Omaha daily bee., 1898-02-20


that the wreck OF the Maine is extraterrl-
torial a part OF the sovereign soil OF the
| United States. promises to establish an inn
portant precedent in International laws. The
authorities agree that a war ship, while
afloat retains the territorial statutes OF it's
own government, even when in foreign
waters. But the writer's do not discuss cases
analogous to that Of the Maine, wherein the
sovereignty OF the chip Is retained after 1t
becomes a wreck.
Wolsey's International law says that war
ships are, as it were, floating barracks, a
part OF the pubic organism, and represent
the national dignity, and on the sea, even
In foreign waters, are exempt from local ju-
riediction. 1t is on account OF the crew,
rather than the ship itself, that II has any
territorial quality. Take the crew away and
let the abandoned hulk be met at sea and 1t
becomes public property and nothing more.
The Geneva court OF arbitration held that
the extra territorial character of war ship
was not an absolute right Of International
law, but was custom of courtesy and uoi-
yerell acceptance. The custom is observed
by all nations and has come to be jealousy
protected. But its usual application has been
to ships ahoat pursuing their usual mission
as naval representatives of governments.
A case somewhat resembling that of the
Maine Is mentioned In Halls international
law. In that case the United States frigate
Constitution went ashore in 1879 at Swanage
on the Welsh coast, while bringing from the
Paris exposition some OF the United States
governments exhibit Some local wreckers
got 1t eff and libelled 1t foe pay. The Uaited
States government insisted that the ship was
extra territorial and not under the local jur-
isdiction. The British government sustained
this view
The application OF this doctrine to the
wreck of the Maine is felt to be important,
not only in Its influence in giving Captain
Sigsbee control of all wreoking operations,
but also in giving to the work the character
Of a transaction on Amarican territory.
RELIEF FOR THE FAMILIES.
There was a good deal of talk among the
officials of the need of speedy relief measures
for the benefit of the families of the ex-
plosion victims. Under the treasury rules
the allotments of portions of pay to mem
bers Of their families made by the men who
perished in the wreck must stop at once.
1t is not doubted that congress will do as
1t did in the case of the Samoan disaster
provide for years pay to the families OF
the sailors who died at their posts The
difficulty, however is that such a measure
cannot be passed at once, and meantime
some of the families of the dead sailors may
be in great distress.
The subject has been taken up by Mr..
Long, and he has called meeting for Mon
day to initiate the movement. 1t happens
that ty the rare chance Of an unexpected
change OF paymasters recently very little
Of the savings of the Names sailors went
down in the vessel. About two weeks ago
Paymsster Lttefeld OF the Maine was re-
lieved by Paymaster Ray. The former came
to Washington and had settled the accounts
of the ship up to the time he left. The rec
ord shows that Paymaster Ray had on hand
in his safe only about $4,000 in cash, prob
ably gold, and a check for Sc, 600, which of
course is safe enough without his endorse
meDt against loss
Since the spontaneous combustion theory
has come so prominently to the front as ac-
counting for the disaster, the officials have
been looking over the records to find
parallel case, as near as may be- The flag
ship New York was discovered to be on fire
March Q, 1896 Smoke was issuing from its
| main magazine This was cleared of powder
safely and it was found that the woodwork
had been charred deeply. The cause was not
at first perceptible, but it soon discov
cred that an adjoining coal bunker was
burning. When the bunker was opened the
coal on top was not hot, but as the men dug
down it was found to be redhot inside. There
was no manifestation of heat on top of the
bunker, nor on any side save the one next
the magazine. That startled the naval Off
GERS, and the constructors made a Considera-
BILE air space between the bunkers and the
| magazine.
In the designing of the new battleship now
on the docks, the lesson was kept in mind
and everything possible was done to isolate
the coal bunkers from the magazines.
Secretary Long has given orders that with
the expiration Of this day there need be OBJ
served no longer the order to all ships and
commands to display the national colors at
half mast
There is no abatement of the talk OF the
| expedency of raising the Maine. Chief Con
structor Hichborn is one OF the most
earnest advocates of the resurrection of the
ship. He points out that the ship lies in a
land-lOcked harbor, easy for the wreckers
to operate in, and that If it can be rebuilt
at a cost of $1,000 900, the government will
save $4,ooO,ooo upon the first cost of
such battleship with all of its equipment.
Great Britain, he said never abandoned a
ship il there the least chance to save
it, and has not yet even abandoned the hope
OF raising the ill-fated Victoria. sunk in
collision with the Camperdown off the coast
OF Syria several years ago.
Commander Francis Dickens, the chief Of
the bureau of navigation, and Secretary
Longs right hand man in the present
emergency, said The Maine must be taken
to an American port IL there is enough of
its bones holding together to warrant re-
moval, and in all likelihood that will be
DONE If the explosion were more disastrous
than is now thought to be the case, if the
hull is SO wrecked as to he beyond repair,
then much Of the material can be
secured will be brought home and placed
in new Maine.
"It is to be remembered that great ad-
vances have been made In shipbuildng since
tho Maine was designed, and a finer ship
to bear its name could be built today. but it
would take time, and If any considerable
portion Of the ship is good, with a modern
lied battery and Improvements in rebuild
ing the destroyed portions, magnificent
vessel can be quickly secured"
Chief Engineer Melville has decided views
In favor of the proposition to rebuild the
Maine.
Even suppose this costs 81 1000 000,' said
he, "a new ship equal to the Maine would
cost nearly $5OO0000 The repairs could be
made and the ship put in service again in
year at the fuTthest. To build a new ship
like 1t would take at least three years.
with regard TO the prscticability of rails
iug the vessel 1t lis to be remarked that
larger vessels have been raised which were
at sea, where they were exposed to waves,
while the Maine is in a perfectly quiet hac
Dor, one end resting in the mud and part Of
the other end above water.
The Maine Is in shallow spot, protected
as mill pond, and 1t is only ,000-ton chip.
The British armor-clad Howe, of over 10, 900
TONS was raised off Ferrol, Spain, In the open
ocean, and II. NJ. S. sultan OF over 1000 tons,
wes saved after 1t sank in the Comno chan
mel"
Orders have been issued for the enlistment
OF 300 men for the navy to fill the vacancies
caused by the destruction of the batteship
Maine, and to complete the legal quota. The