THE HELP FROM AMERICAN WARSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13392, 22 January 1907, Page 5

THE HELP FROM AMERICAN WARSHIPS.

A REMARKABLE POSITION

INSISTENCE OF THE ADMIRAL.

AN EXTRAORDINARY LETTER AND REPLY. (Received January 21. 9.55 p.m.) Kingston. January 21. On the arrival of the United States squadron from Cuba, under Admiral Davies, the Governor (Sir Alexander Swettenham) requested that the warships should not lire a salute from fear that the inhabitants would be further alarmed. He also intimated that assistance was not required. The salute, however, was fired, and bluejackets landed and patrolled the streets and assisted in the removal of debris and the maintenance of order. Admiral Davies, in a letter, has informed Sir A. Swettenham that the salute was fired owing to a mistake in the transmission of orders. He thought that quiet work had been done by the bluejackets that day. and it was possible for them to do a great deal in supplementing the efforts of the authorities without in any wise interfering with them. Therefore, he proposed, in the interest of common humanity, to land working parties next day, unless Sir A. Swettenham objected. He added that he had landed a patrol of six men to protect the archives of the Consulate. Ten of his men had cleared the wreckage at the Consulate, and had then assisted a working party in catching thieves, recovering a safe stolen from a jewellery store. This showed, he said, that the police surveillance was inadequate for the protection of property. (Received January 21. 11.9 p.m.) Kingston, January 21. Sir A. Swettenham replied to Admiral Davies on Friday, thanking him for all his assistance and offers, but stating that he felt it his duty to ask for the re-embarkation of the working party and all parties which his kindness had prompted him to land. He adds: "If. in consideration of the American Vice-Consul's assiduous attentions to his family and his country house, the Consulate should need guarding, in niy opinion, although 1 was present- and it was unguarded an hour ago, I have no objection to your detailing a force- for the sole purpose of guarding it, but without firearms or anything more offensive than clubs or staves. 1 find your working party to-day was helping Mr. Cresswell to clear his store. Mr. Cresswell was delighted that the work was being done free of cost, and if you remain long enough I am sure all private owners will be glad of the services of the navy to save them expense. It is no longer a question of humanity, as all those dead died clays ago, and the work of burial is merely one of convenience. 1 will be glad to accept delivery of the safe the alleged thieves stole, of which the American Vice-Consul has no knowledge. The store was near a sentry post, and the officer in charge of the post professes ignorance of the incident. I believe the police surveillance adequate. Not long ago thieves pillaged the house of a New York millionaire during his absence at his summer residence, but this wouli* not have justified the British landing an armed party to assist the. New York police. - ' Admiral Davies was considerably shocked at this reply, and called at the headquarters house and waited fifteen minutes. He then asked the Governor's aide-de-camp to tell the Governor that owing to his not desiring American aid. he had countermanded President Roosevelt's order to send the Celtic laden with beef for the relief of Kingston.

Sir Alexander ettonhani ha\ irig arrived in tin- meantime, a private meeting took plac<\ and farewells were exchanged. The Admiral, in an interview, has stated that the American field hospital at Winchester Park, under the Missouri's fleet surgeon. Dr. Norton, had tended upwards of 50 sufferers from fractured hones and skulls and blood poisoning. Sir A. Swettenham and the local doctors had been greatly opposed 0 the American hospital, and had declared that they were ready to accept American supplies, but did not desire any interference. Finally the sailors engaged in repairing the hospital building returned aboard the Yankton., which sailed on Saturday afternoon, and the battleships followed.

(Received January 21, 11.46 p.m.)

New York, January 21

The incident, has caused a great sensation in America

Admiral Evans, who is in command of the Atlantic squadron, remained at Gu an ta mo after despatching Rear-Admiral Davies with the battleships and the destroyer Whipple and the Yankton to Kingston. He has remarked that he considers the immediate departure of Admiral Davies the only course consistent with the dignity of the United States.

London, January 21. The English newspapers deplore the incident, and pay the highest tributes to America's prompt- and generous assistance, and deprecate criticism until full official light is thrown on the matter. While Lord Elgin has acknowledged and thanked the American committees for their offers of help, all his cablegrams to Sir Alex ander Swettenham are unanswered. It is suggested in many quarters in America and London that Sir Alexander Swettenham is overwrought and unstrung.