The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-26
ROOSEVELT In CHARGE.
Secretary Long Forced to Take
q Rest.
DEPARTMENT STILL PROCESSES
IGNORANCE OF CAUSE.

United States Has Made Demands for
Preparations for Ontrages-In All De-
mands Were Promptly Complied With,
Washington. February 25.-In spite OF
the stories that come from unofficial
sources in Havana as to sensational de-
volopments in connection with the work
OF the divers in the Maine's hull, the ad-
ministration remains firm to it's state.
ment that there Is no credible evidence
one way or the other as to the cause OF
the disaster and holds to its purpose to
await the conclusion of the investiga-
tion now making by the court of inquiry.
| This point was emphasized at today's
cabinet meeting. People who looked for
some startling announcement were disap,
pointed as the members without reser-
vation frankly admitted that the sub
/ ct of the loss of the Maine had been dis
cussed, but said that the government had
received no Information from Havana
since yesterday and had no intention OF
changing it's policy until there WAS some
thing OF substance to warrant 1t. The
Spanish legation was equally in the dark
as to any OF the discoveries reported from
sources that are not cited, as was shown
| by the message from Capt. Gen. Blanco.
Secretary Long has been under heavy
and almost constant strain ever since he
was awakened in the middle of the night
week ago last Tuesday by the news
| Of tho locS Of the Main and now that
matters are ut least for the time being,
in a quieter state, he has Withdrawn from
the navy department and gone away for
a few days rest leaving Assistant Sec
retary Roosevelt to manage the depart-
ment. The latter has been thoroughly
advised at every step OF the secretary's
policy of the treatment OF the Maine
affair SO that there is not likely to be
any change in that respect caused by the
| temporary assumption Of the duties of the
secretary by Mr.. Roosevelt. just before
| the department closed he 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, SO
that the date of her departure for Ha-
yana, If she is to go at all, is conjectural
| The Castine, the second of the q. s.
war ships ON the Southern Atlantic sta
tion, arrived today at Barbados, where
| she Joined the Cincinnati. 1t may be
to be docked as she is in need of clean
ing after her tropical service. Since so
much depends unon the report of the
court of inquiry it may be interesting to.
note that go far Secretary Long himself
does Enot know when to expect this i'm
portant document, having up to this time
heard nothing from any of the mombers
on. this point. He rather expected that
the court, which has complete power to
work on it's own lines, would wind up
its work at Havana before leaving SO as
to avoid the necessity for another trip.
One member of the cabinet had a more
definite opinion on the subject, expecting
the receipt of q report from the court
about the middle Of next week.
There is reason to believe that mean
time and to prepare for the reception of
q report that would show the disaster
| to be other than the result of an acci-
dent some of the officers of the admins
tration have been looking on the subject
of indemnity to lay the foundation of
| case, in the event it should be decided
to resort to that method of settlements.
There are large number of precedents
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
stances in which the United States has
adopted energetic measures to redress
the killing of American citizens in other
countries In a general way these meth
ods of redress have included demands for
indemnity, proclamations excluding the
warships of the offending nation from
our harbors, display of force, non inter-
course, withdrawal of our minister, re-
prisal and blockade.
Some of these steps border very closely
on war, although they are regarded as the
movements just preliminary to actual
bostilities and as amounting to threat
that force will follow il preparation Is
not made.
The case of the Water Witch is con-
sidered to De the most analogous to that
Of the Maine should it be established that
the Maine disaster was not the result OF
accident.
The Water Witch was United States
ship engaged in 1855 in surveying the en-
trance to river of Paraguay. Without
warning and by orders of President Lopez
of Paraguay, troops opsned fire on the
Water Witch, killing the man at tho
wheel and wounding others. Intense feel- |
ing was aroused in the United States
when the facts became known. The |
President reported the facts to Congress,
and in his message asked for power to
make demonstration of force which |
would ensure redress Congress author |
lied him to "use such force as is neces |
sary" to secure ample reparation. Ac-
cordingly an armed fleet was hastily as
sembled. The expedition included 10
armed ships, 25 heavy guns, 25 hundred
sailors and marines. 1t made formidable
showing in South American waters and
President Lopez's government was awed
into sujection. The American commits |
sioners and naval officers were received
with much honor and every reparation in
the power of the republic was given, in
cluding an abject apology ana disavowal
and an indemnity Of $40, 600 for the