The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-15

Washington, April 14.-The testimony
taken before the senate committee on
foreign relations in connection with the
investigation into the relations between
the United States and Spain was made
public to-day. II constitutes a book Of
about $50 pages. and includes not only
the testimony taken since the disaster
TO the Maine. but also much that was
known before and running back for a
year or more. The statement which con-
tains the greatest current interest was
that made by General Lee on the 18th
instant. In his statement Lee said he
was informed on very good authority
that the Spaniards placed two rows Of
torpedoes just at the mouth of Havana
harbor within the past two months. or
subsequent - tn sAGasnesdtBnstsx, ana
that the switch board Is in a room in
Moro Castle.
Have you any reason TO suppose the
harbor was mined at all before the
blowing up OF the Manner" asked Sena-
tor Frye.
mo. sir. / had no reason to suspect
anything of that sort up to that time"
He then went on to say the writer's
letter to Santos Gusman had led him to
believe the mines might have been
placed there previous to the Maine in
cident. ami he said this supposition was
strengthened by a telegram from Wey-
Ter. of which he had cognizance- Upon
the whole he thought the Weyler letter.
"the Maine letter" was a correct copy
OF the genuine letter.
The telegram TO which he referred was
addressed to Eva Canela, a noted Span
ish woman and admirer Of Weyler. and
to Senor Gusman, and IL read as fol-
lows:
Grave circumstances cause me to
ask you to destroy the last letter OF
Feb. L."
Lee said this telegram had never be-
fore been published. and he found in IL
strong confirmatory evidence OF the gen.
uineness OF the writer
With reference to the responsibility
for the destruction of the Maine, Lee
said:
Il am satisfied the explosion was
from the outside. l have always be-
lieved the Maine was not blown up by
any private individual. but by some ON
GERS who had charge OF the mines and
electric wires and torpedoes in the ar
senal. who thoroughly understood their
business. for IL was done remarkably
well. 1 don't think Blanco had any
thing to do with 1t. l don't think he
had any knowledge Of it, I was sitting
in my room at the hotel when I heard
the explosion and saw a great column
OF fire go up in the air After ascer-
tanning IL was the Maine 1 went right
uown to the palace and asked for
Blanco. He came in at once. He had
just heard the news and was crying.
Tears were coming out OF his eyes. He
seemed to regret il as much as any
bod n ,,,I II.x r s~xn< ss
from some subaltern officers who had
been there under Weyler and who were
probably anti -Blanco anyhow. and who
had full knowledge of the business
General Lee said that he had seen a
copy of telegram from Admiral Man
terola, dated Havana. prior to the
Maine explosion. to the Spanish com
mission in London. asking the COM
mission to hurry up the electric cables.
Whether that referred to wire for
submarine mines or torpedoes. 1 don't
know" said General Lee.
Have you heard since the explosion
of the Maine any expression by spanish
officers In relation to II. indicating their
pleasure at the fact? asked senator
Frye.
General Lee responded: Il heard two
or three days afterwards from various
persons that there was a good deal OF
rejoicing among some of the o1icers-
All reports i got said that they were
drinking champagne. quite a thing to
do. in honor of the event. and In differ-
ent portions of the city officers were
making merry. I attributed IL to the
fact that what they considered almost
an enemy's battleship had been blown
up. and IL was that much in their Ia
vor."
Senator Lodge asked II he had heard
of an attempt on the Montgomery
Il heard" replied General Lee. that
there was something OF that sort said
one evening. but believe. upon inves-
tigation. thar IL was found IL did not
amount to anything"
Senator Lodge-What does this ceunn-
ton OF hostilitiss invoked In the last
few DAYS amount tog
General Lee responded: Nothing:
practically nothing. The armistice
amounts TO nothing"
In response To an inquiry from 8nnn.