New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-17

the immediate and more remote causes OF the
Names destruction. the deplorable occurrence
will become historical as a mysterious accident.
in which blame can never be positively attached
10 any one; that conservative. cautious persons
will always look upon 1t In the nature Of an in
terposition OF Providence. and that there will be
always adhcrents TO radical theories regard
ing 1t.
40 DOUBT THE MAGAZINE EXPLODED.
There is no difference Of opinion among on
GERS as to the explosion OF the magazine for It s
inconceivabe that such tremendous damage
could have been accomplished through any other
agency. II is almost incredible that the Maine
left Key West three weeks ago with quarter
Of a million pounds OF explosives aboard.
enough, II properly distributed. to destroy nearly
every building In New-York City. An insi gnih-
cant portion OF this was used in salutes at Ha-
vana, at least onehalf OF IT exploded last night.
and It is marvellous that the other half did not
explode.
CONTENTS or THE MAGAZINE.
Captain O'Nem to-day furnished to Secretary
Long the following memorandum Of the Names
ammunition stores:
The Maine has magazine aft the port
side, with the shellroom on the opposite side,
coal bunkers surrounding both This after
magazine contained about 5000 pounds OF brown
powder. Abaft Il. and on the midship line was
the fixed ammuntion-room. containing one and
six FOUNDER ammunition loaded with black
powder-about $500 pounds in all Forward
was another powder magazine containing about
$4,000 pounds Of brown powder the star
board side. with the shellroom on the port side.
both surrounded by coal -bunkers. Just for
ward OF this magazine was A fixed ammunition
room. containing one and six FOUNDER ammuni-
tion. loaded with black powdec-about $500
pounds Forward OF this and amidships was the
torpedo-room. containing eight warheads loaded
with wet gun -cotton-about 500 pounds IN all.
on each side OF the fixed ammunitlon-room and
the gun-cotton room are storerooms separating
them from the skin plating. In addition to the
foregoing. the Maine had about 1000 pounds of
black powder for saluting and other purposes,
which was presumably divided between the two
magazines She also had a certain quantity Of
snallarm ammunition. loaded with smokeless
powder probably divided between her fixed am
munition-rooms. She had also a number Of dry
primers amounting in all 10 about thirty-two
pounds Of gun-cotton. presumably stored on the
upper deck aft. Her shell was loaded with ordi-
nary black powder"
To the eight hundred pounds Of wet gun-cotton
IN the warheads of the torpedOes, the fifty thou
sand pounds OF brown powder. mostly IN her
dred pounds Of black powder in small cart
ridges. suddenly detonated, the almost instan-
taneous annihiation OF the forward part Of the
ship is attributed.
OCCURRED SOON AFTER INSPECTION.
a feature of the occurrence which heightens
the nystifcation Of the naval experts is the
fact that the explosion occurred within less than
two hours after the daily inspection Of the ship.
= fgbf el
is thoroughly inspected from stem TO stern and
from TOP 10 keel Passageways and compart-
rnents that are locked during the day are eX-
arnined at this time. and It is only after this
urecaution that men turn IN for the night The
Maine was undoubtedly found In perfect condi-
tion at S O'Clock last night FOR otherwise her
officers would not have gathered aft 40 change
Of temperature or premonition Of danger could
have been detected and yet the inference is ire
sistible that any conceivable internal causes
that led TO the disaster must have been operat-
ing at this time. once a day in the forenoon.
the magazines are opened and warrant Off
Ger takes their temperature accurately with
thermometer If excessive warmth is disclosed.
cold air is admitted freely and a closer exami-
nation is made. These are precautions which
could not have been omitted on the Maine. with
the careful officers known to be responsible for
such details Of discipline on that vessel
NEED OF MORE WARSHIPS EMPHASIZED
T. IS evident 20 every one in the Navy that
the loss Of the Maine VIII emphasize the present
comparative "unpreparedness" OF the United
states for war with even second-class Power,
unless at great National sacrifices at the outset
OF bostuites and until more formidable Navy
can be built. one and half years ago the
United states had seven a.mor-ciads 10 Spain's
three To-day Spain has seven and the United
states has six During that year and half
IN Presidential messages more than once and In
Congress a hundred times. Spain has been
warned that this country must intervene IN
cuba if the var there is prolonged. When these
threats began Spain had IN commission the Al
mirante Oquendo the Vizoaya and the Infanta
Maria Teresa Since that time Spain hCs hurried
70 cornDletton the Pelayo. the Carlos Y, the Prn-
cesa d'Asturias and the Cristobal Colon as well
as making great progress In rebuilding the Nu-
maucia which is now nearly ready FOR sea ms
does NOT take into account the options the Span
,.h are believed 10 have on other finished or near
ly finished arnor-clads. During the same Con
press az its last session and az the present
has refused TO appropriate a cent for battle
shlps or arm1r asked for by the Department
which is presumed 20 have a most carefully
studied policy. The Senate has shown dispo-
sltion 10 recognize the merits Of the case but
the House has blocked action in the face Of every
appeal
SPAIN AHEAD N NAVAL STRENGTH
one month ago IN point OF effective offensive
naval merits. Spain by her energetic response
% the warnings Of the preceding Administration
and the attitude OF the United states fof a year
past, had placed herself on equal terms with
the United States. To-day she is one ahead un-
less The monitors are counted While We have
five ON the stocks for which no arm0r has been
made and which could not be completed in over
a year. Spain is believed TO be prepared 20
secure q half dozen within months notice.
rL- L-uLLel Slal.a haMeAer ha. tLroe n.LL-r