New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-04
MAINE INQUIRY WELL OVER
LEADING FACTS OF THE DISASTER HAVE
BEEN LEARNED BY THE COURT.
THE SPANISH INvEsrIGATroS-No CLOUD WILL
REMAIN on CAPTAIN sIGsBEE or THD
BATTLE SHIPS oFFIcERs-THE SIT
rArioN IN HAvASJ
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

BATTLE-sHIPs oFFicERs-THE SIT
uArIoN IN HAVANA.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrsEl
Havana. March 2. via Key West. March b.
The leading facts Of the Maine disaster are All
in the possession Of the Naval Board. The
divers have continued their work during the
absence Of the Board at Key West. They have
discovered nothing 10 change the evidences hrst
gathered. which showed apparently. that the
explosion was external Their examination this
week has exterded alongside the plates. and they
have penetrated forward well into the bow.
All they find is merely conhrmatory o: what
was previously discovered. Captain Sampson
and his associates especially anxious TO
await further work by the divers to determine
whether or not mistakes had been made In any
particular. Nothing has been found 10 indicate
mistake. On the contrary the more thoroughly
the hull is examined the more convincing ap-
pear the original evidences Of explosion from
without How long the BOARD Will take to
formulate its conclusions on this point can be
better judged in Washington than in Havana
THE SPANISH INQUIRY
Notwithstanding the permission given by the
United States Government for Spanish divers to
examine the wreck the investigation by the
Spanish authorities of the condition ~ the ship
it lies in the water proceeds slowly. They
seemed 20 be In no hurry 10 learn the facts about
the hull magazines and other matters which
were first 10 engage the attention Of the Naval
Board. The Government has. however. taken
considera Die testimony Of persons who were In
the harbor the night OF the explosion. II
gives much weight 10 'he testimony ~ those
VINO say they saw flames issuing from the Maine
before the ship was wrecked by an explosion.
L. - hat a
Naval Board will be emphatic in generating
Captain Sigsoee and The officers ~ the Maine
from the implication ot negligence. lack Of dis
cipllne or responsibility for the disaster. II has
been almost forgotten iha, until the Board re-
ports on the subject Captain sigshee Is nomi-
nally under cloud-that IT, the inquiry must
determine whether Or not the commander Of the
Maine was in any way responsible for her loss.
The secrecy with which the nyestigation has
beer conducted has not prevented the testimony
on thlo subject from becoming known.
The Board will he able TO 60 further and show
not only that there was no accident which could
have been prevented. but also no basis for the
theories Of accident from an unknown cause.
How far il will 20 in the assertion Of positive
proof that the Maine was blown up Is for the
present a speculative question. The prevalent
impression s that the Board has evidence OF the
deed without the means of finding out who
committed IT, 1t Is incumbent on the Spanish
Government TO find that ou;
THE ALLEGED MINES ~ HAvANA FARBoR
TIE denial. credited % Senior Du Bose. in
Washington. trat mines exist In Havana Harbor
doas not receive the weight tina, would be given
to an official declaration from Captsin-Generai
B'anco or Premier 81 gssta on the same subjetC
In Official circles here 1t is the evident purpose
TO combat the finding or the Naval Board. but
not aggressivey. The Spanish attitude seems
70 be that an accident probable. and that
the United states Il not justified IN making
demand for reparation vn@n the proof OF foul
play is not positive. The assumption VIII be
that the two Governments. after taking evi-
dence were unable 20 agree IN their conclusions-
However. there has been nothing I'm the nature
OF a Joint investigation.
From the present outlook Madrid and Wash
ington are the places where the consequences
Of tho Maine explosion will he determined Lit
tla more than IL already known can be learned
here The wreck promises to remain In the
harbor for an indefinite period. The wrecking
companies will be able 10 raise the guns OF the
Maine The hull is asset Of no value TO any
government
President McKinley's desire that the wounded
sailors from the Maine ne reii'"Ne" !" H'".''>
soil az quickly as possible is being carried ou.
Fev are now In the hospitals here
TEMPER OF THE SPANISH CLASSES
The temper Of the Spanish classes toward tns
Tinted states finds some exhibition a. present.
but not in the form Of hostile demonstration.
II is rather in the shape OF fervent protests ana
actions OF loyalty to the mother country. Ths
arrival Of the warship vizcaya has caused An
outpouring OF the loyal spirit. though !, was not
exactly spontaneous. for the demonstration was
arranged in advance. Apparently large pro-
nor,ion Of the populsce are sratined 10 zee the
vizcaya anchored not far from the wreck OF the
Maine They believe that with the other var
shin. which are 10 come. and with the torpsdo
ao,ila. Havana and the ports OF Cuba are sAfs
from an American fleet.