The Herald, Los Angeles, CA, January 13, 1898
Anti-Liberal Rioting at Havana Forces President McKinley to Order Cruisers to the Front — The Crisis Is Reached
HAVANA, Jan. 12. — Via Key West, Jan. 12 — (Special to The Herald.) The long anticipated anti-liberal outbreak took place here this morning. It took the form of an attack by army and volunteer officers and the ultra-Spanish element upon the leading liberal newspaper offices, crying “Down with autonomy!”
El Reconcentrado was first visited and wrecked.
The office of La Discuscion, which is situated next door to the Hotel Inglatera, and above which the New York Journal bureau is located, was next attacked and gutted. Amid cries of “Down with autonomy” were heard cheers for Spain and counter cries for annexation.
The demonstration and attack being headed by army officers in uniform, the police, mounted and unmounted, made no attempt to interfere and all calls by telephone to the palace and military governor for assistance to protect the properties were unanswered.
Word comes that the El Pais office has been raided and that those who entered the Discuscion office are now directing their attack against El Diario de la Marina, the reformist dally.
The demonstration grew out of Captain General Blanco’s refusal to authorize the suppression of the liberal press, recently urged by local conservative influences, which regard autonomy as a farce and its alleged supporters as greatly lacking in loyalty to Spain, if not really Insurgents in disguise.
Crowds continue to gather upon all the public squares, and on all the streets small groups of Spaniards, many in military dress, are talking in suppressed tones. Their determination is evident, but their proposed future steps are unknown. Trouble tonight is expected by all. Measures have been taken for the protection of the American consulate, and Consul General Lee has been urged to ask for a warship.
Prompt Action Forced
WASHINGTON, D. C, Jan 12. — (Special to The Herald) Within forty-eight hours, on present indications, intervention In Cuba will have been forced on the administration. The rioting in Havana was much fiercer than the censored press reports would indicate. General Lee got at the cable early and reported that the situation was serious and that the mob was “Getting even with the Americans.”
It was “Down with the United States’.” as much as it was “Down with autonomy and the reconcentrados.”
American citizens at once sought refuge in the consulate.
General Lee’s prompt military instincts told him that the consulate might be in even greater danger than any other place in Havana, but General Blanco at once threw a heavy cordon of Spanish regulars, with artillery, about the whole square, and the adjoining streets were held.
The president did not wish to act precipitately, but the emergency had to be met promptly. The navy department at once sent dispatches to Admiral Bunce of the White squadron to hold every vessel in prompt readiness, and to Key West for vessels at that point to be ready to start for Havana on signal, but not to land unless Instructed by General Lee.
The Key West squadron cannot be assembled before tomorrow, as they are engaged in hunting filibusters, but not later than Friday they will be on hand. The torpedo flotilla has been notified and can be put into Key West for a dash on Havana by Friday.
Should General Blanco prove unable to handle the mob, and should similar excesses take place at Lugua, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Puerto Principe and Santiago, as seem inevitable, the situation will have arisen to Justify the president In carrying out his veiled threat of his message to congress, and intervening with the approval of the whole civilized world.
Lights burned late at the Spanish legation tonight, and there were signs of great activity, but all efforts to obtain either audience with De Lome or any Information, were fruitless.
The Maine Ordered Forward
LATER — Sealed orders have been sent to the Maine at Key West. It is understood that she is to be off Havana and await instructions, which will be cabled General Lee, who can communicate by steam launch.
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