The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-26
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
The Administration Will Wait
for the Report.
LONG TAKES NEEDED REST
1t Is Unknown When the Report Will
Be Made-The Question of Indemnity
if the Disaster Should Not
Prove an Accident.

/ Washington. Feb. 25.--In spite of the
stress that came from unofficial sources
! IN Havana as to sensational develop
ments in connection with the work on
the Names hull. the administration re-
i mains firm in its statement that there
is no credible evidence one way or the
/ other as to the cause of the disaster.
and holds to its purpose to await the
conclusion of the investigation now be-
| ing made by the court of inquiry. This
! position was emphasized at to-day's
cabinet meeting. People who looked
| for some startling announcement were
disappointed, as the members without
reservation frankly admitted that the
subject of the loss of the Maine had
been discussed, but said the govern
ment had received no information from
Havana since yesterday and had no in
tentfon of changing its policy until
there was something of substance to
warrant 1t. The Spanish legation was
equally in the dark as to any such dis
coyerleS reported, as was shown by the
message from Captain General Blanco.
Secretary Long has been under
heavy and almost constant strain ever
since he was awakened in the middle of
the night week ago Tuesday by the
news of the loss of the Maine, and now
that matters are, at least for the pres
ent, being in quieter state, he has
gone away for few days rest leaving
the assistant secretary to manage the
department. The latter has been tho
roughly advised at every step of the
secretary.s policy of the treatment of
the Maine affair, so that there is not
likely to be any change in that respect
by the temporary assumption of the
duties of secretary by Mr.. Roosevelt.
Just before the department closed he
mad word of the sailing Of the cruiser
montgomery from Tampa for Key
West. Up to that time the vessel had
been given no orders, so that the date
OF her departure for Havana is she is
to go at all, is conjecturai. The ship
went TO Tampa instead of Key West
on her return from San Domingo. in
order 70 facilitate the speedy return L,
his duties in Washington of Captain
1foWnlnshield. the chief of the naStgti-
ton bureau, who saved full day bV
the movement.
The Castine. the second of the United
states warships on the south Atlantic
station, arrived to-day at Barbados,
where she Joined the Cincinnati 1t may
be that the Castine may go to Mar
Unique to be docked, as she is in need
of cleaning after her trip.
since so much depends upon the re-
port OF the court of inquiry, it may be
interesting to note that so far Secre-
tary Long himself does not know when
to expect this important document
having heard nothing from any of the
members on this point. He rather ex-
pected the court, which has complete
power to work on it's own lines, would
wind UP its work at Havana before
leaving. so as to avoid the necessity of
return t. ip. One member of the cabi-
net had more definite opinion on the
subject. expecting the receipt of the re-
port from the court about the middle of
next week. There is reason to believe
lhat In the meantime, and to prepare
for the reception of report that would
show the disaster to be other than the
result of an accident, some of the Off
Gals of the administration have been
looking UP the subject of indemnities.
SO as to lay the foundation of a case in
the event it should be decided to resort
to that method of settlement.
There are large number of prece-
dents which will aid the authorities in
shaping their action in this direction
when the facts are fully established
While none of the cases show the fear
full loss of life sustained by the Maine
explosion, yet they include many in
stances in which the United States has
adopted energetic measures to redress
the killing of American citizens in for
eign countries. In general way these
of redress have included de-
mands for indemnity, proclamations
excluding the warships of the offending
nation from our harbors, display of
force. non-intercourse, withdrawal of our
reprisals and blockade Some
of these steps border very closely on
war, although they are regarded as the
movements just preliminary to actual
hostiiities, and as amounting to a threat
that force will follow if reparation IS not
made.
The case of the Water Witch is con-
sidered to be the most analogous to that
Of the Maine, should it be established
that the Maine disaster was not the re-
suit of an accident. The Water Witch
was United States ship engaged, in
1855. in surveying the entrance to one |
Of the rivers of Paraguay. Without |
warning. and by orders of President |
Lopez of Paraguay, force of troops |
opened fire on the Water Witch killing |
he man at the helm and wounding |
others. Intense feeling was aroused in |
he United States when the facts be- |
anne known. The president reported I
he facts to congress. and in his message /
asked for authority to make a demon
'tration of force, which would insure
suitable redress. In response to this
congress authorized him ITO use such
orce as is necessary to secur, repara-
ion. Accordingly an armed fleet was
hastily assembled on a scale which WAS
egarded as remarka BILE for those DAYS.
fhe expedition included 10 armed ships, I
8 heavy guns and 900 sailors and ma
ines. Accompanying this formidable
'utnt We're civilian plenipotentiaries
prepared to make the demands of the
government and then enforce them by
alling on the armed ships The exne-
ition made formidable showing in the
'outh American waters and President
.aReZs government was awed into COM
llete subJeetfer by III presence. The
American commissioners and naval Of
Ieers were received at Ascension with
much honor and every reparation with
a the power Of the republic was gwen.
his included abject apology. sweep
ne disayowal and $4,000 for the suf-
afers from the outrage. As thu repub-
c VAS willing to grant full reparatiJa {