New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-19
LEES STATEMENTS DENIED.
SPANISH NAVAL AT-rACHE IN WASHING
TON ON THE MAINE eIsASTER.
HE ADMITS THAT THERE ARE ToRrEDoEs At
HAVANA But SAYS SPANISH OFFICERS ARE
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE pEsTRrc-

HE ADMITS THAT THERE ARE ToRPEDoEs At
HAVANA But SAYS SPANISH OFFICERS ARE
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE pEsTRuc
TON OF THE BATTLE SHIP.
Washington. April E-Lieutenan: r. De car
rama. Of the Spanish Navy. a. present naval at
,ache OF the spanish Legation here. makes the
following rejondcr to charges tina; Spanish officers
were responsible for the destruction OF the Maine.
the rejoinder being particularly directed to state
ments by General Leo and Captain sissbee
Cablesrams from London published hcse recen'ly
United States Embassy there and the ASsocIat "a
Press have obtained Information showing that
spain had purchased OF English manufacturers IN
lss6 ana IN ls.s some torpeuocs. ana upon TINS IN
forma.Sn they base neir sonc bawn up by ono
Of these torpedoes 1t seems absurd ia. rom ne
Clark torpcdoes. the inputation should he made
that II was through the agency oi one OF tne'h
spain. IKE many other nations. both In America
ana In Europe. Is supplied WIN tofpcnoes OF ,n'
which were ordered In $50 when the defence OF our
ports and coasts was undertaken. "hrn the
present insurrect!on broke out In cuba, the de-
fences Of the island were strengthened ana very
probably some OF the iorpcd0's 80, hsdS -.
protection OF Havana Ha:oor are 81 me -attineI
Clark type This material OF war - pfopeFy
stored on land at each port ana ai,b ~
keeping and handling. Bui ruch ue'hn,'.s -. -
Pad in position gn ne s 'au smG more does
his rule prevail IN such ports a. that OF nAs"ha
~ IA
OF course. No have az Havana and al other por,s
many torpedocs capable OF dest,oyins &C., 90"
We have Them Il cannot be asserted without iurin't
proof NAT Ne emp!cy.d one Of mem NJ ""'''''
YThe American divers working on the WICK OF
tn. Main" DID not hnd he easi 'ras ans s,sossh
ih"y have shown great chpacy OF d .,,h
rttdences because they would have had 20 summit
TTSo majority Of theories advanced here as TO ne
d.a,ru,fto. Of he Maine have been on IN" lJP'''-
esis thar (, va. extraordinarily tofP'uo. -,
nectcd by cables with the shore. NAT chusem ~.
.xnioson II II preposterous 70 think that o!hceIs
Of a military body would ever lend thcmseIves 20
tho feonioua task Of blowing np "arsn'p e. INV
OF peace and assassinaiins n cola b.ood us '''"
~ Two hundred or three hunGrcd men .
No military oficcI IN Europe wouli commit suCn
rhine ana should any Government b" capabir
of contemplating the hidro1s dfea u6ulS SI n.ver A.,
tempt 10 employ one OF its military officers. Tor
shls ana malicious 10 say not only that the Maine
was blown up by torpedo. but that II was dohe ny
Spanish officers
After summarizing the evidence against an ex-
ternal explosion. the statement proceeds as FOL
lows.
IN regard to Genera. Lees conjectures based on
copy mot The orig nah OF 4 supposed letter OF
that torpcdocs and submarine mines are under IN"
exclusive control Of The Navy. and no one IN au-
fhorliy can NEEDLE with them cxcep' under direct
orders OF the admiral commanding tho cuban
station. who receives insiructons direct from inc
Minister Of the Navy at Madrid. Whoever has
shown General Lee the copy OF that supposed letter
deceived and evidently cheated him thereby
the ofcers Of the arsenal OF Havana (who
and even hints at completely by Admiral Maniero
because he saw q cable dispatch from The latter
sirncting It TO hurry up some electric cables.
The following statement OF facts. which can be
proven. VIII show for themselves how haseless
General Lees hints innuendoes and imputatons
on November % last thc former Admiral at that
Sor The d@fences OF the SLAMS on January Z
admiral Manterola took command OF the station.
81 som" cables. and being informed Of the order
placed In London by his predecessor. cabed Hurry
on February %. not having received an answer.
he again ca5lcd; pressing inc shipment OF ne ca
n therefore. General Lees informant had been
accurate IN his information. inc United States ex-
Consul General would have learned that ne cables
Maine was sent 10 Havana. that Admiral Man
t~rola's FIRST 7urry-up message was sent many days
before the United States Government decided 10
send a warshp 10 Havana; that his second message
10 tho same effect was sent ten days after the
Maine had been blown mp. and that the cables were
received nearly n month thereafter
Can any one suppcse that. II II had been he In
,cnton TO blow MP tho Maine. there could not have
been found In Havana four hundred or i've hundre.
Yards OF cable. and that = was necessary 10 send
As TO the talk of tho electric lights in Havana
Impress ignorant people.
Tho hull Of The Maine what remains Of IT, Is
one nass Of pieces Of iron. twisted and entangl@d
50 a, 10 render thorough inspection extremely
difficult. II would take fnutn tlf1' anu lhp'I
than have been bestowed upon II to make such an
Investigation as would establish beyond "A doubt
the real cause Of tho disaster.
Had tho matter been submitted To the arbitration
of foreign Powers. who could conduct The investi-
gaf IN above pointed out a. Spain has propoS".
de- -arng herself willing to abide by tho decision II
would he found that all that has been said about
Snnuiqh participation in what would certainly be
nendsh deed Ia but n stupendous tissue OF false.
hood and caumny a reckless distortment or
facts unworthy Of sensible people. for all OF which
"A proper redress will. In due time. be demanded
from those directly responsible
Aside from these reasons OF right and justice. to
s,lcmatize as assassins the very men who, un-
daunted by the imminent danger. risked their lives
"a save those OF 80 many American officers and
ga iors shows n base ngratitude from tho vapor-
incs OF which the officers OF the Spanish Navy APP
peal the sense Of honor and to the conscience or
American people at large. - .
Spanish Naval officer. Spanish ROYAL Navy.