Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-10

sponsibility which the members of this
court have assumed. AS high-minded OFF,
GERS they are naturally eager to acQuit
themselves with credit. The issue Of war
or peace between nations may depend
upon their verdict, and this is no trifiing
matter to be rushed through in haste. All
the investigation the court has so far been
able to make in Havana was of a purely
preliminary character. The members will
now have to carefully and patiently watch
the wrecking operations for further evil
dence.
Secretary Long does not profess to be-
lieve in the accident theory as he did for
several days after the Maine was blown
up. Other members of the cabinet be-
lieve, as does Secretary Long, that the
ship was blown up by design. The ex-
perts in the navy also believe this, or now
profess to believe it, but they will await
facts before expressing positive opinions.
Method in the Silence.
1t may be truthfully asserted, however,
says well,informed Washington CORE
spondent, that nine out Of every ten men,
bers of Congress believe there Is a deep
significance in the seemingly dilatory tao
tics of the administration in regard to
the disaster. They believe that President
Mckinley and the members of his cabinet
are not so much in the dark regarding the
information secured by the court of in
quiry as is indicated by the official bulle-
tins, AMI that there is method in the ST.
lence. Many of the members are convinc-
ed that the President is playing for time
and that every minute is being utilized
to make preparations for war. Other
members believe that the President has
received word from the court of inquiry
that the explosion was an accident and
that he is taking measures to have it APP
pear that the court is making a most ex-
haustive and deliberate investigation in
order that no cry may be raised that
snap verdict was returned.
At the Navy Department the impression
was given out that Secretary Long was
greatly disappointed at the word which
came from Key West that the board Of
inquiry would not be able to report for
several weeks. Secretary Long had ex-
pected all along that the report would be
in before this time. He said that he did
not think the President would be content
to wait so long and that an intimation to
this effect had been sent to Key West.
The members of Congress, however, are
skeptical of the assertion that the Presi-
dent is no wiser than the public and many
insist that every bit of important testi-
mony is sent to him in cipher dispatches
almost as soon as it is presented to the
board of inquiry.
1t is believed by some that Spain is pre-
pairing the way to contest any finding
that the battleship was blown up by acct
dent. With the wreck sinking deeper and
deeper into the mud of the harbor, it may
be difficult to prove any assertion to the
contrary. 1t has been asserted by Span
iards that there were mines in the harbor,
and there has been no denial until Senior
dn Bose made the unofficial assertion Sat
urdny. Shortly after Blanco became cap
tain general of Cuba there were reports
from Havana of explosions in the harbor
which excited people, but were explained
as caused by experimenting with explo-
sives in the harbor, where Spanish officers
were planting mines and torpedoes. 1t
has never been denied that Havana was
protected by these modern defenses. The
denial at this time is looked upon as the
beginning of more diplomatic maneuvers
Ivy Spain to delay and escape the response
bility for blowing up the Maine.
Excitement Is Abated.
Everywhere in Washington abatement
of unrest and excitement of the past fort
night is noticeable and it is now quite evil
dent that the administration has settled
down TO the belief that the naval board
of inquiry will not conclude it's work and
be ready to report for two or three weeks,
and that in the meantime the Government
a