The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-27
MINES IN THE HARBOR
Du Bose Denies as If He Expected
That to Settle 1t.

| mat 10 settle HI.
Washington. Feb. 26.-The attention of
naval officers has been strongly attracted
to the statement made by representa- tives
of the Spanish government to the effect
| that there were no mines or torpedoes of
any kind in Havana harbor. It can be
| said that this statement exactly agrees
with the inquiries that have been under
way for many months by agents of our
| government, for, so far, it is said, they
| have been unable 70 find the slightest evil
| dence of the existence Of any place of de-
| Tense in the harbor by means of mines or
| torpedoes, much less to locate them, as
| has been reported in some quarters Of
! ficials of the navy department say that
the effect Of this statement, II it is to be
| accepted as conclusive on that point, is
almost certain to negative the SUPPOSE
| ton that the disaster resulted from other
than accidental causes, as the almost
unanimous testimony of experts here
| based on the history of torpedo work,
is to the effect that no single torpedo of
any known type could have caused the
terrific wreck of the Maine.
In the pursuit of details. some Of the
| ordnance officers, acting upon the theory
that the large 1O-inch magazine forward
was not exploded, have been looking into
the contents of the smaller and adjoining
S-inch magazines. They find that, allow
| ing for the amount OF powder that was
probably consumed in practice drills by
the Maine before she arrived in Havana
harbor, there was certainly not less than
5000 pounds Of powder in this magazine,
amount 70 hoI
nous destruction had it been exploded at
one time.
DU BOSC'S DENIAL.
Washington. Feb. 26.-The government
authorities were today placed in possess
sion of the information reaching Senior
Du Bose charge d'affaires of the Spanish
legation, that no mines exist inside or
outside Of Havana harbor. This informa-
ton reached Senior du Bose after midnight
last night and was communicated to the
Associated Press in brief and explicit
statement. 1t can be stated that this
statement was made. not as a matter of
opinion or personal conviction on the part
Of Senior du Bose, but as a conclusion of
fact. ascertained from those whose Off
cial position makes them familiar with
every circumstance connected with Ha-
vana harbor. Until this information was
in the possession of the charge d'affaires
he had no personal knowledge Of the
facts. 1t was suggested to him early
yesterday by a representative of the AS
ISOLATED Press that in many quarters pos
tive statements were being made that
mines existed within Havana harbor and
in the vicinity of the Maine. Under such
circumstances he was asked for a direct
statement bearing on this point, with
view to clearing up any misrepresentation
that might exist In view of this request
Senior du Bose set on foot an inquiry by
cable which gave him the information
which, up to that time, he had not pos
sessed. Naturally the inquiry was dis
tasteful to the charge and to the Spanish
authorities, as they deeply resent any
even implied imputation that the catas-
trophe to the Maine could be due to mines
or other external influences. But for the
purpose of giving the one essential state
ment of fact in the knowledge of those
having the only direct information on the
subject. the official statement was secur-
ed and made public by Senior du Bose. 1t
is not. however. it is explained at the le-
eminent, for the government has not felt
called upon to repel insinuations which.
from its standpoint, grossly reflect upon
its honor. The purpose of Senior du Bose
was to make the statement one of fact
established from the best official authori-
ties and not to make 1t as a government
utterance, which he regarded as unneces-
sary. AS a statement OF fact however, it
is given by Senior du Bose with the great
est positiveness and from sources of Span
ish information whose authority, he says.
is not open to question.
When seen today Senior du Bose had no
details to add to his statement. The in
formation reaching him confined itself 60
the one succinct declaration that no mines
or submarine defenses Of any kind exist
inside or outside of Havana harbor. With
emphasis he expressed his indignation
that he should feel it to be his duty TO
repel the insinuations and statements that
Havana harbor was mined. which asser-
tons were inspired. he said by those anx-
ious to stir passion and resentment be- !
tween the two nations He considered |
such suggestions an insult 70 Spain. and |
without deigning to answer them, he sub |
mitted as a bare fact that there were no |
mines or submarine defenses of any char |
acter in or about Havana harbor.
JUNTA SAYS THERE ARE MINES.
New York. Feb. 26-At the headquarters |
Of the Cuban junta in this city today the |
subject of the alleged existence Of mines |
in Havana harbor was freely discussed. |
In support OF the statements that such |
mines were laid. flies OF papers Of No |
vember 1895. were produced in which IL /
was asserted that one shipment OF six 1
tons of dynamite was made from this |
port and that the steamer Cuidad Conia, |
which sailed about the 18th Of the month /
refused 10 take passengers be /
cause she carried large consignment Of
dynamite for General Weyier. II was
also alleged in the newspaper files shown
that about the same time St Louis on
Germ was to make ten tons OF dynamite
for Immediate shipment 70 Cuba.
MOVEMENTS OF THE FLEET