The herald., 1898-02-26
MAINE WRECK
Is Still an Unexplained
Mystery
NO EVIDENCE is FOUND
UPON WHICH AN OPINION MAY
BE BASED
PENDING THE COURT REPORT
Precedents Are Being Examined Rel
ative to Demands for Indemnity
if Spain Is Responsible
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-In spite of the
stress that came from unofficial sources
in Havana as to sensational developments
in connection with the work on the Names
hull, the administration remains firm in
its statement that there is no credible evi
dence, one way or the other, as to the
cause OF the disaster, and holds to its pur-
pose to await the conclusion Of the inves
| tigation now making by the court of in
quiry. This position was emphasized al
| today's cabinet meeting. People who look
ed for some startling announcement were
disappointed, as the members, without res
ervation, frankly admitted that the sub
ject of the loss of the Maine had been
discussed, but said that the government
had received no information from Havana
since yesterday, and had no intention of
changing its policy until there was some
thing of substance to warrant it.
Secretary Long has been under heavy
and almost constant strain ever since he
was awakened in the middle of the night
week ago last Tuesday by the news of
the loss of the Maine, and now that mat
ters are. at least for the present. in a
quieter state. he has withdrawn from the
navy department and gone away for a
few days rest, leaving Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt to manage the department.
!, The latter has been thoroughly advised
at every step of the secretary's policy of
treatment. of the Maine affair so that
there is not likelyato be any change in that
respect caused by the temporary assump-
tion of the duties of secretary by Mr..
Roosevelt.
a1A L.
had word of the sailing of the cruiser
Montgomery from Tampa for Key West.
Up to that time the vessel had been
given no orders. so that the date &C her
departure for Havana. If she is to go at
all, Is conjectural. The ship went 10
Tampa instead of Key West on her return
from San Domingo In order to facilitate
the speedy return to his duties in Wash
| ington of Captain Crowninshield, the, ,chieI
I of the navigation bureau, who saved a full
day by the movement.
The Castine. the second of the United
States warships on the South Atlantic
station, arrived today at Barbados, where
she Joined the Cincinnati. 1t may be that
the Castine may go to Martinique to be
docked. as she is In need of cleaning after
her trip.
Since so much depends upon the report
of the court of inquiry, it may be interest
ing to note that so far Secretary Long
himself does not know when to expect this
important document, having heard moth
ing from any of the members on this point
He rather expected the court, which has
complete power to work on its own lines,
would wind up its wor kat Havana before
leaving. so as to avoid the necessity for
a return trip. One member of the cabi-
net had a more definite opinion on the
subject, expecting the receipt of the re-
port from the court about the middle
of next week. There is reason to believe
that in the meantime, and to prepare for
the reception of a report that would show
the disaster to be other than the result
of an accident, some Of the officials OF
the administration have been looking UP
the foundation of a case in the event that
lit should be decided to resort to that
method of settlement
There are large numbers of precedents
which will aid the authorities in shaping
their action in this direction when the
facts are fully established. While none OF
the cases show the fearful loss of life
sustained by the Maine explosion, vet
they include may instances in which the
United States has adopted energetic
measures to redress the killing of Ameri-
can citizens in foreign countries. In a
general way these methods of redress have
included demands for indemnity, procla-
nations excluding the warships of the of
Tending nation from our harbors, display
|of force, non-intercourse,- withdrawal of
our ministers, reprisal and blockade. Some
of these steps border very closely on war
although they are regarded as the move
ments just preliminary to actual hostili-
ties and as amounting to threat that
force will follow If reparation is not made
The case of the Water Witch is consid-
cred to be the most analogous to that of
the Maine, should 1t be established that
the Maine disaster was not the result of an
accident. The Water Witch was a United
States ship engaged in 1855 in surveying
the entrance to one Of the rivers of Para
quay. Without warning and by orders OF
President Lopez of Paraguay a force OF
troops opened fire on the Water Witch
killing the man at the helm and woundins
others. Intense feeling was aroused in the
United States when the facts became
known. The president reported the facts
to congress and in his message asked au-
thority to make demonstration Of force
which would ensure suitable redress.
In response to this, congress authorized
him ito use such force as is necessary to
secure ample reparatlon. Accordingly ar
armed fleet was hastily assembled on q
scale which was regarded as remarkable
for those days. The expedition included
10 armed ships, 20 heavy iAtns and $500 sail
ors and marines.
Accompanying this formidable outfit were
civilian plcnipotentiaries prepared to make
the demands of the government, and ther
enforce them by calling on the armed
ships. The expedition made formidable
showing in the South American waters
and President Lopez government was
awed into complete subsection by its pres
ence. The American commissioners and
naval officers were received at Ascension
with much honor. and every reparation
within the power of the republic. was
given. This included an abject apology. a
sweeping disavowal, and SO, 900 for the suf-
ferers from the outrage AS the republic
was willing to grant full reparation, the
naval expedition did not exert the force
it was prepared to use in case refusal had
been offered
When the facts of the expedition were
reported to the american congress the
president stated that the dispatch of this
formal naval fleet had had salutary in