The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-26
"NOT AN ACCIDENT
Surmises as to Report of the Naval
Court and Subsequent Action.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 25.-'W. b. S." the
well-known correspondent of the Globe
Democrat says: The board of inquiry will
report that the destruction of the battle
ship Maine in Havana harbor was not the
result of an accident. So much the inves
tigation has developed, according to the in
formation received. This is not admitted
officially, but it is talked of privately.
Whether the court will be able to point
out definitely and clearly the method of the
crime is yet to be determined. 1t is now
the hope of the administration that the
mysterious features will be cleared up, but
there is not full promise. The present stage
indicates the probability that the plot will
not be entirely unraveled. Enough will be
sacnn to establiss, The certainty of foul
play, and that will be sufficient for the
practical purposes of the administration.
The responsibility will be put upon Spain.
1t is now a matter of consideration what
shall follow Immediately the finding of the
court Upon that question the administra-
ton is at work. When the court reports
that the Maine was blown up, and that the
result was not accident, the case against
Spain is made. That country can meet the
issue with an offer of reparation. An opin-
ion that such will be her course has been
advanced by some. 1t is not entertained by
the administration. The Spanish govern
ment might be willing to admit the re-
sponsibility but it will not dare. The Sa-
gasta Ministry and Blanco seem to have
some kindiness of feeling toward this
country, and to feel real regret at the fate
Of the Maine. Their hold on power is slight.
The belief of the administration is that
the Spanish government will not be strong
enough, in the face of Spanish sentiment,
bitterly hostile toward this country, to
make amends for the destruction of the
Maine. The President now looks forward
to force as the only method of settlement
with Spain. He is no longer proceeding
upon the theory of accident. He is no long
er suspending action until the report of the
court of inquiry He is taking quietly and
thoroughly such steps as are dictated by
the probability that the investigation will
show the destruction of the Maine by Span
ish design-not of the Spanish government,
but by Spaniards.
Part of the evidence Of an international
crime is in the possession of the Presi-
dent. As was stated yesterday a torpedo
was towed by a long rope, attached TO
small boat, in such way as strike the
bow of the Maine and explode. The gov
ernment has an amount of testimony sus-
tanning this, not much as is desired, but
enough to create feeling that it is prob
able
AS the investigation of the divers pro-
ceeds conditions are found which are con-
sistent with this story of the torpedo. AT
the same time conditions which render un-
tenahle the various theories of accident de-
velop. Talk of accident is entirely hushed
at the Navy Department in offices where
it had much support last week. Officials
who pointed out how it might have hap
pened now show from the charts and from
the latest details which the inquiry has
furnished that it could not have happened
that it must have been designed.