The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
UNFORTUNATE TO SPANISH eau Sc.
That General Opinion Among the Diplo-
mats at Washington.

That General Opinion Among the Diplo-
mats at Washington.
Washington, February 16.-The news of
the Maine disaster was received at the
Spanish legation with horror and was the
occasion from any expressions of the most
profound regret and coincidence. Early In
the day Senior de Bose. the Spanish
Charge d'Affairs, received message from
Captain General Blanco, which had been
filed at Havana at 2 o'clock this morning.
1t read as follows:
''With profound regret, l have to in
form you that the American ship Maine,
in this harbor. blew up by an undoubted-
ly chance accident, believed to result
from an explosion of the boiler OF the
dynamo. Immediately following the &C.
cident all the disposable elements OF the
capital fastened to the spot to extend our
ali possible aid. These included the force
of the marine fire brigade and all the
general forces in Havana, among them
my chief of staff. There has been deaths
and wounded l have sent an aide camp
to offer every assistance to the North
American consul that he may wish for.
J. will forward further details as they may
become available. Blanco."
Senior du Bose expressed the most pro-
found regret at the occurrence to the
Associated Press reporter to whom he
gave copy of the foregoing cablegram
from General Blanco. He said: "Of
course l look upon the horror as due IN
every respect simply to an accident. mat
the authorities at Havana and all tne
evidence thus far available goes to sustain
it. ps
Asked if the disaster possibly could have
any adverse effect upon the relations De-
tween Spain and the United States, he re-
sponded with a decided negative saying
the the affair was wholly accloentai.
Senior du Bose fastened to the State
Department. soon after receiving the
Blanco cablegram for the purpose OF ex-
pressing his deep coincidence to the au-
thorities and of communicating the
captain generals dispatch to Secretary
Sherman and Mr.. Day, the assistant Sec
rotary.
To both of them he expressed personally
and officially the most profound regret.
The French ambassador, M. Cambon,
took early occasion to call at the State
Department and express his deep regret
at the occurrence and loss of life. His in
TO rmation was confined to that conveyed
by press dispatches. The British aInbas-
sador alsoawas without direct Information
from the British consul at Havana. AT
all the foreign establishments the occur
renee was the enc absorbing subject Of
comment, and the expression was general
thatsaside from its melancholy feature of
death and destruction, it was profoundly
unfortunate to the Spanish cause owing
to the natural suspicious which would
raise. At the Army and Navy club and
the Metropolitan club, two centres for the
army, navy and diplomatic circles, the
same intense interest was manifested. At
these public quarters there was an under
current of doubt and questioning as to
the coincidence of an accident to this
particular vessel at this particular time.
Washington, February 16-The mem
bers of the Spanish legation called at the
navy department in the afternoon and
left their individual cares as an ex
preston of their personal condolene. Up
to e 80 D. M. the legation had not heard
from Madrid. 1t was stated that the delay
doubtless was due to the fact that in a
matter of this gravity the Queen Regent
herself would send a message of sympathy
and regret and that this message would
come later.
The only cablegram from Havana came
from Gen. Blanco and was request for
from this end.
The Spanish naval attache, Senior |
Sobral, who is in New York, sent q tele- |
gram to the Secretary of the Navy ex-
his profound regret at the news
of the loss of so many naval companions. |