New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-12
THE SPANISH INQUIRY.
CAPTAIN PERAL TELLS WHAT HIS
DIVERS FOUND.
REASONS WHY HIS BOARD Is CONVINCED THAT
THE EXPLOSION WHICH BLEW rP THE
MAINE WAS FRoN WITHIN TIE SHIP.

THE EXPLOSION WHICH BLEW Up THE
MAINE WAS FROM WITHIN THE SHIP.
Havana March 11-To-day Captain Peral.
president OF the Spanish Naval Court Of Inquiry
into the cause Of the Maine disaster. granted an
interview 10 the correspondent Of the Associated
Press. whom he authorized TO say II was the
only interview he had given any newspaper on
the subject Of the inquiry Captain Peral speaks
excellent English With him in the naval court
is Lieutenant salas. He has power 10 call in FOR
consultation any army or navy engineer or eN-
pert on explosives or marine building and ne
has twice called in SUCH and will do so again
when necessary. Captain Peral said:
our divers are hard at work examining the
hull OF the Maine. Great difficulty is expert
enced, owing to the deep mud in which the hull
is buried and the condition Of the wreck for
ward of amdshlps The whole forward part of
the ship is mass Of iron and steel debris. We
have hoisted up much Of H. but In the mud II is
not always possible to tell what parts Of tho
ship. armor deck. beams or stanchions are
found, the explosion so changed their positions
SUGGESTION FOR RAISING THE HULL
We think We have located the ram. or PROV
but not I'm the position supposed. The forward
turret. mounting two large guns was blown
We shall continue our work and try 20 examine
the hull forward down 10 the keel II is posi-
hle that we may propose to the American au-
thorites to raise the hull by means # the float
ing dock brought from England and now In
Havana Har5or
we cannot believe there was an external
explosion Of torpedo, for the following rea-
sors A torpedo, following the line of Least re-
slstance, must have blown a great hole I'm the
mud al the bottom OF the harbor 30 such hole
was found. A to.pedo must have thrown
large mass OF water into the air n exploded az
a depth Of only twenty-five feet or so or. al
least. have produced 4 wave reaching the other
ships and the shore # the harbor. We have
examined every one on shiphoar1 or shore who
saw the explosion, but no one can be found who
remarked any upheaval OF the water or big
wave
"A torpedo explosion always kills fish IN tho
vicinity No fish were Killed hy the Maine dis
aster. as fishermen who have known the harhor
for many years testify. To produce the effects
noted I'm the wreck. torpedo would have 70 Do
Of enormous size. fully 10 or 2o0 klos.
Il am therefore Of opinion that the explosion
occurred within the ship I know and respect
Captain Sgsbco. and | believe the American
regulations affecting naval conduct. which
have read and found admirable. We're carefully
observed. But some things which cannot he
forescen are bound to happen in any navy. !
have been reading Of the explosion on the Eng
sh ship Dotterel which the English believe
was caused by chemical combustion In the paint
used for drying | have also read an English
account Of shells that were found burst open
because Of hardened points that split and pro
duced heat. thus flashing the powder in the
interior Of the shell.
no CARELEssNESs OF OFFICERS.
AS have said. do not believe there was any
carelessness on tho part II the officers Of the
Maine I do believe there was an accident
which could not POSSIBLY have been foreseen.
Such is my judgment present. with the facts
that are in possession of the court. When our
Court Of Inquiry finally decides, its judgment
will be In accordance with the best evidence
that can be procured. W" are having plans.
diagrams and drawings Of the wreck made as
fast as the divers are able 10 give definite
information"
Captain Peral was most courteous during the
entire interview. He illustrated some Of the
points he made by ink sketches ON the desk he
fore him He spoke as a Judge would whose
mind was ready 10 weigh any evidence brought
before the court over which he presided.