Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-05
-FOUR WARSH|PS
TO GO TO CUBA
Taft Decides on Action as
Precaution After Confer
ence With Knox.
FORCE OF $50 MARINES
ARE LANDED ON ISLAND
Movement Is to Guard Property; Not
For Intervention.
NO CHANGE IN U. S. ATTITUDE
No Objection From Island Govern
ment Anticipated-No Important
Developments in General
Situation.
Movement Is to Guard Property; Not
For Intervention.
NO CHANGE IN U. S. ATTITUDE

.After conference between
President TAFT and Secretary
Knox at the White House today
it was announced that the gov
ernment would immediately dis
patch four American battleships
to Cuban waters.
President Tafts decision to dispatch
the squadron TO Cuban waters was
reached because of the need of precau-
tionary measures and not with any intent
10 intervene at this time.
Another point brought out in the con-
ference was the absence of satisfactory
telegraphic communication with Amer
lean vessels now near Cuba The high
power wireless apparatus on the battle
ships will make such communication
with naval stations in the United States
much quicker.
Admiral OsterhauS, commander of the
Atlantic fleet, has been ordered to send
one of his divisions to Guantanamo. The
admiral is at Key West with the flag
ship Washington and the third and fourth
divisions of the fleet.
The Georgia, Nebraska. New Jersey and
Rhode Island make up the third division,
and the Minnesota, Mis- sissippi, Missouri
and Ohio make up the fourth.
II was stated at the Navy Department
that another principal consideration in
sending four battleships to Cuba was that
the force of marines at Guantanamo
would be largely increased. Each of the
big ships carries full quota of marines.
Ii Is not the intention of the government
to make a naval demonstration.
CAIMANERA, Cuba, June 5.-Four hun
dred and fifty American marines under
command Of Col. Lucas were landed this
morning at Deses point, close to Cal
manera. from which point they proceeded
by train for Guantanamo City. The an
nounced purpose of the movement is to
guard American property, and not for
intervention.
The marines referred to in the Cal
nanera report are said TO be a portion
of those which had been in camp at the
United States naval station on Guanta-
nano bay since the arrival there Of the
cruiser Prairie a week ago.
In response to repeated calls for help
and protection from the interests, mostly
Americans. between 400 and 800 OF these
marines have been sent to the city OF
Guantanamo. about fifteen miles inland
from the American naval station. and
on the Cuba Eastern raj way. The large
santa Cecilia plantation is in that neigh
borhood. Some of its buildings have been
burned and some Of the livestock has
been stolen by negro marauders. nomi-
nally attached TO Gen. Estenoz's army OF
insurrectos.
American Property Extensive.
The permanent American naval station
at Guantanamo bay is in the immediate
vicinity and south of Caimanera. Guam
tanamo City Is ten mi es north of Cal
manera and there is railroad connection
between the two places. American prop
erty I'm the vicinity of Guantanamo city
consists OF mines, sugar plantations, etc
located in the Guantanamo valley.
The Guantanamo valley is fiat horse
s'ho, shaped basin surrounded by noun-
tainS In the valley are great cane heids
supporting nine sugar mills, many owned
by American companies. among them
the Santa Cecilia Sugar Company OF
New York. the United Fruit Company
and the Nipe Bay Company.
Ii is learned at the State Departing:
that this considerable movement OF ma
rines was not directly ordered or insti-
gated by the State Department. nor does
II mark any change whatever in the at
titude of non-intervention in a political
sense to which the United Sites govern
ment has consistently adhered
Kline's Decision Approved.
May - the commandment OF the naval
station at Guantanamo. Commander
George w Kline. L. s. ". requested by
cable permission 10 land marines from any
naval vessels that might he in the har
f,,,. pr In erpniNN nf those alrpadv in
camp at Deer point, on the naval station.
for the protection of American-owned
Ilantations in the adjacent interior.
The State Department. to which the re-
quest was referred was entirely agree
able. but even before the answer 10 that
effect was returned came another mes
sage from Commander Kline stating that
he would make that disposition of his
forces. His decision has been approved
here
There has been a steady stream OF COM
plants pouring into the state Department
from the owners and managers OF the
great plantations, mines and docking
companies and railroads OF American
ownership against the attitude of the in
surrectos and the failure of the Cuban
government TO afford full protection.
IL does not appear that there has been
any considerable actual destruct on of
property, indeed, the aggregate probably
would be eas ly included with n 100000.
but the Americans felt that they had a
right to protest against exposure 10 sucn
danger AS understood at the State De-
partment. Commander X inc has acted
under the general authorizat on IN DIS
patching marines nto the int r,or No
object on is anticipated TO that move
ment on the art OF the Cuban govern
ment. which indeed has already gwen as
sent to the employment of American
forces to act as guards at plantations
where the Cuban government military
commanders were without sufficient forces
for the purpose.
Troops Are insufficient.
This is precisely the situation that has
arisen in the country back Of the Bay OF
Guantanamo. Reports to the State De-
partment today are to the effect that
Capt. Espinosa. the local government
commander, while willing to assist the
plantation owners. is doubtful whether he
has enough troops to protect them all.
The Guantanamo Sugar Company, the