Court Martial at Havannah.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 263, 12 May 1896, Page 2

Court Martial at Havannah.

A NUMBER OF SAILORS SENTENCED TO DEATH. A PROTEST FROM PRESIDENT CLEVELAND. (Per Press Association! New York, May 11. The court martial at Havana has sentenced to death five of the crew of the American schooner Competitor, j which was seized by a Spanish gunboat i.for carrying arms to Cuba. Three of those under sentence are American citizens. President Cleveland cabled to Madrid that if the men were executed without a civil trial the United States Government would regard it as an unfriendly act. Premier Canovas replied that the dispute must be settled in accordance with the law of treaties. It i 3 reported Premier Canovas subsequently ordered the Havanna authorities to submit the cases to the Supreme Military Court. The New York Press is indignant at the incident. The New York World pointa out the only offence the men were guilty of was that of smuggling. The American vessel Bermuda, bound to Cuba, embarked at Florida a force of three hundred men and a cargo of ten thousand rifles. The Spanish Consul protested against the departure of the vessel under these circumstances. Washington, May 11. The United States Government has ordered a battalion in Florida to prepare for action, and has sent orders for the navy to assemble in the event of the Spanish Government refusing to give way to President Cleveland's ultimatum. Havannah, May 11. General Weyler, Spanish Commander-in-Chief, will resign unless the death sentence is carried out.