The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-12
TIE MAINE DISASTER

20 me. a
TIE MAINE DISASTER.
Consular Correspondence IN Regard TO II.
General Lee ut Fir.t Advised n Post.
pont,ncni or the vi.it tho Ship.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-the con-
suiar correspondence in part, was de-
voted to the Maine disaster, and in this
part Of tho correspondence some imports
ant and interesting points are develop
ed. The correspondence consists largely
OF cablegrams exchanged by Assistant
Secretary OF State Day and Consul
General Lee. The first OF the kilograms
Is dated In Havana, January u, and re-
lates 10 the riots which were then oc-
curing In the city. This and the sub
seQuent kilograms upon the same sub.
ject have been published either In whole
or In part. ~ 7,
On January %, General Lee was noti-
fed by the state department that the
Maine would call at Havana In a day or
two and was directed 10 make arrange
Incnts for an interchange OF friendly
calls between officers and authorities.
Under the same dlte General Lee nd
rlsed q postponement OF the Maine's
visit for SIX or seven days, that the eS-.
element might abate. Later on the
same day General Lee was notified that
the Maine would arrive in Havana the
next day, and was asked to cooperate
with the authorities for her friendly
visit Wiring the state department the
next day General Lee informed the
state department that the Spanish au-
thorities professed to think the United
States had an ulterior purpose In send
Ing the ship. Say It will obstruct au-
tonomy, produce excitement and most
probably a demonstration. Asked that
1t Is not done until they can get In
structlons from Madrid, and say that
IL for friendly motives, as claimed, stay
unimportant." The kilograms from
January 25 to February4 relate merely
TO the reception OF the Maine and the
exchange OF visits between our officers
and the civil and naval authorities in
Havana. IN
On February Assistant Secretary
Day informed General Lee that the sec
,retary OF the navy thought K !mprudent
for sanitary reasons to keep the Maine
lcns In Eavana. He asked II some ves-
| sells had been kept there all the time,
ard requested his views. In reply Gem
eral Lee said he thought there would be
no danger to the health OF the vessel
before May. We should not relirquish
position OF peaceful control OF situation.
or conditions would be worse than Il
Vessel had never been sent. Americans
would depart with their families in
haste II no vessel In harbor on account
of d!strust OF preservation OF order by
authorities. lftanother riot occurs will
be against governor and autonomy, but
might include antl-American demon
stration also. First class battieship
should replace preseat one IL relieved.
as object lesson and to couDteract Span
ish opinion OF our navy, and should have
torpedo boat with &: TO preserve COM
niunlcation with admiral.
Tile next telegram OF Importance was
sent by General Lee early on the morn
Ing Of February i6, announcing 10 the
state department the destruction of the
Maine. That telegram has been pub
lshed During the torty-e!ght hours
that foloYel General Lee kept the de-
partment Informed ottDe. occurrence In
chronological order. In n dispatch of
February Is; he. said that after the
divers under Captain SIgsbee had made
a cursory examination OF the wreck. the
Spanish government would like to unite
with ours in having the bottom OF the
ship and harbor In vicinity Jointly eX-
ainned.
The next day Judge Day Informed
General Lee that this government had
already instituted an Investigation of
Independently. He added, however:
! rsIr>bfs ,-o,nrrrrnpt veil atfar5 ay.ar,- TO
cllity 1t can to the Spanish authorities
IN whatever investigation they may see
fit 10 make upon their part
The first intimation Of the cause OF the
explosion was given by General Lee on
February 90. when he teleGraphed:
Copper cylinders ammunition found
intact in ten-inch forward magazine
starboard, this morning. Seems TO
show that magazine now exploded. Ev-
idence beginning to prove explosion on
port side by torpedo.
General Lee informed the department
on February % that arrangements had
been concluded for both governments to
conduct independent investigations Of
the disaster, his correspondence with
General Blanco being transmitted in
| full. In concluding his letter to BIanco
| General Lee said:
s.I am quite sure that neither govern
ment has any other object except to as
certain all the facts connected with the
explosion OF the Maine and that the
great desire OF both governments Is to
Iproceed harmoniousy with the work.
| 3 At this point correspondence between
| General Lee and the state department
concerning the Maine disaster abruptly
| terminates, SO far as the report submit
ted to congress Is concerned.