Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-22
SPANIARDS VERY ANXIOUS.
the Inquiry-ExpIOit the Acci-
dent Theory,

New York. Feb. 21.-A dispatch to the
Tribune from Havana says:
1.-The Maine is actually in ribbons, but
enough of the vessel remains to make pos
sible a determination of whether the ex-
plosion came from without or from within.
The officers of the Maine do not publicly
discuss the theory of submarine mine
which may have been set off by the eX-
plosion. but it evidently has weight with
them. They are particularly anxious for
points to be gathered from the examina-
tion of the plates of the bull. Their belief
is that these will have to oestablish whether
the explosive force came from without or
not The nature of the damage to the port
side has not been fully settled, but the
weight of opinion seems to be that the
hole was made by an external explosion.
Captain Sigsbee thinks that the investi-
cation 10 be made by him will be completed
in three days. and the result laid before the
court of inquiry. Special pains seem to
be taken to gather facts which would help
TO establish whether or not the destruction
could have been caused by submarine
mine.
THE Spanish authorities have an advant-
age on this point. for they know whether
the torpedo system in the harbor has act
ual existence and whether submarine mines
We're laid. but it is not expected that they
will disclose the secrets of the Havana de-
fenses TO aid foreign investigation. Some
persons believe that a plot was carried
out by Weyler's partisans. and that the
secrets were disclosed to conspiriators by
the officials who were with Weyler, and
who, during his incumbency, through their
official position, became possessed of the
information. All this is pure speculation,
without basis of fact. Its only significanc.
is that the matter should be discussed at
all The Maines officers. while not denying
the possibility of an accident, do not share
the Spanish admirals off-hand confidence
that the explosion came from within. 1t Is
well for everybody to await the official in
vestigation before accepting that conclu-
sion.
CAPTAIN General Blanco and the palace
officials show every official courtesy. Their
sincerity is undoubted, 50 great is their
anxiety. A special effort is being made
TO discourage the talk OF the explosion
being otherwise than accidental. The
newspapers give prominence to dispatches
saying that 1t Is recognized in the United
States that the casualty was purely an
| accident. Prominence is also given to Mad
| rid dispatches quoting Sagasta and other
! Spanish statesmen TO the effect that SYM
pathy and sorrow has caused friendly feel
| ing between Spain and the United States.
! Notwithstanding these assurances from
/ abroad, a painful impression is caused in
| Cuba by the knowledge that g. considerable
| element among the Spanish classes re-
! joices with little secrecy over the disaster.
II instances were isolated. it would not be
| important. Unfortunately. the verified
cases are too many to support this charit-
able view. In several places. Spanish army
! officers have drunk toasts that other vcs-
! sells of the American navy may follow
: the Maine. In Matanzas. where mutter-