Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-03
Spanish Do Not Anticipate EARLY
Action by Naval Court.
IN THIS THEY MAY Be DECEIVED
Work of That Body is Practically
Finished Now.
ITS BILE FINDING

Copyright, 1875. by Chas NJ. Pepper.)
Special Cablegrnm From Staff Correspondent.
HAVANA, March 2 via Key West, Fla,
March 3.-The status OF the Maine inquiry
is such as TO justify the expectation Of a
reasonably early report from the naval
court of inquiry. Nothing has been uncov-
cred by the divers this week which con-
fiicts with what they previously discovered.
The court had The idea that this might
happen, and did not want to formulate
conclusions which might be modified by
subsequent evidence. This expectation hav-
ing been shown fruItless, the court can go
forward with it's report. The divers how
ever, may continue their Investigations in
the extreme forward part of the vessel,
but there is nothing to be learned there.
AS the raising of the entire hull is doubt
ful proposition, the examination of It al.
ready made probably discloses ell that
may ever be known of the way the exter-
nal explosion effected 1t.
The exoneration of Capt. Sigsbee from
the remotest responsibility for the wreck
of the Maine will necessarily be the first
article in the courts report. That will
carry with 1t a declaration of the improb-
ability of an accident that might have
been prevented. The improbaoility of an
accident from any mysterious cause will
also appear. After that comes the evil
dence of an explosion by design and the
responsibility for it must be fixed
The Spanish government will be able to
learn nothing from its own divers TO con-
troyert what the divers from the Navy
Department have found All IL can do is
to claim that an explosion from external
sources has not been proven. What the
United States is to do about 1t may be
known in Washington.
Spanish Waiting on Our Report.
All we know in Havana is that the Span
ish authorities waiting for the first
step to be taken by the United States but
they are not in fear of early action. The
Havana populace finds satisfaction in the
presence here of the Vizcaya, and eagerly
awaits the coming of other Spanish war
ships. The government itself is puzzled
by these demons irations.
While everybody's mind is still intent
on the Maine disaster the people Of Cuba
continue to die of starvation. 1 wonder IL
President Mckinley has influence enough
to get some of the food contributed by the
American people out into the country
among those for whom 1t was meant2
Nothing has yet gone into the interior,
though large supplies are warehoused in
Havana. Consuls who have been waiting
two months for promised relief, instead
of food receive explanations that the sys-
TEN of distribution has not yet been per-
fected. Trains are running to the interior,
but food does not get beyond Havana. In
the neghboring towns the Generalization
attending the interior affairs of Cuba con-
tinues. Blanco was never more powerless
to accomplish results. 1t is only a ques-
ton of days when Gomez will be heard
from again rejecting the latest proposition
of the autonomist cabinet That PROPOSE
ton was in substance that Gomez and the
insurgents should control the Cuban gov
ernment under Spanish supervision. GOWN
and Dolz of the autonomist cabinet have
undertaken to open negotiations.
Position of Gomez.
Gomez will receive no Spanish commis-
sion that does not come to arrange terms
of independence. When his answer is re-
ceived the last pretense of autonomy will
be gone. Dolz and Gown know in advance
that their mission will fail. The feeling
of desperation among higher Spanish off,
Gals does not lessen. Many of them do not
disguise their hope that the Maine incl
dent will bring about rupture which will
enable Spain TO LEI go of Cuba with
honor"
1t is certain that the naval court has
been able to find nothing which will quiet
the American people or induce them to let
the wrecking of the Maine pass into his
tory an ineXpiicable visitation of Divine
Providence. The government here dis
courages far possible this reckless
feeling among its own servants. The ef-
fort is kept up to make people here be-
lieve that the administration at Washing
ton thinks the explosion was due to acci-
dent. News of what goes on I'm Congress
is suppressed All we have had this week
is that the Senate passed Gallinger's reso-
luton, but no hint is given as to what in
formation Gallinger's resolution called for.
Ill