The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-15
FROM WITHOUT.
Evidence of the Explosion Gathered
by the Divers.

Evidence of the Explosion as Gathered
by the Divers.
New York. March IA dispatch to
the Tribune from Havana says: Two
distinct phases of the Cuban question
are now before the American people.
One is whether the Maine inquiry shall
become a diplomatic incident between
the two governments, subject to the
usual course when an international dis
pute arises over facts. The other phase
is the military and political condition Of
the island. with reference to interven-
ton.
Captain Sampson and his associates
by proonging the investigation for
weeks might find much further cumu-
latiye evidence of an external expio
sion. The comparatively narrow space
in which the divers are now working
continues to furnish proofs of all explo-
sion from without, but this leading fact
was established two weeks ago. The
clearing away of the debris has added
little to the knowledge first obtained.
The belief that the Maine was blown up
by a torpedo is held by experts who
have watched the progress of the in
quiry. This brings the naval court to
the most difficult part of it's task.
Under Admiral Scard's instructions,
the board is to report what persons,
not connected with the navy. are re-
sponsible for the loss OF the Maine.
While that is conclusive evidence to the
minds of the members that the loss
was due to foul play they are still
without conclusive proof of the iden-
tity of the conspirators. That the ex-
plosion was not the work Of a single
fanatic is pretty well established. Be
yond this the board may not be able to
CO. because the cooperation of the
Spanish government cannot be had so
long as Spain holds TO the theory of
accident.
Since Captain Peral, the president of
the Spanish board. gave out his inter-
view, and that is accepted as the Span
ish official view, no help can be ex-
pected from the authorities is dis
covering the conspirators. while they
are claiming that there could have
been no conspiracy because the Maine
explosion was due to a mysterious acct
dent
An analysis of Captain Peralis theory
need not be given here. 1t is enough
that II his scheme of raising the nun
by means of the floating dock were
feasible, months would pass before the
final report could be made. The mud
at the bottom has not prevented the
American divers from making an ex-
animation of portions of the wreck
which the board thought necessary.
The perfunctory labors of the Spanish
divers have not prevented them from
finding unexploded ammunition in
parts of the ship which an internal ex-
plosion could have hardly left intact.
They have also discovered that the
turret was blown from port to star
board. along with other incidental evil
dence of an external explosion Never
theless no admission of the possibility
Of foul play will come from the Span
ish board. The matter as now pre-
scented is that the American court.
While probably not feeling justified in
indicating suspicion as to the parties
To the conspiracy. have sifted the evil
dence which its members are ready 10
submit to the world in support or the
claim that the Maine was destroyed by
foul play,