The herald., 1898-03-07
ton that the result of the Maine inquiry
Is a subject of Indifference to the Spanish

ton that the result of the Maine inquiry
Is a subject of Indifference to the Spanish
government.
Not many days will be needed for Capt.
Sampson and his associates to conclude
the investigation. The wreclSing compa-
MES are making progress In clearing way
through the superstructure.
During the absence of the board the
naval department divers have been able
to extend their examination OF the plates
of the hull. They found these plates
twisted as from an outside explosion.
Everything previously. learned regarding
the forward magazine being intact and the
existence of large quantities of unexploded
ammunition has been confirmed and
strengthened. Without going into minu-
tiae, 1t may be said the navy department
divers have secured much technical evil
dence from the condition Of the hull and
keel and the interior of the wreck that tho
Maine explosion was due to foul play.
AS to whether by torpedo or a sub
marine mine, doubts may be left. Not
much proof can be gathered by the naval
board concerning the persons who were
in the conspiracy
The Spanish authorities are in a better
position to determine the matter. The
Spanish divers have been working very
slowly They have been giving more at
tention to the coal bunkers, apparently,
than to any other portion of the wreck.
They have made nothing more than
superficial examination OF the hull 1t
seems to be understood that the Spanish
admiralty board, in it's official tnvestiga-
ton, is finding little evidence to give plaus-
BILE support to the theory of accident.
This distinction from positive proof of an
external explosion it may not be able to
ignore.
There Is clearly less confidence in official
circles than during the period when the
declarations of ACCIDENT were made by
Gen. Banco. The Spanish inquiry pro-
ceeds in leisurely fashion. 1t may be a
long time before a conclusion is reached.
This will be no reason for a long delay
by the naval board
Under the conditions the internal poll
cies of Cuba will be exciting. for recent
developments have been significant. The
radical autonomists having failed In their
plan of coaxing the insurgents. a reaction
has come. The intransigeants now DOM
mate the governments policy. The
divided autonomist cabinet is not factor
in the situation. Senior GOWNS resignation
from the cabinet has been demanded by
some of the violent intransigeants be-
cause of his radical utterances in favor OF
more concessions to the insurgents. but
the demand Is not pressed.
The cabinet is now powerless to With
stand pressure.
The Weylerites and ultra-Spanish classes
and volunteers are supreme. An official
assurance by General Blanco and Premier
Sagasta that the government has no inten-
ton of disarmng them tells only half the
story; hereafter they will be more ag-
gressive In interfering In the affairs OF the
government. They may hurry 1t along into
action before the Madrid cabinet Is ready.
The volunteers, as a class, are filled with
ignorant hostility toward the United
States. Their movements hereafter Will
bear watching.
Senator Proctor, who has been visiting
places near Havana, is going to Sagua, ana
possibly to other parts OF Santa cara
province. He is in no hurry to return to
Washington. Apparently Senator Proctor
has formed a favorable impression OF
Spanish rule in Cuba. He is inquiring
especially into the economic conditions.
American relief, after much mismanage-
ment, is finally reaching the starving peo-
pie in the country, for whom 1t was meant.
BARKER RESIGNS
NEW YORK, March 1.-THE Worlds
Havana correspondent sends word that
Walter b. Barker, consul at Sagua la
Grande for the United States, has resigned.
1t is alleged in Spanish circles that Consul
Barkers resignation is on account OF
friction with Consul General Lee over the
improper distribution of American charity,
but the Worlds correspondent declares
that Mr. Barker is a warm friend OF GEM
eral Lee. According to the correspondent
Consul Barker feels that the American
government in its inactivity regarding
Cuban affairs, has ignored all the consular
reports and the consuls to all intents ana
purposes are useless as channeis OF IN
formation.