The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-04


Disaster-No UIimatum by Our Govern
meDt as to the Caban War-Activity In
Naval Quarters - No Important News
From Key West Hnvana-De LONE
Hanged I'm EHigy.
Washington, March 1.-The main 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 practically elimi-
mated from the situation. This state
ment was not Of a formal or official
character and was made by Mr. Long
as he walked away from the white
house AS usual, the various cabinet
officers were beseged with inquiries as
to the questions before the meeting,
and in response to these opportunities
the secretary rather casually summed
up the situation in a few words, stat
ing that most of the time had been
given to the Outrages of colored post
masters in the south. Naturally the
Cuban situation had been gone over,
he said, but there We're no actual de
VelOpments and he felt that public ex-
citement over the subject had mate
rally abated. Then he added the state
ment in the same passing way, that
any participation 10y the Spanish SOW
ernment in the blowing up Of the
Maine was practically eliminated, in
his Judgment
nic 1oct owl
wide circulation apart from the quiet
ing references which had accompanied
1T. 1t Immediately started much COM
ment and discussion and when Mr..
Long returned to the navy department
after lunch he found that what he had
intended to convey was being given
force of an official declaration that
Spain's responsibility for the disaster
had been eliminated. In order to make
clear his meaning, as a personal ex-
preston of opinion, Mr.. Long dictated
the following statement:
THE main thing we talked about in
cabinet were the Outrages on the post
masters, one a white man in Georgia
and one a cOlored man in South Caro-
lima. In regard to the Cuban question
/ said | Thought things were growing
quieter every day. and as far as my
Judgment went | was inclined to think
that any official participation on the
part OF the Spanish government in the
disaster was now practically eliminat-
ed
The foregoing conveyed all that Mr..
Long desired to say on the subject and
this much was given only to offset en-
Iarged versions of what he had said.
Persons occupying the closest relations
with the secretary said that the opin-
ion expressed was such as any one
might give with the facts now at hand.
| is not in any sense, it was explained,
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 init
nations have come from such sourses.
it is said at the department, which
would serve as the basis for an Opin-
ion. The official declaration of Senior
du Bose, the Spanish charge d'affaires,
that mines or submarine defenSeS
exist in the harbOr of Havana had
come to the attention of Secretary
Long and this statement from the au-
thOriZed representative of the Spanish
government was felt to have been
given it's due weight in the opinion eX-
pressed by the secretary. 1t was
pointed out by persons bearing close
relations to the secretary that the lam
guage used was official participaton'
on the part of the Spanish government.
This, it was said, had no bearing
the question of Spafn's responsibility.
The official participation of Spain
was one thing: while the responsibility
of Spain in case the disaster prov
ed to be of external origin, was quite
another thing. The secretary's state
ment was restricted, it was explained,
to exculpating Spain from direct. Off
cial knowledge and participation in the
affair. In case it was shown that the
act was due to some fanatic or person
mconnected with the government,
then the question of Spains RESPONSE
blity would be still open. Mr. Long
was much surprised that 50 much at
tention had been given to his passing
alusiOn.
NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
Aside from this incident, the, day
brought forth few developments of i'm
pOrtance relating to the Maine. No
dispatches of any character from Key
West, where the court of inquiry is sit
ting, were given out during the day
and as the rule of publicity is still in
force, presumably, nothing came from
that quarter. The vessel movements
announced during the day We're de-
void of significance.
MIANTONOMAII AND KATAHD1N
TO GO IN COMMISSION.
Orders went out from the navy de-
partment late this afternoon to put the
iron clads MaintonOmah and Katah-
din 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 or
putting them in commission is to make
berths for the survivors of the Maine
now at Key West waiting on the court
OF inquiry which, without doubt, will
have finished with them by the 10th.
The MaintonOmah is a formidable
double le-turreted monitor, carrying four
10 inch gums. She is of 1890 tons dis
placement and steams 101s knots per
hour. In addition to her main battery
she CARRIES a good secondary battery
of rapid d-firing guns and her turrets
are clad with 1114 inch ar-mor. Her
commander has not yet been definitely
selected but the remainder OF her Off
GERS will be as follows: Lieutenant
I.