The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-12
EXPLOSION WASN'T EXTERNAL.
CAPT. PERAL GIVES HIS REASONS
FOR THE ASSERTION.

Torpedo Would Have Blown a Hole
in the Mud at the Bottom of the
Harbor, and None Has Been Found
Explosion Also Not Marked by II
Column of Water Thrown Into the
Air-NO Fish IxiIIed-Accident May
Have Been Due to Amy One of Many
Causes.
Havana, March 11.-To-day Capt. Peral,
president of the Spanish naval court of
inquiry into the cause of the Maine disas-
ter, granted an interview to the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press, whom
he authorized to say it was the first and
only interview he had given any newspaper
on the subject of the inquiry.
Capt. Peral speaks excellent English.
With him in the naval court is Lieut. Sa-
las. He has power to call in for consulta-
tion any army or navy engineer or expert
on explosives or marine building. He has
twice called in such and will do so again
when necessary.
Capt Peral said: "Our divers are hard
at work examining the hull of the Maine.
Great difficulty is experienced, owing to the
deep mud in which the hull is buried and
the condition of the wreck forward of
amidships. The whole forward part of the
ship is a mass of iron and steel debris.
We have hoisted up much of it; but in
the mud 1t is not always possible to tell
what parts of the ship, armor, deck,
beams or stanchions are found, the ex-
plosion so changed the positions.
1--WE think we have located the ram OF
the prov, but not in the position sup
posed. The forward turret, mounting the
large guns was blown clear of the hull
into the water on the starboard. We shah
continue our work and try to examine
the hull forward down to the keel. It
is possible that we may propose to the
American authorities to raise the hull by
means of the floating dock, brought from
England and now in Havana harbor.
1--WE cannot believe there was an ex-
ternal explosion of a torpedo for the fol-
| lowing reasons: A torpedo, following the
| line of least resistance, must have blown
| a great hole in the mud at the bottom of
the harbor. No such hole was found. A
| torpedo must have thrown a large mass
of water into the air if exploded at
uGptn OIL only twenty leeI OF So OF at
! least, have produced a wave reaching the
other ships and the shore of the harbor.
We have examined every man on ship
board or shore who saw the explosion;
| but no one can be found who remarked
! any upheaval of the water or a big wave.
"a torpedo explosion always kills fish
in the vicinity. No fish were killed by the
Maine disaster, as fishermen who have
known the harbor for many years testify.
IL.
a torpedo would have to be Of enormous
size, fully $50 or 200 kilos
II am, therefore, of the opinion that the
explosion occurred within the ship.
know and respect Capt. Sgsbee, and I be-
lieve the American regulations affecting
naval conduct which have read and found
admirable, were carefully observed. But
some things which cannot be foreseen are,
bound to happen in any navy. 1 have
been reading of the explosion on the Eng
lish ship Dolerel, which the English be-
lieve was caused by chemical combustion
in the paint used for quick drying. / have
also read an English account of shells
that were found burst open because of
hardening points that split and produced
heat, which exploded the shell. As l have
said l do not believe there was any care
lessness on the part Of the officers of the
Maine. l do believe there was an acci-
foreseen. Such is my judgment at pres
ent with the facts now in possession of
the court. When the court of inquiry
finally decides, its judgment will be in ac-
cordance with the best evidence that can
be procured We are having plans, dia-
grams and drawings Of the wreck made as
fast as the divers are able to give US def
mite information"
Capt. Peral was most courteous during
the entire interview. He illustrated some
Of the points he made by ink sketches
on the desk before him. He spoke as a
judge would, whose mind was ready to
weigh any evidence ready to be brought
before the court over which he presided
1T should be borne in mind that this is the
first and only interview he has given any
one.
Capt. Peral requested this correspondent
to make it known tnat he had granted the
interview in his unofficial capacity and not
as president Of the Spanish court of in
quiry, which the law forblds him to do.
GREAT ANXIETY AT MADRID.