The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-02-26
FAKE"
EXPLODED.
No Submerged Mines In or
About Havana HarbOr.
SENIOR DU B0SC'S STATEMENT
It May Be Considered as an Official
Spanish Denial.
SENIOR DU BOSC'S STATEMENT
SECRETARY LONG TAKES A REST.

SECRETARY LONG TAKES A REST.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt VIII BE
in Charge of the Navy Department
During His Cnief's Temporary ABB
tiles In shaping Their Action should
1t Be shown That the Maine Disas-
ter was Premeditated.
Washington, Feb. 26.-In view of the
widely published report that the harbor
of Havana contains a system of sub
marine mines, a statement around
which has centered the chief public in
terest in connection with the disaster
to the battleship Maine, Senior Du
Bose, Spanish charge d'affaires at
Washington, last night made to the
press the following statement, which,
coming from such authority, may be
considered as an official denial:
Il wish to state on my W personal
knowledge that no mine exists inside
or outside Of Havana harbor, nor is
there any submarine defense of any
kind. The report is so absolutely false
and ridiculous that it could only have
originated in the minds of those per-
sons anxious to inCite the evil passions
of both nations for their own miser-
able ends. l consider the very sug-
gestion of such a thing an insult to
Spain"
Despite stories coming from unofficial
stories that come from unofficial
sources in Havana as to sensational
developments in connection with the
work Of the divers in the Names hull,
the administration remains firm in it's
statement that there is no creditable
evidence one way or the other as to
the cause of the disaster, and holds to
its purpose to await the conclusion of
the investigation now making by the
court of inquiry. This position was
emphasized at yesterdays cabinet
meeting. People who looked for some
startling nouncem were disap-
pointed, as the members without res
ervation frankly admitted that the
subject of the loss of the Maine had
been discussed, but said thai the gov
eminent had received no Information
from Havana since Thursday, and had
no intention of changing its policy un-
til there was something of substance
to warrant it. The Spanish legation
was equally in the dark as to any dis
coveries reported from sources that
are not cited.
Secretary Long has been under a
heavy and almost constant strain ever
since he was awakened in the middle
of the night a week ago last Tuesday
by the news of the loss of the Maine,
and now that matters are at least fol-
the time being in a quieter state he has
withdrawn from the nav department
and gone away for a few days rest,
leaving Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
to manage the department. The latter
has been thoroughly advised at every
step of the s~ecretary's policy of treat
ment of the Maine affair, so thai there
is not likely to be any change in that
respect caused by the temporary as
sumption of the duties of secretary by
Mr.. Roosevelt.
Just before the department closed
Secretary Roosevelt had word of the
sailing of the cruiser Montgomery from
Tampa for Key West. Up to that time
the vessel had been given no orders, sc
that the date Of her departure for Ha-
Vana, If she Is to go at all, is conjec-
tural. The ship went to Tampa in
stead of Key West on her return from
San Domingo In order to facilitate the
speedy return to his duties in Wash
ington of Captain Crowninshield, the
chief of the navigation bureau, who
saved a full day by the movement.
Since so much depends upon the re,
port of the cour of inquiry 1t may be
interesting to note that so far Secre-
tary Long himself does not know wher
to expect this important document, vi
to this time having heard nothing from
any of the members on this point
He rather expected that the court,
which has complete power to work or
its lines, would wind up its work
at Havana before leaving, so as tc
avoid the necessity for a return trip
One member of the cabinet had a more
definite opinion on the subject, expect
ing the receipt of the report from the
court about the middle of mex week.
There is reason to believe that mean
time, and to prepare for the reception
Of a report that would show the disas-
ter to be other thar the result of an
accident, some of the officials of the
administration have been looking uI
the subject of indemnities, so as 20 lay
the foundation of a case, in the event
It should be decided to resort to tina
method of settlement.
There are a large number Of prece.
dents which will aid the authorities in
shaping their action in this direction
when the facts are fully established
While none of the cases show the fear.
full loss of life sustained by the Maine
explosion, yet they include many in,
stances in which the United States ha,
adopted energetic measures to redres,
the killing of American citizens in for.
eign countries. In a general way thes,
methods of redress have included de,
mands for indemnity, proclamations ex,
Guiding the war ships of the offendinl
nation from our harbors, display O.
force, non-intercourse, withdrawal O
: our minister, reprisal and blockade
Some Of these steps border very closet,
/. on war, although they are regarded a
the movements just preliminary to &C
tual hostilities, and as amounting to
threat that force will follow II repara
ton Is not made.
3 The case of the Water Witch is con
t sidered to be the most analogous [,
| that Of the Maine, should II be estab
. lished that the Maine disaster was no
| the result of accident. The Waite
f Witch was a United States ship en-
r gagged in 1855 in surveying the en-
/, ! trance to one Of the rivers of Para