The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-02

g NEW YORK, March 1.-The 81
g Heralds Washington correspond %
g ent telegraphs: TT seems to me g
g that things are growing quieter. 50
g At any rate, the element of Off %
g cial participation of the Spanish %
g Government in the blowing up %
g of the Maine is practically elm &
g mated" q
This statement was made by Secre-
tary Long after the Cabinet meeting
to-day, but with the distinct under
standing that it was simply an individ-
ual expression of opinion and had no
reference to the views of the President
The Secretary told me he based his
opinion upon the disclaimers made by
the Spanish Government that there
were no mines or torpedoes located In
the harbor of Havana, and that the
Maine could not therefore have been
destroyed through any such agency.
The opinion held by Secretary Long
is shared by other members of Presi-
dent McKinley's Cabinet with whom
talked. The Maine disaster was a pro-
life topic of discussion at the Cabinet
meeting to-day. The authorities con-
fess that they have no information 9TH
er than that which is in the possession
of the public, and that they are await
ing the report of the Court of Inquiry
which is investigating the matter be-
fore taking any steps.
There has been some discussion
among the members as to the course
which this Government shall pursue in
case the report of the court should de-
| clare that the Maine was destroyed by
an external force. The President is
naturally anxious that any motion that
may be taken shall follow close upon
| the submission of the courts report,
and he desires in so acting to occupy
an impregnable position from the point
| Of justice and international law which
| will place the United States in the right
| in the eyes of the civilized world
From an administration point of view
| it is asserted that while the Presidents
| course in case the Maine disaster
| should prove to have been due to de-
sign has not yet been definitely deter
| mined upon, and if it were that it could
not be divulged, it will be such as to
win the warm approval of the entire
country. Although the Maine is at the
bottom of the sea, the American flag
and the pennant of her commanding
officer are still flying and she is there
fore American territory just as much
as the battleship Iowa is American ter
ritory. This statement was made to
me by the official in answer as to my
question as to the reports that Spain
would decline to allow the removal of
the wreck. The reason why the de-
partment has not ordered Captain S. d.
Sigsbee to return to the United States
is that his detachment from the Maine
would show that this Government
merely regarded the Maine as wreck
and not as a ship Of the United States
navy, which would injure any claim for
reparation that this Government may
make In the future.
The administration does not believe
that the Spanish will interfere in any
way with the removal of the equip
ments of the hull of the Maine, and if
it should such action will call for a
sharp protest.
AS far as the intelligence officers of
the War and Navy departments are
concerned the disclaimer made by Sc
nor DuBosc that no mines are in the
harbor of Havana is correct. 1t is
known, however. that Spain some time
ago made preparations for placing
mines In the harbor of Havana, and
went so far as to contract for and re-
ceive ninety tons of high explosives for
torpedoes and mines. In the absence
of official information from sources in
/ Spain and Cuba the administration ac-
cepts the statement made by Spain that
the harbor of Havana is free from
| mines and torpedoes, and to this state
ment may be credited the belief of the
officials that the condition of affairs is
| likely to improve as time goes on. The
Court of Inquiry will return to Havana
on the lighthouse tender Mangrove.
Secretary Long said that the fact that
the Mangrove would be used for this
purpose Indicated that no man-of-war
would be sent to Havana for the pres
ent.
! AS showing the friendly feeling of
| Spanish officers for the United States
and the sympathy they felt for this
| Government in the loss of the Maine,
this letter received by Lieutenant AL
| exander Sharp Jr., naval aide to As
sistant Secretary Roosevelt, from Lieu
| tenant Albert Cleaves, commanding
| the Cushing, is of interest.
| Captain of the torpedo boat Cushing
! Sir: In the name of my officers and men
deeply affected by the catastrophe to your
armored cruiser Maine / have the honor
to send you and your officers and men the
| expression of our true coincidence Yours
sincerely, JUAN DE. CARRAUSA
Lieutenant First Glass in Command III. C.
NJ. Gunboat Diego Velasquez.
| 1t was settled to-day that there is to
/ be no action by Congress on the emer-
| gency bill transmitted to Chairman
Boutelle of the House Naval Commit
tee unless it should appear that war is
much more probable than it now ap-
pears.
| The first meeting of the Naval Com
| mittee since that letter was received
| was held to-day. Boutelle gave the
| other members of the committee his