The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-01

over the Maine disaster do not lessen.
| The Maine inquiry dwarfs interest in
Cuban politics, but recent develop
ments carry official confession Of the
failure Of autonomy"
QUESTION OF RAISING THE
MAINE.
In view of the many expressions Of
doubt concerning the possibility OF
raising the wreck Of the Maine the
message sent yesterday 10 the navy
department by Admaril Sicard may
a some weight. The admiral report
ed that the court OF inquiry, which is
on the spot and has had the advantage
of the opinions of divers, a declared
that the most powerful appliances
would be necessary 10 remove the
wreck or ais the ship. The last ex-
preston is taken 70 mean that the
court has so far not concluded that
il would be impossible to again float
the Maine, else the language would seem
to a been unnecessary, an unwar-
ranted suppositiOn in the case OF ex-
pensive cablegrams
Nothing mas been heard from Gen
eral Lee at Havana since day before
yesterday in the shape Of a cablegram
and, as the consul general has been
prompt heretofore in informing the
state department Of any developments
of significance, it is supposed that
there have been none since General
Lees last report
BLANCO'S COINCIDENCE.
In the mail received from Consul
General Lee this morning was a copy
Of the message of coincidence received
by him from Captain General Blanco
in the following terms:
Havana, February Is, 1898.
'FMr. Consult:
1T becomes my painful duty to ex-
press to you my profound sorrow for
the misfortune which occurred yester-
day on board the American ship
Maine. l associate myself with all my
heart to the grief of the nation and Of
the families who have lost some of
their members; and upon doing so l
do not only express my personal senti-
ments, but 1 speak in the name of all
the inhabitants Of Havana, witnesses
of the catastrophe, which has afflicted
so many homes.
God guard you any years.
(Signed) RAMON BLANCO.
ITO the Consul of the United States.
"Habana, February 16, 1885,"
NO VESSEL ORDERED TO HAVANA
No orders have been issued as yet
for any vessel to go to Havana to re-
place the Maine. Secretary Long sale
some days ago that a vessel would be
SEN to Havana later and that either
the Nashville or the Montgomery would
be selected. 1t a be stated authOrl-
tatively that this is still the situation
and that no conclusion has been reach
ed as to when mother warship will
| replace the Maine.
The cruiser Cincinnati reported her
arrival today from Barbados. She
ran over from Para, Brazil, the reason
assigned for the trip being the desire
Of the department that she should
take this coal at an uninfected port.
News of the arrival of the Castine at
Barbados is expected at any moment,
and the two ships probably will re-
main cruising among the smaller is
lands of the Caribbean sea until about
April 1st, when it is the present inten-
ton to return them to the Brazilian
coast, probably to 1Sla Granda.
NO NEWS WITHHELD FROM THE
PUBLIC.
{ Late reports from Havana have not
changed in any degree the views of
the high officials Of the government as
to the probable cause of the disaster
to the Maine. 1t can be stated on the
highest authority that absolutely moth
ing Of a disquieting mature has been
received at the White house, nor is in
portant news of any character expected
until the court of inquiry has complet-
ed its investigation and submitted its
report. 1t can also be stated upon au-
thority not to be questioned that the
! public has been fully informed as to
! al, matters connected with the disas-
ter to the Maine which have come TO
the knowledge of the government.
Nothing has been withheld of the least
public interest, and this policy will be
continued until the problem has been
solved and the whole truth brought to
light. 1t is known that the govern
ment has mot received and information
from official sources tending to show
with any degree of certainty that the
explosion was the work of enemies.
At the Spanish egation much in
terest is manifested in the develop
ments attending the Maine inquiry and
the earnest hope is expressed that con-
sentative judgment will not be influence
ed by reports which by the legation
are regarded as untrustworthy. Mr.. du
Bose and his staff of the legation are
maintaining a calm attitude, and are
seeking to allay everything with
might inflame public sentiment.
The Spanish cruiser Vizcaya VIII
probably sail tomorrow for Havana.
That, however, is a matter wholly with
in the discretion Of Captain Eulate. 1t
is probable that she would have gone
before this time if it were not for tie
misleading impression which an early
departure might occasion.
Reports received today at the lega-
ton speak with satisfaction of the
courtesies which the government of
flcials at New York have shown the
officers and men OF the ship.
SOBRAL TO SAIL.
Captain SObral. the late nav at
tachee of the legation. came to Wash
ington yesterday and conferred with
Senior du Bose. Any misunderstood
ing which has occurred as to his Officia
status is due to the fact that the of
fetal notification of the termination o,
his service has not come to him from
the naval chiefs under which he serves
The decree was formally gaZetted, how
ever, and during Captain SObral's visi
here he received orders from MadriC
to report there at once. He, therefore