The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-28
Estenoz Outlines Situation
Taft Answers Gomez

Washington. May 24.-President Iaft today replied to President Gomez's tele- gram of yesterday regarding the attitude of the United States toward Cuba. He declared the American governments &C., tivities in mobilizing war vessels at Key West and despatching the Prairie with marines to Guantanamo, was not in any sense an intervention movement.
 The following is the text of the mes- sage:
 T am sincerely gratified to learn of your governments energetic measures to put down the disturbance and to know that you are confident of being success full As was fully explained to the Cuban charge, this governments motive in send ing ships to Key West, just as sending the Prairie to the Guantanamo naval sta- tiun was merely to be able to act promptly in case 1t should unfortunately become necessary to protect life and property by rendering moral support to the Cubans.
 "As was made quite clear at the time these ordinary measures of precaution were entirely dsassoeiated from any question of Intervention.
 "WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT"
 The state department tonight emphatic ally declared that .he present Cuban situation in no sense made intervention necessary. No American troops, other than the marines. already on their way to the island, were expected to be or dered out it was stated. It was shown flat the fund available for the trans portation of troops has run low, with the spproach of the end of the fiscal veal and any attempt to move troops from posts in this country to Cuba would be costly.
 Anxious to Adhere to Law
 In addition to this the department and the administration are anxious to adhere closely to the terms of the Platt amend nent, under which the United States in. terye in Cuba, after the collapse or the Palma administration in 1906. Tie law as interpreted by the judge advocate general of the army provides that the Cinted States may intervene only for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of government ade- ouate. to the protection of life, property and individual liberty and for diseharging the obligations with respect to Cuba inl- posed by the treaty of Paris upon tGs United States now to be undertaken ey the government of Cuba"
 Even with these requirements fulfilled the United States would first endeavor by diplomatic negotiations and pacific means to settle the affairs of Cuba.
 Golfers to Join Fleet
 Within the next week the naval eol- llers Mars, Caesar and cyclops and the supply ship cugoa will load coal and supplies at Hampton Roads. and steam for Key West, where they will join the second squadron, as the precautionary fleet has been named by the navy depart ineiIt. Orders were issued today for the Mars to sail May 2s. the Culgoa the day after, the Caesar May 3l. anr the cy- clops June I.
 owing to the failure of the gunboat Paducah to arrive at Guantanamo Bay, and carry out orders recently issued for her to steam to Nipe Bay on the north side of the island and make an investigation of the disturbances there. the navy department decided it would be fnadvisable to await Inc arrival of that boat. and consequently ordered the gunboat Nashville now at Guam tanamo to proceed immediately to carry out the Paducah's orders. The latter vessel was engaged in surveying duty south of the island when orders were issued for her to steam for Guantanamo Bay
 The cruiser Prairie with TOO marines aboard for the American station at Guantanamo, cannot arrive al her des- tination before tomorrow, according to- naval officers here.