The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-18
SPAIN WON'T PAY FOR SHIP.
Drv,ND FOR INDEMNITY WILL
MEET WITH A REFUSAL.

Lii Government VIII Base It's
Action on the Report of the Span
.sb BOARD of Inquiry That the Ex-
,1osion Was nternal-Intimation
Jso Given the Government at
wellington That intervention
,,ov Lead to War-McKinaey Look
ono for board of Inquiry Report
To-doy or Tomorrow.
Madrid. March 1.-THE following semi
oeiciaI note was issued here to-day: 'The
ro,ort of the Spanish commission on the
Maine is not yet known; but the state
,,ant of several technical officers, who
have made a close examination of the
s,ene of the disaster, show 1t was indis-
,,tahlv due to an internal accident.
American assertions to the contrary are
therefore deplored in official quarters as
tending TO mislead public opinion and
render the situation still more difficult
from the standpoint of maintaining
friendly relations between the two coun-
tries. 1t may be regarded as certain that
should the American technical commits
sion present a report declaring the disas-
Ter to be due 10 an external explosion,
the public here will refuse to accept such
a finding and any demand for an indem-
nifty based thereon will be Indignantly re-
pelIed by Spain"
Washington, March 1.-THE semi
official statement given out at
Madrid advancing the governments view
that a demand for indemnity, based en-
Spanish responsibility for the Maine ex-
ploson, would be Indignantly refused by
Spain, attracted much interest in official
circles. There has been little doubt for
some time that Spain was preparing COR
the contingency of an adverse report by
the American court of inquiry, and to
that end .Was preparing to anticipate end
offset it by making clear the governments
policy of standing by the report of the
Spanish commission.
The report of the latter body was due
IN Madrid yesterday, and, while its con-
clusions are not officially known, it is
foregone conclusion that it will find that
resulting in an internal explosion. This
was foreshadowed in the advance utter
ances Of Capt Peral, head of the Spanish
commission, who stated publicly several
days ago that the theory of external ex-
posion was untenable.
Along with the semi-official statement
from Madrid that a demand for indem-
nifty will be Indignantly repelled, is the
further statement from reliable sources
that Spain has made it clear to the au-
thorities here that Intervention may lead
to war. The prospects of such interven7
ton appear to be seriously entertained by
Spain, and strong efforts have been made
to avoid it by showing that the condition
Of the reconcentrados did not warrant the
step, and also that it would threaten to
end all prospects of further pacific nego-
Uatons.
Both governments have been sounding
each other on the activity of the other in
searching for ships, but there has been
little ground for objection on either side,
as both have been in the same markets.
The administration explains its buying of
ships on the ground that Spain's attitude
has been so menacing as naturally to call
1or an augmented navy, while Spain takes
the same view that the activity in the
United States requires suitable prepara-
lions by the Spanish navy.
Inc report that Spain has protested
against filibustering expedition to
Puerto Rico cannot be verified, as officials
mere say this expedition has not yet got
away.
Inc President expects the report of the
court of inquiry tomorrow or next day.
botn the President and Secretary of the
Navy are determined that no efforts
snali be spared to maintain the secrecy
oI the courts verdict until they them
selFes have determined to give it pub
nclty' therefore, even the admirably de-
slshed naval cipher code will not be relied
upon and at the Presidents instance, Ad-
HlIdl Slcard was directed to place the
% documents in the custody of some naval
Uilcer' according to the usual method and
oi"dIu them to Washington in that
manner 1t is not known positively that
az ie conclusions of the board are final, but
a. u!e ordinary routine of the courts of
INJURY has been followed in this case
uiey probably are so, unless the Secretary
me Navy believes, after looking into
,t yes ulnony that some lines of investi-
e1"O" should be further pursued.