Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-28
Senior du Bosc's Declaration Com
mented Upon.
FoRMER STATEMENT RECALLED
SPANS Probable Contention as to
the Maine.
ONE THEORY SET FORTH

nor torpedos in the Havana harbor is to be
regarded as official, it is thought in con-
gressional circles as likeely in a certain
contingency to complicate the situation and
to increase the probabilities of war. If the
naval board Of inquiry report that the de-
struction of the Maine did not come from
an explosion on shipboard and the Spanish
government officially declares that there
was nothing outside the ship to cause the
explosion it bars the way to a peaceful set
tlement. Spain cannot agree to make repa- :
ration based on the claim that the Maine
was blown up byedesigH while maintaining
that there were no explosives in the har-
Dor. The declaration of du Bose, it is in
ferrred, was intended as foundation for a
disavowal by Spain of any sort of RESPONSE
bility for the explosion and to discredit the
findings Of the board of inquiry if their
verdict is that the explosion was external.
A question Of verasity can be avoided only
by it being represented that du Bose s
statement was unofficial. The Spanish con-
tention, otherwise, will be that the external
theory is disposed of by the fact that there
were no explosives on the outside. 1t is
believed that it Is expecting too much to
imagine that Spain will, when confronted
with the report of the board, confess having
been guilty of an official falsehood IN de-
claring the absence of explosives in the
statement is regarded as indicating that
Spain intends to resist the conclusions of
the board if not favorable to her.
A Former Statement.
A thing that has been overlooked in con-
sidering the question of the presence CT
mines in the Havana harbor is that it has
been officially stated by Spanish author;-
ties, some time since, that they were cX-
perimenting with explosives in the Havana
harbor. The statement attracted but little
attention at the time, for it did not then
nave the significance 1t now has.
Shortly aTter Bianco assumed command in
Havana dispatch entirely free from sem
sationaiism, was published from Havana
by all the newspapers stating that severe
explosion had occurred at a certain hour
named in the dispatch. and that there was
moms1tary eXcitemenE and apprehension.
but tnat all excitement was Immediately
checked by the announcement by the au-
thorities that the explosion was merely the
result of an accidental discharge of a tar
pedo in the harbor, Which officials were
experimenting with from the shore" This
was one of thesregular Havana dispatches
and was universally published, without a
sensation beipg made of it. the official an
nouncement OF the cause of the explosion
having relieved the incident Of any sensa-
tional character.
This announcement, at the time insignifi-
cant, now acquires Importance as tending
mines We're in the harbor. Still, If Spain
has officially declared that the harbor was
clear 1t is expected that she will stick to
1t and will resist the demands of this coun-
try, as 1t Is conceded she would have
right to do If she knew that the harbor was
free from explosives
Spnin's Probable Contention.
There is reason to believe that the Span
ish government will not seek to lessen her
responsibility by a. claim that if the explo-
sion was external 1t was the work of a
private individual but will dispute the en-
tire claim of external explosion. 1t is be-
lieved that she will contend that the explo-
sion could not have been from the outside
by any private individual; that the explo-
sive could not have been placed under the
Maine without the knowledge of one or
more OF the Spanish authorities, and that
since the authorities have no knowledge of
explosives being splaced in the harbor
therefore none We're there and the explo-
sion could not have occurred except on
poard the Maine, They might have met
conclusive evidence Of an external explo-
sion by the discovery that the responsible
~ rested upon some insane or otherwise
irresponsible Individual An official an
nouncement that there were no explosives
in the harbor. however, bars the possibility
OF such representation, and 1t is now re-
garded as practically certain that Spain has
decided to insist upon the theory that the
t.
ter what evidence to the contrary the board
OF inquiry may produce.
This Governments Preparations.
The preparations this government has
made for war are much more complete
than the public are generally aware Of
In spite of the economy of Congress,
considerable has been done in the way of
coast defenses. It. has been done without
ostentation, first as a matter of military
poicy and, second, to avoid exciting the
congressional economists and those who
Tear that the liberties of the people are
threatened by any ordinary preparation for
national defense The appropriations from
year to year for these defenses have been
woefuily small, but during the course of
nVe years enough has been done to form
lhe 1oundatiCn OF Substantial defenses
Since the report of the fortification board
(congressionaD more than five years ago
some work in accordance with the plans
OF their report has been done each year.
Ihal board selected twenty-six principal
cities which they regarded it as important
TO have properly supplied with defenses
Most II not all of these have since been pro-
v1ded with some Substantial works of de-
Iense as a basis for the more complete
Work IN contemporaries. Consequently there
are now heavy guns all along the coast
ana the defense As much more effective
than IS generally supposed. 1t is sufficient
to prevent our beinSxleft helpless. In spite
OF the anxiety shown In some quarters
ABOUT Congress. to save money at any
cost and. In other quarters. to guard the
gocd people against q military despotism,"
II Is certain that as SCOTT as the President
tninks II necessary to call upon Congress
Tor money to be used In case Of emergency
for the purchase or ships and for arma-
ment and fortiffeation all the money need
ed will be supplied
Ono Theory Advanced.
The following theory of the destruction of
the Maine is advanced by man who has
spent much time in Cuba and Is thoroughly
familiar with the politics Of Spain and
Crba:
The disaster OF the Maine is to me easily
explained. The tarbor Of Havana was for
titled by rev and powerful artillery as soon
as fears cor nneicsd to be entertained Of a
rupture between Spain and the United
states It Is a fact, and the plans Of these
defenses in the Navy Department show 1t.
tnat these modern cannons are 50 placed
as to ccmmapd the sea approaches; In no
cese are tA14 placed so that they could do
harm to mm-Q9-war once In port. To
meet any emergency arising from the hos
tile action Of such vessel, Gen. Weyier and
his ieutene cts, among whom were distin-
guished mthtsry engineers devfsed . conn
piete, though Eot aDparont defensos honey