New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-25
THE MAINE INVESTIGATION.
1T DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE WAS NO
LACK OF DISCIPLINE OR CARE.
IMPORTANCE OF THE RECENT ACTION OF THE
AuroNoMIsr PARTY-sENoR GOWNS PART

AuruNoMrsr PARTY-sENoR GOWNS PART
IN IT-INrRANsrGENTEs STILL HOSTILE
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpuNE'I
Havana. Feb % via Key West, Feb Z4'-ra-
tience Is necessary on the part OF the peop'e VI
the United States in the Maine ihVes''s"''''
Notwithstanding vcxatious delays. real progress
is being made by the divers. Inc oecis"" 'e
cord,ng the cause Of the disaster ultimately
rests on their work Captain Sampsons NaV"'
Roard has been able to gain the fullest informa-
ton showing that an accident through IAN -
disclnline was impossible This branch Of the
inquiry brings out. what was wen u'''e'''Oo
that the officers and crew Of the Maine were
under the strictest discipline. because a.'o-
on the surface the visit of the Maine was irieiu-
w. Captain Sgsbee had taken proper pie'"D
tons against hostile action
The work Of clearing out the bodies under 'he
hatch proceeds. The sights there are pitifui ana
almost beyond the endurance of the divers az
customed as they are to such experiences Inc
condition in which the bodies are fouho s"o"'
that the men. sleeping in their hunks must nave
been driven against the beams overhead VIII"
terrific force In many instances the pooies are
cbarrad beyond the possibility OF recognition
The BOARD has not vet directed the examination
Of the hur plates While the divers examina-
,,ors show that some OF the smaller magazines
NAV have exploded the fact that the main ~
inch magazine was not exploded seems TO nave
been concluslvey established
The members of the Board spent several hours
to-day making personal examination or the con-
dition Of the wreck. The story or the nhuins Vi
a 1O-inch copper cylinder was correct Inc
Spanish authorities adhere to the story OF IRE
in the ship first and the explosion after"aru'
The result of the divers work is conclusive
AGAINST that theory. Though their reports are
carefully guarded. 1t is known that what 'heE
have found in the interior OF the wreck mas ue
molished the theory Of fire before tho explosion
The divers to-day worked toward the wardroom
The obstacles are now fairly cleared away.
In the uncertainty Of the relations with the
United States the Importance OF the recent &C
ton Of the Autonomist party Is overlooked. us
Central Committee has formally approved the
nlan which Is n confession Of the failure OF the
nresent scheme Of autonomy, and an offer TO the
insurgents TO concede everything except the
withdrawal OF the Spanish flag. It's significance
lies in the fact that Senior Gown. member OF
the Autonomst Cabinet. was a leading spirit IN
the meeting and offered the resolutions for
treating with the insurgents. which include
series Of propositions outlined by Gberga TWO
weeks ago. when the Radical Autonomist party
was formed These cover everything but inde-
pendence. These Autonomists have no author
ty to represent Spain in the negotiations and
give no guarantee that Spain would yield the
concessions offered. The resolutions are IN one
sense an answer to the complaint from Madrid
that the Autonomist Cabinet was doing nothing
to bring the insurgents TO recognition II nego-
tiations are ever actually opened with the In
surgents. GOWNS and the Radical Autonomlsts
proposition will be rejected.
The Intransigentes are still hostile to the Gov
eminent Among them the Maine inquiry Is
adding to the smothered anti-American feeling.
The authorities profess ability to hold 1t in
check.