New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-12
MAINE VERDICT AWAITED.
THE COURT OF INQUIRYs REPORT EX-
PECTED NEXT WEEK

NO FOUNDATION FOR RUMoRs THAT THE AD-
M1NIsTRArIov KNOWS WHAT CONCLUSIONS
HAVE BEEN REACHED THE PREsI-
DENT PREPARED TO MEET ANY SIT
UATroN WHICH MAY ARISE
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrnuSE.l
Washington March 11.-Although the report
of the Naval Board of Inquiry chosen TO inves-
tigate the causes Of the disaster to the Maine
is expected to reach this city some day next
week absolutely no foundation exists for the
statement that any Of the Boards conclusions
have been forwarded in advance to Washington
or have come TO the official or unofficial knowl-
edge Of the President and his advisers untl
the report is received and duly considered OF
course the Administration will not decide on
any definite plan Of action. Meanwhile the null
tifarious programmes invented for the Presi-
dent may be dismissed as based on nothlnS
more than mere conjecture.
II may be said that the Administration Is
prepared 10 meet any state Of facts which may
be disclosed by the Boards report and that II
any tangible responsibility for the Names loss
is fixed on Spain demand will be made at once
for disavowal and reparation But no other
step than diplomatic insistence on indemnfca-
tion for the loss Of the Maine is likely 70 be
made necessary by the Board Of Irquirys re-
port. and that only in case the investigation
discloses as a contrbutory cause OF the dis
aster some distinct and culpable negligence on
the part Of tn Spanish authorities in Havana
THE CUBAN PROBLEM A SEPARATE ONE
The wider problem Of restoring peace and
oicer in Cu5a will probably not be dealt with by
the President in connection with the narrower
programme. whatever It may be. to be followed
~ of findings
II rterventior. then. though always a political
possibility under the conditions which rule In the
devastated island. does not seem to be imme-
diate or imminent. and there Is no urgent reason
to think that the President. in treating the is
sues raised by the Naval Boards report Will de-
part from the sober. deliberate and cautious
methods which have marked his treatment for
a year past 4 the delicate and difficult relations
between the United States and Spain.
SECRETARY LONG DENIES RUMORs.
Secretary Long, when asked regarding the re-
iterated reports that the Court Of Inquiry or
some Of its members had made known TO the
Government the tenor Of the report on the explo-
sion Of the Maine. said that all such rumors
were untrue lie had obtained no information
whatever bearing on the report Of the Court or
IN the cause Of the explosion, from any trust
the report comes which may be next week.
Secretary Alger to-day referred to the sensa-
tional publications In a similar strain TO tho
effect that SO far as he was concerned. he had
no intmation Of what the Courts report would
be or Of the character Of its findings
Coming from such authorities. both of whom
have the highest reputation for perfect frank
ness and unquestioned veracity. there seems
little ground for placag any reliance on alleged
news which appears from day to day to the
effect that an official forecast OF the Boards
report has been IN the possession Of the Admin
istraton fo- several days. and that the S1O.-
100000 appropriation was induced by that fact
OPINION AMONG NAVAL OFFICERS.
While the majority of naval officers express
positive confidence that the destruction Of the
Maine was caused by no accident some Of the
abest and best known men, both in the Army
and Navy. among them several Of the highest
rank. who reach the conclusion reluctantly, will
hold to the accident theory until it is effectually
disproved These include the ordnance and en-
ginecr experts Of both branches. the men whose
practical experience is greatest. and on whose
professional corps would devolve the chief re-
sponsibiIty for not foreseeing such occur
renee and providing against It, They const-
tute. It is true a small minority numerically, but
heads Of the two departments.
Use or THE HAVANA DOCK SUGGESTED.
In order to settle the question once for all be-
vond any cavilling. Secretary Long has been
urged 10 ask for the temporary use Of the great
floating dock now at Havana. which, 1t IS said.
could lif; all that is left Of the Maine bodily
ont Of the foul dark water Of the harbor and ex
hibt the character of her injuries directly before
the eyes Of the court and every one who would
care n witness the operation. 1t is believed
that the Spanish Government would readily ac
ouiesce IN the use Of this dock which naval
eineers and constructors declare capable OF per-
forming the work. II such an intimaton was pre-
sented
The docx. which is the largest on this side Of
the Atlantic was built In England and towed
across the ocean 10 cuba last fall For some
tin,o II was out OF order due to insufficient cleo
trical appliances: but these have been remedied.
ana fl is now in condition TO lift the Maine out
Of the mud. and by gradual methods which are
familiar 10 every engineer, float the wreck high
and dry II is pointed out that no report Of any
court which rested on the evidence Of ordinary
divers. who had been compelled TO trust wholly
70 the sense of touch In the total absence Of
light would be so conclusive as single photo
graph Of the ship in dock. and more than one
prominent officer on duty here declares that
none but visible evidence will convince him.
THE OUTBREAK IN THE PHILIPPINES
SPANS RELATIONS WITH THIS COUNTRY GIVE
NEW HOPE To THE INSURGENTS.
landau March 11-Special dispatches from