Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-03
THE OPINION OF LONG
The Naval Secretary Believes Spain
Innocent of the Names Wreck.
But SPAIN NAY Be RESPONSIBLE.
10 Developments Of ANY Importance Re-
ssivsd About the lnvsstigation--
Theories BrOached About the
Explosion Doing Harm.

WASHINGTON, March 2-The main
interest OF the day in connection with
the Maine inquiry centered in q state
nent by Secretary Long, following
the cabinet meeting, that in his per-
sonal opinion any official participa-
ton by the Spanish government in the
blowing up Of the Maine was now
practically eliminated from the situa-
ton. This statement was not OF o
formal or official character, and was
made by Mr.. Long as he walked
away from the white house. As
usual, the various cabinet OFF,
GERS are besieged with inquiries
ss to the questions before the
meeting and, in response to
these opportunities, the secretary
rather casually summed up the situa-
ton In few words, stating that most
Of the time had been given to the out
RACES on colored postmasters in the
south Naturally, the Cuban situation
had been gone over, he said, but there
were no actual developments, and he
felt that public excitement over the
subject had materially abated. Then
be added the statement, in the same
passing way, that any participation
by the Spanish government In the
blowing up of the Maine was practi-
cally eliminated in his Judgment.
This last remark was speedily given
wide circulation apart from the quiet
ing references which had accompanied
It. It 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
the force OF an official declaration that
SPANS responsibility for the Maine
disaster had been eliminated. In order
to make clear his meaning, as a per-
sonal expression of opinion, Mr.. Long
dictated the following statement;
The main thing we talked about In the cabi-
net were the outrages on tbs postmasters, one
white man In Georgia md one colored
man In South Carolina In regard to the
Cuban situation, said thought things were
growing quieter every dry, and. as far on my
Judgment went, was Inclined to think that
any Official participation on the part Of the
Spanish government in the disaster was now
practically eliminated
DISASTER TALK DOING HARM
WASHINGTON, March 1.-TWO weeks
ago the battleship Maine was de-
stroyed In Havana harbor and in spite
Of the greatest diligence on the part
Of officers charged with an inquiry in
10 the affair the cause Of the disaster
is still shronded in mystery so far as
any Of the officials In Washington
know. Few Of those acquainted with
the formidable obstacles in the way
Of operations OF the divers are sur
prised at this state Of affairs and 1t Is
beginning to be generally realized that
upon the testimony Of the divers almost
altogether will depend the success Of
the inquiry. Meanwhile the officials
OF the navy department have reached
the conclusion that harm is being done
by the broaching Of theories to ac-
count for the explosion, SO notice has
been served upon the experts who have
been heard from In the press that 1t Is
preferred they shall no longer discuss
this matter In advance Of the report Of
the court Of inquiry. One reason for
this action was the fact that the de.
partment was finding itself committed
involuntarily to the support OF
the theory that the explosion was
Of internal origin, while, as q
matter Of fact, both Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt have
been at great pains to show that the
department stood entirely neutral Us
between the theorists and were pre-
pared to accept only the conclusions Of
the court Of inquiry as binding upon
It. In consequence of this decision
there is less disposition manifested
among the naval officers to talk about
the Maine affair in any phase.
THE COURT OF INQUIRY.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 1.-The Sec
ond days session of the court of in
quiry Is over and nothing new is known
! regarding the fate of the Maine, at all
events outside the members of the
court Some who confidently declared
week ago that the court had already
found that the vessel was intentional
~ blown up have modified this convic-
ton, and, for the most part, admit
that such reports must have been
based largely on speculation, Even
naval officers are, apparently, as much
In the dark as the civilians as to what
the courts opinion is at the present
moment Excellent progress has been
made in the examination and the court
will probably finish its work here to-
day, when its members will be taken
to Havana on the Mangrove.
The report that remnants of sub
marine mine, alleged to have been
raised by the United States naval
divers at Havana with the electrical
wires In which they had been entan.
gled, were brought here on Sunday by
the Mangrove and are now in the
warehouse Of the lighthouse depart
ment Is denied in high official quarters,
THE DIVERS AT WORK,
HAVANA, March 1.-The divers on
the Right Arm got to work yesterday
morning in earnest Capt Everett
chief Of the divers, was in charge, and
the water being lower than usual, Il