New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-07
INQUIRY NEARLY OVER.
PROGRESS OF THE NAVAL BOARDS
MAINE INVESTIGATION.
BELIEF IN HAVANA THAT CAPTAIN SIMPSONS
COURT WILL BE IN WASHINGTON WITH
IN FOUR NIGHTs-THE CUBAN
A. HAND.

IN FOUR NIGHTs-THE CUBAN
SITUATION AT CLOSE HAND.
Havana. March ., via Key West, March g.
The arrival OF the Spanish warship Alnirante
Oouendo this morning excited more attention
than did the return Of the Naval Board OF inquiry
on the Mangrove The Spanish population had
not yet finished rejoicing over the presence o'
the vizcaya. Supplemented by the other cruiser
an exaggerated notion Is gained OF SPANS haNa'
prowess. The tendency is to cause feeling
that war with the United States would not De
so serious for Spain This idea may seem ridicu-
lous in the States yet the existence OF TINS De
lief among a large element OF the population
OF Havana should not be ignored These span
ish warships encourage the notion that the re-
suit Of the Maine inquiry is a subject OF iho'i-
ference to the Spanish Government
Not many days will be needed for captain
SAMPSON and his associates to conclude their In
yestigation. The wrecking companies are max
Ing progress in clearing away the superstruct-
ure During the absence OF the Board the navy
Department divers have been able to extend
their examination OF the plates OF the null
Tbev found these plates twisted from an out
side explosion. Everything previously learned
regarding the forward magazine being Intact
ploded ammunition has been confirmed ana
strengthened without going into minutp' IL
may be said that during the present week the
N,yv Denartment divers have secured consider
able technical evidence from the condition OF the
hull and keel and the interior Of ihe wreck that
the Maine explosion was due to foul play; as
to whether by torpedo or submarine mime
doubts NAV he left Not much proof can be
persons who were in the conspiracy. The Span
ish authorities are in better position TO deter
mine that matter.
THE SPANISH INVESTIGATION
The Spanish divers have been working very
slowly They have been giving more at'eh'io"
TO the coal bunkers. apparently, than 10 o'"ei
portions of the wreck. They have as YET mace
nothing more than a superficial EXAMINATION VI
the hull II seems 10 be UNDERSTOOD that 'Iie
Spanish Admiralty Board In It's oiiicial ihVest'-
CATION Is finding little evidence to give plausioie
support to the theory Of accident Ihis o's-
tirct;on from positive proof of an external eN-
ploslon 1t may not he able to ignore 'here Is
clearly less confidence in official circles thah
during the period when the declarations OF accl-
dent were made by General Blanco'
The Spanish inquiry proceeds In ieisureIy
fashion It may be long time before a con-
cluslon Is reached. This will be no reason ior
a long delay by the Naval Board. Inc unoer-
standing hero is that the members or the board
will be In Washington within four nights Inc
ships carpenter OF the Maine arrived here TO-
day and some technical branches OF the IN
ouirv regarding which more definite informa-
ton is wanted will be pushed.
CUBAN INTERNAL POLITICS.
Under other conditions the internal politics OF
Cuba would be exciting. for recent develop
ments have been significant The Radical Au-
tonomists having failed In their plan or coax
ing the insurgents. reaction has come the
Intransigentes now dominate the Governments
policy. The divided Autonomst Cabinet is not
. Factor in the situation. Sehor GOWNS reslS-
nation from the Cabinet has been demanded by
some OF the violent 1ntransgentes because OF
his radical utterances in favor Of more liberal
concessions to the insurgents. but the oemaho
&c no, pressed. The Cabinet Is now powerless
to Withstand pressure. The Weylerites and ui-
ira a-spanish classes and Volunteers are supreme
An official assurance by General Blanco ana
Premier sagasta that the Government has no
intention Of dsarmng them tells only half the
story. Hereafter they will be more aggressive
They may hurry it along into action before the
Madrid Cabinet is ready. The Volunteers, as
class. are filed with ignorant hostility toward
the United States Their movements hereafter
will bear watching.
Senator Proctor. who has been visiting places
near Havana, is going to Sagua, and possibly
to other parts of Santa Clara Province He Is
in no hurry to return to Washington. Appar-
emily Senator Proctor has not formed a favora-
bic impression OF Spanish rule in Cuba He is
inqulring specially into the economic condi-
tiOns.
American relief. after much mismanagement,
is finally reaching the starving country people
for whom 1t meant.
WRECKING BOATS SAFE.
THE UNDERWATER AND THE CHIEF REACH
CHARLESTON.