The herald., 1898-02-27
HARBOR AT HAVANA
Is NOT DEFENDED BY MINES
UNDER WATER d
SENIOR DU Bose MAKES DENIAL
Naval Officers Are Inclined to Accept
Evidence offered as Conclusively
Showing an Accident
Associated Press Special Wire

ernment authorities were today placed
In possession of information, by SenoI
Du Bose, Charge d'Affaires of the Span
ish Legation, that no mines exist inside
or outside of Havana harbor. This in
formation reached Senior Du Bose after
midnight last night and was communi-
Gated to the Associated Press in brief
and explicit statement 1t can be stated
that this statement was made not as a
matter of opinion or personal convic-
tion on the part of Senor Du Bose, but as
conclusion of fact ascertained from
those whose official position makes them
familiar with every circumstance con-
nected with Havana harbor Until this
information was in the possession of the
Charge d'Affaires he had no personal
knowledge of the facts. 1t was suggest
ed to him early yesterday by repre-
sentative of the Associated Press that
in many quarters positive statements
were being made that mines existed
within Havana harbor and in the vicin-
ity of the Maine. Under such circum-
stances he was asked for direct state
ment bearing on the point with view
TO clearing up any misapprehension that
might exist. In view of this request,
Senor Du Bose set on foot an inquiry by
cable. Naturally the inquiry was dis
tasteful to the Charge and to the Span
ish authorities, as they deeply resent
even an empty imputation that the dis
aster could have been due to mines or
other external influences But for the
purpose of giving the one essential
statement of fact in the knowledge of
those having the only direct information
on the subject, the official statement was
secured and made public by Senor Du
Bose. 1t is not however 1t is explained
at the Legation, statement of the
Spanish government, for the govern
ment has not felt called upon to repel
insinuations which. from its stand
point, grossly reflect upon it's honor. The
purpose of Senor Du Bose was to make
the statement as one of fact established
from the best official authorities and not
to make it as a government utterance,
which he regarded as unnecessary. AS
a statement of fact, however, it is
given by Senor Du Bose with the great
est positiveness and from sources of
Spanish information whose authority is
not open to question, he says.
When seen today Senor Du Bose had
no details to add to his statement With
emphasis he expressed his Indignation
that he should feel it to be his duty to |
repel the insinuations and statements |
that Havana harbor was mined, which |
are inspired by those anxious to stir pas |
sion and resentment between the two
nations. He considered such suggestions
an insult to Spain and without deign- |
ing to answer them he submitted as
bare fact that there We're no mines or
submarine defenses of any character
In or about Havana harbor.
When the attention of Prof Phillip AL
ger, of the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy
Department. was called to Senor Du
Bosc's statement, he said he had been
looking for some such expression. as it
seemed the natural thing for the Span
ish authorities to make such a state |
ment in case no mines existed. From the |
first, he said, he had maintained the |
view that the explosion of the Maine was |
probably the result of an accident. and |
if Senior Du Bosc's statement could be !
proved to be true. it would, in his opin-
ion, render the torpedo theory of the ex-
ploson entirely untenable.
SITUATION IMPROVING
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Secretary |!
Long enjoyed a sound sleep last night |
the first he has had for some time and
he felt so much refreshed this morning
that he decided to abandon his proposed
absence from the Navy Department and
continue at his duties. So he was early
at his desk and in consultation with AS
sistant Secretary Roosevelt and Cap
tain Crowninshield of the Navigation
Bureau. AS to the outlook, he sad.She
thought things We're looking much bet
ter. He said the public ought not to be
under misapprehension with regard to
naval movements; that so far they had
mostly been the ordinary dispositions
which are made from time to time; for
instance, the shipping of guns to New
York is to supply the Chicago and other
vessels, which are under reconstruction
there, and they would go in any event.
The gun factory at Washington is where
they are made and they are sent to
various points as the occasion requires.
So, too, the call for more men, he said,
is simply the revival of the recommen-
dation in his annual report.
This statement by the Secretary evil
IDENTIFY was made to allay the impression
caused by the reports of heavy ship
ments of guns from the Washington
Navy Yard and other warlike measures.
Inc movements Oh some OF the WarShlpS, |
such as the Detroit and Marblehead, TO-
wards Key West, had already been
shown to have been in accordance with
orders, not only made, but published in
the newspapers as well, before the
Maine disaster, so that the Secretary's
explanation on this point is only con-
firmatory of the statements of the sub |
ordinate officials of the Navy Depart
ment.
The telegraph brought news this |
morning of the arrival at Key West of !
two vessels-the Detriot, coming from
Mobile, where she was sent to partici- |
pate in the Mardi Gras festivities; and
the Marblehead, from New Orleans, !
where she was sent for a similar pur-
pose. The Detroit is going up to the
Naval Station to take on coal and both
vessels will remain attached to the
North Atlantic Squadron 1t is also
stated at the Navy Department that the
Montgomery has been ordered to dr0D
down to Key West from Tampa. where
she landed Captain Crowninshield, bur
has not as yet received any orders to
proceed to Havana and it is not de-
cided yet when the orders will be is
sued, if at all.
The attention of naval officers has
been strongly attracted to the statement
made by representatives of the Spanish
government to the effect that there were