The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-03-02
M'K|NLEY'S POSITION.
Just Where the President Is AT
in the Matter of the Maine
Catastrophe
DECLARED BY A CABINET MEMBER.

Nothing New from the Wreck Scene
Board of Inquiry Arrives at Key West,
where IL WIN Take Testimony-some
Further Information About Havana
Harbor and the Alleged Mines-Roose-
welt Sums Up Naval Operations I'm Ex-
.ctly Thirty One Words.
Washington. Feb. 2S.-A member OF
the cabinet in speaking of the attitude
OF the president on the question of
war with Spain, said: President Nc
Kinley is giving thoughtful and earnest
consideration to every phase of the Gu
ban situation as ii appears, but he will
not be 'jingoed into war, or act in
anticipation of events which may never
occur. He fully realizes what war
neans and will not go to this last dire
ful extremity without the approval of
his conscience and a firm conviction
that such a course would be right in
the sight Of God and of man. But
whenever the honor and integrity of the
nation or it's people become involved
the president may be depended upon to
do his whole duty and do il promptly"
The news from the wreck yesterday
may be set down as nil. All of interest
from that vicinity was the arrival of
the court of inquiry at Key West,
where il will continue its Investigations,
resuming at 10 a. m. today. AS sum-
marizing the situation Secretary Long
said that he was now in possession of
no more information on the cause of the
disaster than he was Immediately after
the occurrence. and that no evidence
had been received up to the present
time showing that the disaster was
caused by design.
Question of Havana Harbor Mines.
At the suggestion of Secretary Long,
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt gave out
the following statement in regard to the
published map with the mines in Ha-
vana harbor purporting to be marked
on it: "As soon as the map was brought
TO my attention / sent to Mr.. John Rus
sci Young, OF the congressional library,
and got the original. 1t is simply one
of the innumerable maps of Havana
harbor. There is not the slightest sign
of a mine marked anywhere on it. AS
matter of fact | am informed that
this map is one which has been used in
giving lectures at the Columbian uni
versity" In answer to the question as
TO what was the meaning of the move
ments of guns and munitions, Mr..
Roosevelt said: 1T merely serves to
show that the department does not be-
lieve that there will be any trouble. but
neither does it intend to be caught UNI
prepared if there should be trouble"
Opinion of an Expert.
When the attention of Philip Alger,
ha Of
called to Senior Du Bosses statement
that Havana harbor was not defended
by mines he said THE statement is
important as representing the position
taken by the Spanish officials who have
absolute knowledge of whether or not
Havana harbor was mined. Ii is of
course inherently improbable that such
mines existed. since il is not customary
to plant torpedoes in harbors at all,
especially not in harbors constantly oc-
cupied by friendly vessels. Should it
be possible to prove Senior Du Bosc's
statement to be true the whole theory
of the Names destruction by torpedo
will become untenable in my opin-
ion II is still vastly more prob
able that the cause was an internal one
than that il was external. Accidents
will sometimes happen. and il is self
evident that the force OF the explosives
carried by any warship will always be
sufficient to destroy her If they are
accidentally set on fire. If II was an
accident, its cause may be ascertained
and a repetition can be guarded
against"
Some Dead Can he Brought Home.
Saturdays development Of real inter-
est and truth was that some of the
Names dead can be brought home and
buried in United States soil. Captain
Sigsbee telegraphed: Have succeeded
in making arrangements by which
bodies may be sent TO Key West in
Dramatically sealed zinc cases. 1t is
probable that bodies hereafter cannot
be recognized. The condition OF the
bodies requires immediate action. Can
secure a health permit at Key West To
land the bodies there. Divers cannot
get down aft after bodies this morn
ing" The following reply was sent:
Referring TO your telegram OF this
date. send bodies that may hereafter be
recovered to Key West for burial. Send
nv the Bache'