The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-15
THERE WAS REJOICING.

felt the shock of the explosion at tn
hotel.
THERE WAS REJOICING.
Have you heard since the explosion o
the Maine any expression by Spanish Off
GERS in relation TO it, indicating theil
pleasure at the fact?" asked Senator
Frye.
Counsel Lee responded: 81 heard two
or three days afterwards from various
persons who came in that there was q
| good deal Of rejoicing among some of the
officers. All reports got said they were
drinking champagne, quite thing to dc
in honor Of the event, and in different
portions of the city officers were max
| ing merry. 1 attribute it to the fact
that what they considered almost an
enemy's battleship had been blown up,
and it was that much in their favor"
He said that he had not heard any
threats or illusions tot he destruction of
the Maine previous to the explosion.
Senator Lodge asked if he had heard
of an attempt on the Montgomery.
81 heard" responded General Lee, that
there was something of that sort one
evening, but 1 believe upon investigation
it was found that it did not amount to
anything"
NO NOVICE DID 1T.
The following colloquey between Sena-
tor Foraker and General Lee brought
out some further opinions Of the gem
eral in regard TO the destruction of the
Maine.
Senator Foraker-"You think that no
novice could have destroyed the Maine?"
Counsel General Lee-"Oh, no sir. The
man that did that work was an officer.
of all sorts. and who knew all about it.
1t was very well done"
Senator Foraker-"A man who had ex-
pert knowledge, necessarily"
Consul General Lee-"Yes SIR
Senator Foraker-"And who must have
had knowledge of the location Of the tor
pedo?"
WHEN WAS IT SET?
Consul General Lee-"Yes. I have
never have been certain that the sub
marine explosive was placed there prior
to the entrance of the Maine into the
harbor. 1t might have been done after
wards. The Maine was anchored to a
buoy by some little chain. vessel
swinging around that way sometimes
gets at various places around the circle
When she would swing off that way
with the bow next to the buoy, and these
boats plying about the harbor all the
time, anybody could go pretty well in
front of her on a dark night and drop
one of those submarine mines of 500
pounds. They have fingers, as it were.
and as the boat goes around it would
touch a finger, which makes contact and
explodes the mine. That might have
been done after the Maine got in there,
and not be discovered. One or two men
rowing quietly in a boat could drop it off
the stern of the boat on a dark night
even though Sigsbee had his patrols out
A boat could not have been noticed, be-
cause boats go there always to late
hour of the night. The harbor is full
Of these little baots. A mine weighs
about 500 pounds and I suppose it would
AXE two or three men-one man to row |
and probably three to handle the mine" |
In reply to a question from Senator
Gray. General Lee said that the Span |
sh population is not especially hostile |
owards the United States. The Span |
sh portion are principally the mere
lants. commission merchants and shop |
keepers, and all this agitation is affect
ng very much their business.
WANT ANNEXATION.
rive expression to great loyalty, are
eally anneXationists, because they think
t is the only way out of the trouble.
nd they would much prefer annexation
o the United States to a Cuban repub-
ic. As to the Cuban part of the popu-
alton, they are generally all for free
'uba. The condition of the reconcentra-
'des out in the country is just as bad as
\ General Weylers day. 1t has been re-
eved a good deal by supplies from the
,nited States, but that has ceased now.
General Blanco published a proclama-
ion resembling General Weyler's bando,
5 they call it there, but it has had no
tactical effect, for. in the first place.
hese people have no place to which to
o. their houses have been burned down;
here is nothing but the bare land there,
nd it takes them two months before
hey raise their first crop. In the next
lace, they are afraid to so out from the
nes Of the towns, because of the row.
lg bands of Spanish guerillas, as they
re called, would kill them. So they
lick right in at the edges of towns just
Ike they did with nothing to eat except
hat they can get from charity. The
panisn have nothing TO give"
ARMISTICE WON'T WORK.
Senator Lodge asked: What does
his cessation of hostnities spoken Of in
lie last few days amount tor
To which General Lee responded:
istice amounts to nothing"
In response to an inquiry from Senator
rye as to his reasons for saying that
lie insurgents would pay no attention 10
-mistice. General Lee said:
Because every attempt so far to
axe terms or to make peace or to buy
lie insurgents or their leaders has met
18th signal failure: and whatever may
? said about old General Gomez. he is
my humble opinion, fighting that war
the only way IL can he done-scat-
ring his troops out-because to concen-
ate would be 10 starve. having no COM
iSSsCy train and TO way 70 set sup Z
les. They come in sometimes for the
irpose OF making some little raid where :
e thinks IL viii do something. but he {
Is given orders so I have always been
formed, not 10 fight. not 10 become en-
aged. not 70 lose their cartridges; and {
metimes when he gets into a fight each !
an is ordered not % fire more than Two
rtr-dges. When General WeyIer was