Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-28
HAVANA GOSSIP.
Americans Try to Hatch Complaints
About Court of Inquiry.

Havana, via Key West, Feb 81
Many Americans and some Spaniards
here insist that the investigation into
the Maine disaster has thus far been
superficial and barren of vital results
They claim that, though nearly two
weeks have passed, no knowledge has
been gained las to the condition of the
forward part of the hull, or as to
whether the six or ten inch ammuni-
tion magazines forward to the star
board exploded. They insist, moreover,
that expert divers, with enough expert
ence to make drawings of the condition
of things submarine, might have been
at work a week ago, and might have
settled the question as to the magazines
at least, ere this.
There are some who go so far as to
charge the United States government
with adopting the Spanish policy of
delay until the disaster shall be partial
ly forgotten or discounted MANY of
the Spanish officials are said to enter
tain the opinion that this is the case.
and to be very well pleased with the
notion. On the other hand, however.
good judges say that all criticism in
this vein IS made without a knowledge
OF the facts, and that no one save the
members of the court of inquiry and
their superlors, is aware of all the testi-
mony developed, or of what submarine
plans have been made. Those also urge
that there Is no use trying to raise the
hull until the wreckage of armor. su-
perstructure, decks, guns and masts has
been taken out. To do this will take
time, and the apparatus for it can only
be found in the north. 1t is said no
company in the world ever took a. CON
tract for such work where the blowing
up of the wreck by dynamite was pro.
hibited lest important evidence be de-
stroyed.
If memory did not give tinge of
tragedy, Havana harbor would be com
monplace enough. One would have to
be told OF the wreck of the SO, 00O. 900
battleship before ne could realize any-
thing from the unsightly pile. Sail
boats, tugs and launches ply to and fro
all day. Steamers, large and small ar
rive and depart
The arrival of a battalion of moro
than 1000 regular troops from Barcelona
as already cabled, excited public inter-
est only for the day. Guns were fired
wives shouted and decorations hung
which the rain soon spoiled-but that
was all there was of it. These men. SO
1t is all agreed, are the advance guard
of a division of 11,600 Spanish regulars
sent to take the place Of the sick and
wounded who have returned to Spain
within the last few months. If the
streets and cafes of Havana are a
criterion, Spain does not seem in need
of any more officers Handsome fellows
many of them are, though it seems
funny TO see gold lace on uniforms that
look as il they were made of common
bed ticking.
The Spaniards know that Senator
Proctor is a close friend of President
Mckinley, and despite his disclaimer of
a political mission, they continue to at
tach considerable Importance to his visit
at this juncture. Some think that he has
been sent here by the president TO make
a report on the situation. The Spanish
who, in the main are ignorant Of Ameri
cam customs and political methods, can
not understand why former secretary
of war should come to Havana. and
there are many expressions of surprise
that Senator Proctor is not in uniform.
The arrival of additional divers and
diving apparatus by the Mascotte yes
terday was hailed with satisfaction but
there will be more confidence when a
couple Of big tugs, with machinery cap
able of lifting hundreds of tons, heaves
in sight
Great preparations are being made to
welcome the cruiser Vizcaya Senior
Rivero, editor of La Discussion, says
The general impression here is that the
United States court Of inquiry has al