Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-02
THE MAINE MATTER.
SPANISH OFFICIAL PARTICIPATION
ELIMINATED. SAYS LONG.
COURT CALLS FOR EXPERTS,
Hoover and Car
renter Helm, Who Are Familiar
with structure of the Maine, Or
dcred to Report 10 IL.

secretary LDiSs iotioWing tne CABINET
meeting. that. in his personal opinion. any
official participation by the Spanish Gov
eament in the blowing up of the Maine
was now practically eliminated from the
swauon
Thls statement was not of a formal or
official character. and was made by MIR.
Long as he walked away from the White
House. AS usual, the various Cabinet
officers were besieged with inquiries as
~ The questions before the meeting. and.
ir response TO these opportunities. the
Secretary Of the Navy casually summed
up the session in few words, stating
shat most Of the time OF the meeting had
eeen given up 10 the outrages on colored
ngn In the South.
The Maine incident had been gone over
but there were no actual developments,
and he fc,t that the excitement over the
situation nad materially abated.
IIs also said, in the same passing way,
,ha, any participation of the Spanish
Government in the blowing up of the
Maine was practically eliminated. in his
s-igment.
This las. remark was speedily given
wide circulation. apart from the quieting
reference which had accompanied it. 1t
started comment, and when Mr.. Long
returned TO the Navy Department after
lunch ne found that what he had IN
tended 10 convey was being tSven the
force Of an official declaration that
Spain's responsibility for the disaster had
been eliminated. In order TO make clear
Dis meaning 9s a personal expression OF
opinion Mr.. Long dictated the following
statement:
The main things we talked about in
cabinet We're the outrages on postmas-
ters-One a white man i'm Georgia and one
"a colCred man in South Carolina"
In regard 10 the Cuban question, / said
thought things were growing quietcr
every day. and, as far as my judgment
went / was inclined TO think that any
cfhcial participation on the part of the
spanish Government in the disaster was
now practically eliminated"
The foregoing conveyed all that Mr.. |
Long desired TO say on the subject. and
this much was given only to offset en-
arged versions of what he had said. |
Persons occupying the closest relations |
with the Secretary said that the opinion |
expressed was such as any one might |
give, with the facts now at hand.
NO NEW EVIDENCE.
II was not in any sense, it was ex-
planned, a conclusion drawn from new |
evidence not made public. either from |
the court OF inquiry or from any officer
now concerned in the inquiry. Neither
facts nor intimations have come from
such sources il is said at the depart
mcnt which would serve as the basis for
an opinion.
The official declaration of Senor du |
Bose, the Spanish charge d'affaires, that |
no mines or submarine defences exist in |
the harbor of Habana. had come TO the
attention OF Secretary Long, and this
statement from the authorized represen-
tative OF the Spanish Government was
felt 10 have been given its due weight in
the opinion expressed by the Secretary.
II was pointed out by persons bearing
close relations to the Secretary that the
language used was official participation
on the part Of the Spanish Government"
This. il was said, had no bearing on the
question of Spain's responsibility.
The official participation" OF Spain
was one thing, while the responsibility of
Spain. in case the disaster proved to be
Of external origin, was quite another
thing The Secretary's statement was
II was explained, to excul-
pating Spain from direct, official connec-
ton and participation in the affair. In
case IL was shown that the act was due
to some fanatic or person unconnected
with the government. then the question
Of Spain's responsibility would still be
1.en.
Mr. Long was much surprised that so
much attention had been given to his
passing sllusion.
Aside from this incident. the day
brought forth few developments of
Importance relating to the Maine. No
Dispatches OF any character from Key
West where the court of inquiry Is sit
Ing were given out during the day,
and as the rule Of publicity is still in
.orce. presumably nothing came from
hat quarter.
The vessel movements announced dur
ug the day were devoid of significance.
NIANTONOMOH AND E,ATAHDIN.
Orders went out from the Navy De-
Iartment late this afternoon to put the
fonclads Miantonomoh and Katahdin
utO commission on the 10th instant. Ihsy
ire now at the League Island navy
Yard where they have been laid up FOR
/ year or two past.
Il is said at the department that the
purpose of putting them in commission
S 10 make berths for thc survivors OF
me Maine now at Key West. waiting
,n the court OF inquiry, which without
.oubt will have finished with them by
be 10th
The Miantonomoh is a formidable dou-
le-turreted monitor, carrying -FOUR u
rch guns. She is of $3.50 tons displace-
rent and steams 10 l-2 knots per hour
% addition 10 her main battery, she car !
les good secondary battery OF rapid , /,
Ire guns. and her turrets are clad with
l-2-lnch armor. Her commander has /,
ot vet been definitely selected, but the
smainder OF her officers will be as fol- !
1ws. Lieutenant Commander Wilson,
xecuuve officer; Lieutenant Underwooa,
avigator: Lieutenants Hogg ana 1iil ,
Ud Ensign Coleman, watch oulcers, 7
d-Assistant-Sur weaver anu
Parks. =
The Katahdia otherwise known as tne :
Ammen RAM" is freak In naval archl- :
scture and although opinions are DIVIDED
S 20 her qualities, there IS ntte uouo.
BAT her presence in any harpor "ouiu
lake an enemy anxious. she hes mostly
nder water, with a turtle Dack Oh steer U
aying in thickness from ~ 10 incnes'
Gd the theory Of her designer. Admiral
mmen. was that this armor plate couio
OF be struck directly by shot iroH an
hcr vessel. and that any such snoe G;
o4.d be harmlessly DETECTED py ,ne d
Jping steel deck. In action, the eonnils IN
iwer and smOke-stack are ABOUT an W
be- ship that would present. a marx ine :, :,
luner is made OF steel eighteen inchss u
#HTH fnn A. VQ m