The Red Cloud chief., 1898-03-25
SPANS BOARD IN TROUBLE
Failure 10 Prove Explosion nm Accident
Inquiry Goes tn Pieces.

Failure 10 FrOve bNpiosioh IN Ncci"tht
Inquiry Goes to Pieces.
NEw YoRH, March ga dispatch
to the New York Tribune from Havana
says: 'Thc Spanish inquiry into the
Maine disaster has gone to pieces in
seeking to establish tho accident
theory. This admission is privately
made in government circles. The
nature Of the boards report will not
be changed. The explosion will be
charged to unknown causes, but the
Spanish finding will bs with n view Of
making n case to DO passed on by n
third party.
THE work OF their divers has not
been thorough, yet apparently they
have found so little evidence on which
n theory OF internal explosion can be
based that the Spanish cortc is not
willing TO stand unequivocally on tho
theory Of accident, which 1t set out 10
maintain. These facts have been
itnown for three or four days. This
may account for statements from Mad
rid that the Maine incident will not DO
n cause OF war between the two oun
tries, and also for hints ut arbitrating
the disputed question Of fact This
talk Is semi.oniciai.
"Ihe Spanish authorities realize tho
improbability OF successfully contro.
verting the case which will be pre-.
scntcd when the report of Captain
sampson and his associates on the
American board OF inquiry shall be
publ shed. They have had an i"nlsiing
that the evidence IN which au cxter-
nal explosion due To foul play will be
charged Is meant to satisfy not sim.
ply the American people, but tho
Judgment OF experts throughout the
world. How strongly this conclusion
of the American board is fortified will
soon bc known. Tho cue received
from Madrid is to have a counter case
ready so hat suspension OF the worlds
Judgment can be asked until diplo-
macy can arrange n satisfactory sot-
Element. The evident hope OF Blanco's
government is to keep the Maino incl
dent entirely distinct from other Gu
ban questions. Notwithstanding this
lack Of confidence in their own theory
OF accident. it cannot DO learned that
the authorities are doing anything to
uncover the con~spirators with n re-
sponsibility for the blowing up Of the
Maine. More Importance is given to
the final effort OF radical ~autonomists
to negotiate with Gomez and the in
surgcnt leaders On n new basis than
It's certain outcome warrants. The
chief interest is In the knowledge that
the negotiations are. in fact, Biauco's,
aud thntif they are entertained in any
form they will be clothed with u full
official character.
"A few officials profess confidence
that Gomez and the other insurgcnt
leaders will ut least permit the propo.
.itious TO be made and will then die.
tate their own terms under which
Spaiu's flag may remain. No ground
whatever exists for this dclusion.
Gomez has already given an Indication
Of his answer Tho insurgents viii
treat with EIanco's representative
only on the bass of independence.
With that understanding they will
agree to an armisticc while tho good
| OlllCCS OF tue tlllth pNtNtS uTe err
ploycd in arranging an indemnity
and other details under which Spain
might DO willing to withdraw heI
troops and abandon the island.
WAsnrNGroS, March .? The mos
interesting topic of the day was baseC
on dispatches from Havana indicating
n prospective conference between
General Pando and General Garcia
Gomez and others Of the insurgcn
army for the purpose Of submitting t
the latter n formal offer Of autonomy
The autonomy ms outlined in the dis
patches apparently found no crcdenc'
with tho officials Of the Spanish lcga
ton. They stated their disbelief tina
Il conferences Mt the proposed lines wa
probable and added that they had II,
information IN the subject Ministe
Polo V Eernabc expressed the op.niol
that the report from Havana was un
founded as he said the basis upoi
which IL vas proposed to grant au
tonomy was absurd.