Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-02
LONGS STATE MENT.
Seoretary's Casual Remarks
Given an Official Cast.
EXPLANATION FOLLOWS.
InHis Opinion Spain Had No Part
Officially in Maine Disas ter.
No News Received at Washington Throw
ing Additional Light on the Disaster
Activity at League Island Navy
Yard

Washington, March 1.-The chief in
terest of the day in connection with the
Maine inquiry centered in a statement
by Secretary Long, following the cabi-
net meeting, that in his personal opin-
ion any official participation by the
Spanish government in the blowing up
of the Maine was now practically elm
mated from the situation. This state
mert was not formal, or official, and was
made by Mr.. Long as he walked away
from the White House.
As usual the various cabinet officers
were besieged with inquiries as to the
questions before the meeting, and in re-
Spouse to these opportunities, the secre-
tary rather casually summed up the sit
uation in a few words, stating that most
of the time had been given to the OUT
RACES on colored postmasteTs in the
south
Naturally the Cuban situation had
been gone over, he said, but there were
no actual developments, and he felt that
public excitement over the subject had
materially abated.
y
participation by the Spanish govern
ment in the blowing up of the Maine
was practically eliminated, in his Judg-
nfent was speedily given wide circula-
tion, apart from the qualifying refer
ences which had accompanied it. Much
comment and discussion followed, and
when Mr. Long returned to the navy de-
partment after luncheon, he found that
what he had intended to convey inform
ally and as a personal opinion was being
given the force of an official declaration
that SPANS responsibility for the disas-
ter had been eliminated. In order to
make clear his meaning, Mr.. Long die
tated a statement. to offset the enlarged
versions of what he had said. Secre-
fary Long explained that his remarks
did not, so far as he knew, reflect the
opinion of the Board of Judging, or of
any other officials, and were not based
on any special official information of
which he was possessed, but were mere
ly ventured as an expression of personal
opinion such, as any private citizen
might give. Person 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.
1t 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 any officer now
concerned in the inquiry. Neither facts
nor intimations have come from such
sources, it is said at the department,
which would serve as the basis for an
opinion.
The official declaration Of Senior Du
Bose the Spanish charge d. affaireS that
no mines or submarine defenses exist
In the harbor of Havana, has come to
the attention of Secretary Long, and
=
resentative Of the Spanish government
was felt to have been given it's due
weight in the opinion expressed by the
secretary. 1t was pointed out by per-
sons bearing close relations to the sec
rotary. that the language used was
official participation on the part of
the Spanish government. This, it was
said, had no bearing on the question of
SPANS responsibility. In case it was
shown that the act was due to some
fanatic or person unconnected with the
government, then the question of re-
sponsibility would be still open.
Aside from this incident, the day
brought forth few developments of i'm
portance relating to the Maine. No dis
patches of any character from Key
West, where the court of inquiry is sit
ting, We're given out during the day,
and as the rule of publicity is stiIl in
force, presumably nothing came from
that quarter. The vessel movements an
nounced during the day were devoid of
significance
Orders went out from the navy de-
partment late this afternoon to put the
ironclads Miantonomah and Katahdin
into commission on the 10th instant.
They are now at the League Island
navy yard, where they have been laid
up for a year or two past 1t is said
at the department that the purpose of
putting them in commission is to make
berths for the survivors of the Maine
now at Key West waiting on the court
of inquiry.
The Miantonomah is a formidable,
double-turreted monitor, carrying four
i0-neh guns. She is of 1890 tons dis
placement and steams 1015 knots per
hour. In addition to her main battery
she carries a good secondary battery of
rapid-fire guns, and her turrets are clad
with l1A2-ineh armor. Her commander
has not yet been definitely selected
The KaSahdih, otherwise known as
the Ammen ram, is a freak in naval
architecture, and although opinions are
divided as to her qualities, there is little
doubt that her presence in any harbor
would make an enemy anxious She
lies mostly under water, with a turtle
back Of steel varying in thickness from
2ls.inGaes to Inches, and the theory of
haT designer, Admiral Ammen. was that
this arunor-plate could not be struck di-
rectly by shot from another vessel.
and that any such shot would be harm
lersly DETECTED by the sloping steel deck.
In action the coming tower and smoke
stack are about all the marks the ship
would present The former ls made Of
steel 10 inches thick The Katahdln is a
ram pure and simple, having in the way
NJ weapons of offence nothing but her
sharp steel-beAk and a few small rapid
IRE guns to keep Off boarders or torpe-
DO boats, When she was designed her
speed was placed at a very high mark,
but she did not realize expectations
owing To her peculiar obstructive under
water model
1t WAS learned at the navy depart
ms7l. today why the Maine was tied up
10 g. bdoy ia Havana haroor instead Of
aaehefiag, a fact that has been the
base for some of the theories as to the
cause of tfs disaster. Ii is said that not
os7iy is a man-of-was at buoy in much
better place for quick service than when
aBea5Fed bat IL appears that If ship
casts her anchor in Havana harbor, so
fsiij and polluted with yellow fever and
0thaF disease gems is the mud that adj
heres to 1t whenrit is heisted that the