Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-08
ENCOURAGES The SPANISH
Arrival Of War Ships swells Up the
Proud Dons.
THINK THEY CAN WHIP UNITED STATES
Wreckers Clearing Away the Maine
So that Divers Can Make More
Thorough Examination
of the Hull.

NEW YORK, Marcn IA dispatch to the
Tribune from Havana says: The arrival OF
the Spanish ship Almirante Oquendo, al
though the Spanish population was still re-
joicing over the coming OF the Vizcaya has
given the Spaniards am exaggerated notion of
Spain's naval prowess. The tendency is to
cause a feeling that war with the United
states would not be so serious for Spain.
The idea may seem ridiculous In the Uuited
States. yet the existence of this belief among
a large element of the population of Havana
should not be ignored. These Spanish war
ships encourage the notion that the result of
the Maine inquiry is a subject of indiffer-
ence to the Spanish government.
Not many days will be needed for Captain
Sampson and his associates TO conclude the
investigation. The wreckng companies are
making progress in clearing a way through
the superstructure. During the absence OF
the board the Navy department divers have
been able to extend their examination of the
plates of the hull. They found these plates
twisted as from an outside explosion. Every
thing previously learned regarding the for
ward magazine being intact and the exist
ence or large quantities of uneXploded am
munition has been confirmed and strength
ened without going into minutia, but II
10 sdiu tue NAVY department OWcerS nave
much technical evidence from the condition
Of the hull and the interior of the wreck
that the Maine explosion was due to foul
play. AS to whether by torpedo or sub
marine mine doubts may be left. Not much
proof can be gathered by the naval board
concerning the persons who were In the cCu-
spiracy. The Spanish authorities are in a
better position to determine that matter.
SPANISH WORK SLOWLY.
The Spanish divers have been working very
slowly They have been giving mere atten-
tion to the coal bunkers apparently than to
other portions OF the wreck. They have
made nothing more than a superficial OK
animation OF the hull. 1t seems to be un-
derstood that the Spanish admiralty board
in its official investigation is finding little
evidence to give plausible support to the
theory of accident This distinction from
positive proof of an external explosion 1t
may not be able to ignore There is clearly
less confidence in official circles than during
the period when the declarations OF accident
were made by General Blamco. The Spanish
inquiry proceeds in lesurely fashion. 1t
may be long time before conclusion is
reached. This will be no reason for long
delay by the naval board.
Under the conditions the internal poll
cies of Cuba will be exciting. for recent
developments have been significant The
radical autonomists having failed in their
plan of coaXing the Insurgents, a reaction
has come. The lntranSlgeanteS now doml-
nate the governments policy. The autonomist
cabinet Is not factor in the situation. Senor
| GOWNS withdrawal from the cabinet has
| been demanded by some of the obstinate in
| transigeantes because of his radical utter
ances in favor of more concessions to the
! insurgents, but the demand Is not pressed
| The cabinet is now powerless to Withstand
pressure. The Weylerites and ultra Spanish
classes and volunteers are supreme An
| official issuance by General Blanco and Pre-
| mier Sagasta that the government has nc
| intention of disarming them tells only hall
| the story. Hereafter there will be more
aggressiveness in interfering in the affairs
| OF the government. They may hurry it along
| into action before the Madrid cabinet is
! ready. The volunteers, as class, are filled
with ignorant hostility toward the United
States. Their movements hereafter will beal
| watching.
| Senator Proctor, who has been visiting
places near Havana, is going to Sagua and
possibly to other ports OF Santa Claro
| province. He is in no hurry to return tc
| Washington. Apparently Senator Proctor
| has not formed a favorable impression o
| Spanish rule in Cuba. He Is inquirine
| especially into the economic conditions.
| American relief, after much mismanage-
ment. is finally reaching the starving
people in the country for whom it was
1 meant.