thcrc IS
no reason why the story should not be told.
The letter was written 10 Jose CanalcJas, formerly
Minister Of Justice and in recent years the po"cIiu
Premier Of Spain In the fall Of 1897, at which time ne
was editor o.. The Madrid Hcrado.' he made a tTlp
to Cuba By way Of New York and Washington, to Sc
first hand information both TO public sentiment
IN the United States and to the real state OF the re-
belOn When in this country he had several confer
enccs with Enrique Dupuy dc Lone, the Spanish MN
lSter who promised 10 keep him advised as 10 develop
mentS at Washington. Soon after his ARRIVAL III OuDa
ne into the field with the troops and spent much
time in Pinar del Rio, where vigorous campaign was
being conducted against MaccO. On his return TO
Havana he found that his secretary had been taken
sick during bis absence, and there was mass "l uil
opened mail awaiting him. He was IN hurry 70 ecJS
back % Spain. SO he asked the editor OF "El Figo
to lend him srcnographcr TO help him with his cor
respondcncc
Gustavo Esco,o q Young Cuban clerk was assigned
to assist him. They going through the stack ol
mail, when wealthy liquor dealer called to lnVlle
Canalcas 20 visit his place He lnsstcnt ana 10
get nd Of him quickly CanalcJas stepped Out mo
the hall % talk with him.
The moment that the door was closed Escoto PcKeG
up the next letter the pile and opened It, 1T chuCcu
70 be confidential communication from dc LONE iI