Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-21

From u photograph received by the Secre
Lieut. Hood Of the Maine (FebuaIy is, 1898.
bee contained, in addition, the warning
written in English on the margin, LOOK
out for your ship
"Since the explosion on the Maine the
newspapers have published letters from
members of the crew, written days before
describing the alarming conditions around
them, and expressing apprehension OF
Spanish treachery. Nearly all OF these let
tiers showed that the men on the Maine
fully realized that they were in hostile wa
ters and were in constant danger OF attack
Consequently 1t Is only natural to assume
that they did not take any chances in the
matter. All were on the lookout for attack
and the usual safeguards on man-o-war
were undoubtedly redoubled. Submarine
mines and torpedoes were especially feared
and it is safe assumption that every pos
sible precaution was taken against them
Inasmuch. therefore, as everybody on the
ship was guarding against the approach OF
torpedoes 1t is hard for me to believe that
one Of those destructive agents could get
to the ship without detection"
1.-The story that the Maine was purposely
anchored over a submarine mine Is incom-
prehensible to me. Such a theory involves
the highly improbable condition that Cap
tain Sigsbee neglected the simplest precau-
tions to insure the safety of his vessel.
Although 1t is possible that torpedoes may
have been foated against the vessel, such a
proceeding is hardly likely unless the vigi-
lance of the lookout was relaxed-a thing /
do not believe, in view of the general feel
ing on the part Of the men on the vessel
that they were In CONSTANT danger OF sncn
a visit.
1T is these considerations that lead me
to believe that the loss of the Maine was
due to some unavoidable internal disturb
ance rather than to an attack from quar-
ter that every one on the ship was guard
ing against. Captain sigsbee is my friend,
and do not wish to say anything against
him, but it seems to me that he must have
been remiss in some way If he allowed a
torpedo to strike his vessel after having
been repeatedly warned against an attack
Of that kind. To my mind the establish
ment of that fact will be almost much
a reflection against the discipline and eff
cheney of the ships crew as would be the
findings that the ship and her crew were
destroyed by some interior mismanage-
ment resulting in the explosion Of the mag
azine 1t Is this view Of the calamity thai
makes me hope that the investigation will
show that the loss of the Maine was an
accident pure and simple. and was not /
any wise due to a laxity Of vigilance or dis
cipline such as would permit the use of r
torpedo or the Introduction Of an inferna
machine near the powder magazine
Although Paul Boyton has demonstrated
that 1t is not difficult thing to fasten a
torpedo to an unsuspecting vessel in time
Of peace in a friendly harbor, 1t has never
yet been shown that such q thing can be
done to vessel in hostile harbor on her
guard against such an attack. Modern
science furnishes safeguards against tor
pedoes just the same as it furnishes de-
fense against all other forms of attack
Captain Sigsbee has acted nobly in this
matter, and 1 hope and trust that he will
be completely vindicated in every respect
LIEUT.. sOBRAL's MISSION.
He Thoroughly Informed Himself Re-
gnrding Our Military Condition.
Evidence is at hand that Lieut. Sobral,
late naval attache of the Spanish legation
was an eminent success as a procurer of
secret information of the military re-
sources of this country. If there is any
scrap of information of Importance relative
to our naval and military affairs and sea-
coast defenses which is not now il the pos
session of Spain, 1t is because 1t was lost
In the mails, and not due to Lieut. Sobrars
fatit re to obtain 1t. Lieut.. SoDrars mission
to this country as naval attache was nom
inally to advise his government upon mat
ters Of naval construction coming within
the purv1ew OF an honorable man.
Lieut.. Sobral has undoubtedly been con-
graduated upon the amount Of informa ton
which he has transmitted to his govern
menr. Whether he is to be congratulated
upon the methods used to obtain 1t is an
other question. Comment unfavorab,e to
him Is occas:oned by the fact that he was
| relieved from his duties January "A last,
although this government was not notified.
The construction which Is placed upon that
| incident by some people is that the Spanish
legation was aware that Lieut.. SobraI
| might be called to task at any time for his
| conduct in regard to obtaining information,
and that embarrassing consequences could
be obviated by having his recall on file
ready to spring at the proper moment.
| Visited Important Fortincati0ns.
1t was stated to a Star reporter today
| by person now in this city who has been
| familiar with Lieut.. SobraPs movements
| for the past two years that he has un-
doubtedly visited every fertilization of i'm
| portaace on the Atlantic coast. He has in
| spected the warships of this government
has come into possession OF plans which
are only on file at the Navy Department
| and 10 familiar with the details Of the mill
itary resources Of the government to an
extent. it is said. greater than any single
man in this country.