The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-20
THEY WERE ON MAINE
THEIR PERSONAL. OPINION
LEANS TO EXTERNAL CAUSE.
NEGOTIATING FOR MORE WAR SHIPS
Chances Said to Be Very Hot" of Getting
the San Martno and Gen. 0'Higgins--
Good Watch Kept on Spanish
Torpedo FotIa.

torpeQO flOtlila'
Washington. ID. c., March, 19.-The
arrival of several survivors of the
Maine and their extended conference
with President Mckinley and Secretary
Long, furnished the most interesting fea-
ture in to-day's developments on the
Spanish situation. These officers of the
Maine, Lieutenant G.. Il. w. Holman,
Lieutenant George II. Blow and Lieu
tenant A. W. Catlin, of the Mains
kins, came on unexpected from Key
West. 1t is said their visit was purely
volutary on their part. as they are now
on waiting orders and are free to go
where they please. Their long conferences
AT the Navy department and later at the
White House led TO much conjecture. it
being asserted that Lieutenant Blow
brought with him the report of the
Court of Inquiry, or at least the gene
raj conclusions reached by that court. 1t
can he stated positively. however, from
an authoritative source that the officers
did not bring with them the report,
either as whole or its general conclu.
sions. 1t is stated with equal positive
ness, and authoritatively, that they do
not know what the action Of the C0urt
OF Inquiry is, and. therefore. are not
in 4 position to convey any information
10 the President or Secretary of the
Navy on that point. Their talks We're
confined entirely 10 graphic narratives
of their experiences on the night OF the
explosion. In The course of this nara.
live, however, individual opinion as 10
the cause OF the explosion found ex-
preston. These opinions, as already
stated, were purely personal and not
founded on the proceedings of the Couri
OF Inquiry. These personal opinions,
however. it was learned reliably, were
strongly favorable to the theory of an
external cause leading to the destruction
Of the Maine. The officers themselves
maintain the strictest reserve. After
the conferences with the President ana
the Secretary of the Navy, the Maine
officers did not return to the Navy De-
partment and considerable care was ex-
ereised in having their whereabouts kepl
from public attention. Another inter
esting arrival of the day was Construc-
tor Hoover, the technical expert sent to
Havana to identify the twisted plates
in the Maine wreckage, with Il view to
learning whether the explosion was Of
internal or external origin. Mr.. Hoover
also maintained silence concerning the
wreck. He made no report TO the See
rotary of tie Navy. as he was sent To
Havana to learn facts and then en-
body them in testimony before the Naval
Court of Inquiry.
Late in the day the prospects became
Il. Irusx [l,4 -. IL =
United States of two exceptionally fine
foreign war ships. namely, the armored
cruiser San Martino belonging TO tho
Argentine Republic, and the battle ship
General O'IIiggins. belonging to Chill.
The hope of getting these ships had
hecn almost given up but cablegrams
received to-day from Commander
RrownsOn. now in Europe, made the
outlook more encouraging. Up 10 tn:
close of office hours an actual purchase.
had not been concluded, but high
official summed up the situation by say
ing the negotiations were getting very
hot" The San MartinO was originally
built for the Italian government and
was then known as the NareZ, but
since her purchase by Argentina she
has been renamed. Her dimensions arc:
Length. 328: beam, 90 draft, -; dis
placement, 6.S40 tons: horse power. 49,
900; speed 1898 knots. Her armament
is two eight inch rapid fire guns, mount.
ed in barbcttes and protected by hoods
ten six inch quick FIRE guns in 4 central
redOubt; six II ;nnh uuIck ire guns On
the upper deck and twenty-five smaller
quick fire guns onh the upper deck
All the guns on the upper deck are pro
tected by steel shields.
The General OHiggins is battle
ship of $500 tons, built at Elswick. Her
dimensions are:
Length 400 feet; beam 62; draft 2.
feet; her contract speed 21H knots. Her
armament is four 8-inch, ten 6-inch, -four
A. Armstrong guns, eight II Founders
ten g pOnunders and four. submerged
torpedo tubes. Her protective deck is q
belt of haryeyized steel seven inches
thick. Her gun horses for the eight
inchc guns, and the easements of The
six inch guns are protected by six inch
cs of nickclsteel
Both the Navy and War Departments
continue their active preparation fol
emergency and contracts i'm all branche.
Of armament are being made daily b,
The various bureaus. The Naval Blu
reau Of Ordnance has contracted for 4.
100000 pounds of brown powder. whicl
IL probably the largest single order eve
given. This was divided between tn,
california Powder Company and the Du
pont Powder Company.
The order is sufficient in the aggre
gate TO give 200 rounds for every gnl