The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-03
CUBA AN ALLY.
rcontinued from First Page.l

CONTINUED from First Page.l
flood of surmises, conjecture and proph-
esy concerning the finding Of the court
of inquiry, it is fair to say that, as a
matter of fact, most of the naval Off
GERS here and at Key West, incline to
the opinion that the court will find that
the disaster to the Maine was caused
by the explosion of a floating Submar-
inc mine under the port side of the
ship, forward. Opinions differ as to
whether the mine was made of high ex-
plosives, such as wet and dry gun cot
ton, or ordinary gun powder.
Opinions agree, not only as to the ex-
istence of mines in the harbOr, but also
that this one was laid purpOsely near
the buoy where foreign war vessels
were directed to moor, and was fired
from an electric battery on shore.
1t is believed barely possible that the
explosion of the mine was the result of
the carelessness or ignorance of Spanish
officers in charge of the mine station
keys when testing the circuit, but the
latter suppOsitiOn is not felt to be prob
able. 1t is further regarded as settled
by the evidence before the court that
the port side of the hull forward was
completely blown to pieces, and that
the only explosion on the Maine, ex-
cept of isolated cases of fixed ammuni-
ton. was that of 1000 pounds of salut-
! ing powder, stored forward, and of
which no trace can be found.
These views are gathered from Off
GERS who talk with great reserve and
n
tity will never be revealed. The fact
remains that only the members of the
court of inquiry know all the testimony
elected, and no one is authorized to
make public matters in advance of the
final adjudgment.
A good deal of surprise was expressed
by Americans here at learning that the
Spanish divers were to be permitted to
the Maine especially as it was said also
that American naval officers would
give such divers all consistent facilities
and would throw no obstacles in the
way of a thorough submarine inspec-
ton. 1t was not at first understood
as it came to be later, that the Spanish
search was to be entirely independent
and that while it was being made the
American investigation would proceed
under Captain Sigsbee's supervision. AS
understood here, the Spanish request
made Immediately after the disaster for
a joint investigation was promptly re-
fused at Washington, but after a cab
met consultation, it was agreed that the
Spaniards had a moral and information
al right to discover the cause of the
wreck for themselves if possible There
fore permission for an independent ex-
animation was granted the
ground as understood here that
it could not be refused to a friendly
power in her own harbor. That the
permission was not accorded until after
the court of inquiry had finished its
work here and gone to Key West is re-
garded as significant. 1t opens a wide.
nelQ LOT speculation.
Some assert that the court now has no
objection to Spanish inquiry, for one
of two reasons: Either the court has
sufficient evidence already of accident
or malice-evidence that cannot be con-
troverted by the Spaniards-or. after a
diligent search, the mystery remains as
deep as ever and the court does not
think the Spanish will reach a cOncllJ-
sion where the Americans have failed
OF course all this refers principally
to inspection of parts of the ship other
than the hull Until the guns, decks
engines and debris of all kinds have
been removed and the mud has been
pumped from the hull it cannot be ex-
amined thoroughly by any one. Some
good authorities think it Will be neces-
sary to build a Golfer dam around the
wreck, piles being driven ETC.
While criticfsing the naval divers for
their sIowness it must be remembered
that theirs is grim. dangerous and aiff-
cult work. In muddy, foul water through
a mass OF rlVeted steel, bent iron. graf
ings and ladders. overturned matches. scat
tered ammunition, guns. chests. machin-
cry and electric wires, they must make or
cut their intricate way. They must exer-
else great care lest their air tubes will be
severed by sharp projections Already
many have had bad falls in the uncertain
light and difficult passages
Nothing need be retracted, however,
from the former statement that all the
The huge weight of The Wrecx ceI,ees II ~ 70
sink daily deeper into the soft mud of the
more hercuiean. While no 6ntsiier il is az az
lowed on the wreck, the patrol lines are
not 50 rigid as formerly, and the boats OF
visitors are allowed to sail quite close to
the mass of debris
The question is frequently asked. Are
Americans in danger in Havana ?''-
The only truthful answer given by a
wei informed resident or American Of
fetal or layman is: I'VE think not; we
don't know"
Of course Spanish officials who will talk
on the subject deprecate any idea of dan
ger; but they are much in the dark as
the rest well informed Cuban of high
social position and on good terms with the
government said to a correspondent of the
Associated Press: s'Of course in the low
boasts by irresponsible persons AZ to what
they intend to do to Americans. but these
people are only dangerous in case riot
Gus demOnStra lions come from other quar-
tiers. such for instance, as the volunteers.
In the ten years war the volunteers shot
many innocent people and were. controlled
with difficulty; but it seems proba BILE that
dissa tisfaction is more likely to be mani
tested later against the autonOnistS or
against General BlancO and his staff than
againSt the Americans since the impress
sion is daily growing stronger that only a
short time will elapSe ere Cuba will be
annexed TO or under the protection of
the United States D..
There are no signs of demonstration
against the Americans, and stories to the
contrary thus far are without foundation.
Still, Havana is no place just now for
those without the calls of business or
duty
News of the movements of the insur-
gents is scarcer here since the Maine ex-
plOSiOn than usual. No official decIara-
ton has been received from General Max
imO Gomez as to the Maine disaster so
far as known. but of course his followers
treachery-
The fight in Puerto Principe, already an