The Holly chieftain., 1898-03-04
DISASTER TALK.
The Naval Department Thinks Harm Is
Done by the Broaching of Theories.
MEETING OF THE CABINET.
The Government Il SIN In the Dark as to
the Cause of the Maine wreek-sec-
retary Longs View-Gomez's
Determination.

" WI "Ctho
ago tonight the battlrship Maine was
destroyed in Havana b. Dor and in spite
of the greatest diligeuce on the part
of officers charged with an inquiry in
10 the affair the cause Of the disaster
is still shrouded in my,tery so far as
any of the officials IN Washington
know. Few of those aequainted with
the formidable obstar.rs in the way
of operations Of the divers are sur
prised at this state OF affairs and it is
beginning to be genera y realized that
upon the testimony OF the divers almost
altogether will Deepen the success of
the inquiry. MeanwaAe the officials
of the navy departing. have reached
the conclusion that harm is being done
by the broaching OF theories to ac-
count for the explosiu1, so notice has
been served upon the perts who have
been beard from in IL, press that it is
preferred they shall no longer discuss
this matter in advancr Of the report of
the court of inquiry. one reason for
this action was the fact that the de-
partment was finding self committed
involuntarily to the support of
the theory that the explosion was
Of internal origin, while, as
matter of fact, both secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt have
been at great pains tD show that the
department stood entirely neutral as
between the theorist, and were pre-
pared TO accept only the conclusions of
the court of inquiry as binding upon
it In consequence uf this decision
there is less disposition manifested
among the naval ofiicers to talk about
the Maine affair in any phase.
No advices have been received at
either state or navy departments that
would warrant the statement that the
Spanish officials in lIavana have at
tempted to ;nterpose any obstacles to
the prosecution of the work of the
wrcckers on the Mainc's hull. 1t is
said that the very last phase of this
matter was sent out IN the published
dispatch of Assistant Secretary Day.
authorizing the Spanish government
to prosecute an independent investi-
CATION by its own divers into the
cause of the loss of the Maine. The
has not Withdrawn that
permission.
The Meeting of tn. Cabinet
WAsnSGToS. March The meet
ing of the cabinet to-day, at which all
members were present, disclosed the
fact that the government is still with
out news regarding the cause of the
disaster to the Maine. Up to this time
the court of inquiry has not indicated
in any way the trend of the investiga-
tion. The president and the members
of the cabinet are as completely in the
dark as to what the evidence so far ad-
duced discloses as they were on the
day after the explosion. The truth
of this statement is voucbed
for by authority not to be ques-
toned. 1t is explained that
under the peculiar circumstances of
the case Capt Sigsbee would not com
municate his theories or knowledge
of the facts to any one except the court
conducting the inquiry. Consul Cen
eral Lee would be guided by the same
considerations In any event neither
of these officers have communicated to
the government anything bearing up
on the vital question at issue. The
court itself has been equally non-com-
municative aud nothing is expected
from this source until the inquiry is
completed and the findings sent to the
secretary OF the navy. Nor has any
intimation been received as to the
probable time which the inquiry will
consume.
Long. Personal View.
WASHINGTON, March 2-Following
the cabinet meeting to-day a report
was circulated to the effect that Secre-
tary Long had stated that the element
of Spanish responsibility had been
eliminated from the incident of the
disaster of the Maine. When Secre-
tary Long returned to the navy de-
partment a representative of the Asso-
ciated press asked him concerning this
alleged statement He said that his
expression had been Of the most
was based entirely upon his per-
sonal Judgment and did not spring
from any evidence or information in
his possession He further said that
there was material abatement of the
excitement over the subject of the
Maine. The secretary added that his
reference to Spain's responsibility was
that the question Of any official partic-
ipation by the spanish government in
the destruction OF the Maine was
practically eliminated, in his iudg-
ment. He desired to have it made clear
that that was his personal view on the
subject.
Under Great Strain.
NEtE NnuE hurrh Tho
correspondent of the New York Trib.
une says:
oriciais OF the Government are praying foi
relief from a strain which they cannot endure
much longer. 1t is not encouraging when ofli-
GERS of high rank Ia the army, who dcplorc tho
Maine catastrophe as deeply and as sincerely
ns do the American people, beg TO demand tina,
II the United States intends to make the disas-
ter u cause for going to war, it shall do so
the settled convictions OF those by whom they
nre uttered. They nro the utterances OF
men overburdened with anxiety and un-
certainty In their calmer moments these
officers would be the first to accept the
mediation OF the United States rs the best
means for helping Spain out Of her desperate
situation In Cuba Under the present strain
they do not accept il They complain that the
thorough and Comprehensive investigation
which the naval court OF inquiry Is making is
too slow and they profess TO believe that In
stead OF Impartial Investigation to learn the
facts the court is seeking To make out case OF
foul play.
The Hearing At Ksv West.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 2.-The sec
ond days session here Of the United
States court of inquiry into the loss OF
the battlcship Maine In the harbor OF
Havana on February 10, began in the