Evening star., 1898-04-14

the lights might have gone out by the
shock. no other electric lights went out"
Gen. Lee also said that he had not felt
the shock of the explosion at his hotel.
Have you heard since the explosion of
the Maine any expression by Spanish Off
GERS in relation to it, Indicating their pleas
ure at the fact?' asked Senator Frye.
Gen. Lac responded: "T heard two or
three days afterward from various persons
who came in that there was good deal of
rejoicing among some of the officers. All
reports / got said they were drinking
champagne, quite thing to do, in honor
of the event. and in different portions of
the city officers were making merry. at
tribute it to the fact that what they con-
sidefed almost enemy's battle ship had
been blown up. and it was that much in
their favor" He said that he had not
heard any threats of or illusions to the de-
strVction of the Maine previous to the ex-
piosion. Senator Lodge asked if he had
heard of an attempt on the Montgomery.
Il heard" responded Gen. Lee, that
there was something of that sort one
evening; tut 1 believe upon investigation
1t was found that it did not amount to
anything"
The following colloquy between Senator
Foraker and Gen. Lee brought out some
further opinions of the general in regard
to the destruction Of the Maine:
Senator Foraker-You think that no
novice could have destroyed the Maine?
An Expert Did 1t.
Consul General Lee-Oh, no. sir. The
man who did that work was an officer thor
oughly acquainted with explosives of all
sorts, and who knew all about 1t. 1t was
very well done.
Senator Foraker.-A man who had expert
knowledge, necessarily?
Consul General Lse.-Yes sir
Senator Clark.-And who must have had
knowledge of the location of the torpedo?
Consul General Lee.-Yas. 1 never have
been certain that the submarine explosive
was placed there prior to the entrance OF
the Maine into the harbor. 1t might have
been done afterWard. The Maine was an
chored 20 buoy by some little chain
vessel swinging around that way some
times gets ct various places all around the
circle. When she would swing off that Way,
with the bow next to the buoy and these
boats plying about the harbor all the tims
anybody could go pretty we'll in front of her
on dark night and drop one of these SUBJ
marine mines Of 5OO pounds. They have
fingers, as it were, and as the boat goes
makes contact and .xplodes the mine. That
might nave been done after the Maine got
In there and not be discovered. One or two
men rowing quietly in a boat could drop it
on the stern of the boat on a dark night,
though Sigsbee had his patrols out. A boat
would not have been noticed because boats
go there always to Il late hour of the night
The harbor Is full Of these little boats
mine weighs about $40 pounds and 1 sup
pose 1t would take two or three men-one
man to. row and probably three or four to
handle the mine.
Feelings of the People,
In reply to a question from Senator Gray,
General Lee said that the Spanish popula-
ton is not especially hostile toward the
United States, his language being as fol-
lows:
i do not think they are now. They were.
But the Spanish portion are principally the
merchants, commission merchants. shop
keepers and all this agitation Is affecting
very much their business. A great many of
them, whilst they give expression to great
loyalty, are really annexationists, because
they think 1t is the only way out of the
trouble, and they would much prefer an
nexat1on to the United States to Cuban
republic, fearing that determinations
"ooAo NC AAooC d6ftiASl tneIQ IN some way,
and would rather trust to the United States
than to the Cubans.v
Senator Gray-How as to the Cuban part
of the population?
Consul General Lee-They are generally
all for free Cuba.
Senator Cullom-What Is the condition of
the reconcentrados out in the country?
Consul General Lee-Just as bad as in
General Weyler's day. 1t has been relieved
good deal by supplies from the United
States, but that has ceased now.
The chairman-How about the Spaniards?
Consul General Lee-General Blanco pub
lished proclamation resembling General
Weyler's bando, as they call it there, but
1t has had no practical effect, for in the
first place these people have no place to
which to go; the houses have been burned
down; there is nothing but the bare land
there, and 1t takes them two months before
they can raise the first crop. In the next
place they are afraid to so out from the
lines Of the towns. because the rowing
bands of Spanish guerrillas as they are
CALLED, would kill them So thew stick
right in at the edges of towns just like thew
did, with nothing to eat, except what they
can get from charity The Spanish have
nothing to give.
Armistice Amounts to Nothing.
Senator Lodge asked: What does this
cessation of hostilities spoken of in the
last few days amount to? to which Gen.
Lee responded. Nothing; practically moth
ing-the armistice amounts to nothing.
Senator Daniel-Do you know the condi-
tions of it?
Consul General Lee-I saw Gen. Blan-
cos proclamation, which said the queen
regent, at the request of his holiness, the
pope, had issued an armistice; but that is
not worth the paper 1t is written on, be-
cause a truce or armistice between two
conteading forces requires the consent of
both before 1t can be Of any practical ef-
feet, and it will not have the consent of
the insurgents.
Senator Lodge-What offer did he make
to the insurgents?
Consul General Lee-This occurred Just
about the time l left, and do not know.
I suppose he just relics upon that procla-