New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-15
GEN. LEES GRAPHIC STORY.
SUSPICION CAST ON WEYLER
THE SPANISH GENERALS DESIRE m
HAVE A LETTER DESTROYED
MANY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE MAINE
OUTAGE AND THE SPANISH FAILURE TO
sUBDUE CUBA-cAPTAIN sIasBEE
AND OTHER OFFICERS ALSO
on THE STAND.

on THE STAND
Washington. April 14-The testimony taken
before the Senate Committee on FOREIGN Rela
tions IN connection with the investigation into
the relations between the United States and
Spain was made public to-day. 1t makes book
D. about six hundred and fifty pages and in
:ludes not only the testimony taken since the
disaster 10 the Maine but also much that was
taken before. and running back for a year or
more
The statement which contains the greatest
current interest Is that made by Consul-General
Lee on April u In this statement General Lee
said he was informed good authority that
the Spaniards had placed two rows OF torpedoes
just a. the mouth OF Havana Harbor by
Moro Castle. within the last two months or
subsequent TO the Maine disaster and that the
switchboard was in a room In the castle. He
said, however. that he had no information Of
the placing Of any torpedoes before the Maine
was destroyed and none in regard 10 the pur-
chase Of them abroad by the Spanish authori-
ties
Had you any reason to suppose that the
ha-bor was mined at all before the blowing up
OF The Maine" asked Senator Frye.
no. sir; had no reason to suspect anything
OF the sort up to that time"
General Lee then went on 10 say that General
believe that mines might have been placed there
previous TO the Maine incident. and this suppo
sition strengthened by a telegram from
General Weyler. OF which he had knowledge
On the whole. he thought the Weyler letter the
Lame letter. correct copy Of a genuine
letter.
The telegram to which ne referred was ad
dressed to Eva Camel. a noted Spanish woman
and admirer OF Weyler and TO Guzman. and
II read as follows:
Grave circumstances cause me to ask you to
destroy the last letter Of February is.
General Lee said that this telegram had never
before been published, and he found In 1t strong
confrrnatory evidence Of the genuneness of the
Weyler letter.
DOESN'T BELIEVE BLANCo GUILTY
With reference TO the responsibility for the de-
struction of the Maine he said:
I am satisfied the explosion was from the out
side I cabed the State Department few days
after the Board assembled that II was almost
certain that the explosion from the ex-
terror. I have always had an idea about tho
Maine that. OF course. It was not blown up by
any private individual or by any private citizen
but /. was blown up by come OF the officers who
had charge of the mines and electrical wires and
torpedoes in the arsenal there who Thoroughly
understood their business for 1t was cone re-
markedly well.
l do not think General Blanco. the present
Cuba had anything TO do with It, do not
think he had any knowledge OF IT, l saw MN
Just shortly after the occurrence was sitting
in my room at the hotel. and from the balcony
OF the hotel l could hear this. 1 heard the ex-
plosion and saw great column or flre go up IN
the cir. few moments after asce ran ma Se
Il was the Maine went right down 70 me
palace and 1 asked for General Blanco Hs
came In directly by himself He had just heard
it and was crying tears were cS ou as % any
bodv saw in Havana But l think II came
from some Of the subaltern officers VINO hah
been there under Weyler. ana VINO Were pro- pro-,
sbly anti-Blanco, anyhow and who had full
knowledge Of the business
HURRY UP THE ELECTRICAL cABLEe
General Lee said he had seen copy OF a tele-
gram from Admiral Manterola, dated In Havana
before the explosion Of the Maine TO the Spanish
Commission in London. asking the Commission
TO hurry up the electrical cables"
whether that referred to wire for submarine
mines or torpedoes do not know" he continued
"I tried 10 ascertain II any Of the wire or cleo
tr,cal cables had arrived there, but they came
on Spanish ships. and could not ma OUT.
General Lee said that this testimony IN regard
% Menterola and also that with reference TO the
yvevlAr telegram had been furnished 70 the
Court ot Inquiry which investigated the Maine
disaster but had not been sent 70 Congress or
nuhI,shed because of a request OF his made 70
the State Department not to make them PUBIC
las was afraid the Spanish papers there would
republish II and they would probably XIII me
man that gave II 20 me
Continuing this testimony with regard 70 the
night Of the Maine explosion. General Lee sald
that ten minutes after the explosion he was at
the Palace talking TO General Bianco. and that
tie latter gave him an order FOR boat 10 take
him on. into the harbor. Senator Morgan asked
+. when ne rot 20 the waters edge. he saw any
lights burning.
II d,d not notice that" said General Lee, but
1bavA made injuries since end have ascertained
that no electric lights went out sent for cleo
tr,c light men and gas men. Some gas Jets
went out in one or two places caused by the
shock or something but could not ascertain
from these men that single electric hight went
out One OF the electric light men whom called
UP is a friend os mine. and ne sent for the man
who has direct charge Of the lights. who came
70 my Office This man said he had not heard or
any such thing. ! said: I want TO know Win
certainty TIE man then made an exploration
a an hour or two and returned. saying mat
with the exception OF one electric light near inc
harbor and one at another place not very 1ar
distant, where he thought perhaps the lights
might have gone out from the shock no other
electric lights went out"
General Lee also said he had not felt tho
shock OF the explosion at his hotel
SPANISH OFFICERS REJOICED
Have you heard since the explosion Of tho
Maine any expression by Spanish Officers in re-
laton 70 IT, indicating their pleasure at the act?"
asked Senator Frye.
II heard two or three days afterward from
various persons who came IN that there was
good deal OF rejoicing among some OF the off,
GERS. All reports got said they were drinking
champagne quite a thing TO do In honor OF the