Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11
THE MAINE DISASTER.


TeieErens Frea Gen. Lee In Regard
to the Visit Of Warship.
In that part Of the consular correspond
ence relating to the Maine disaster. which
was sent to Congress today. some import
ant and interesting points are developed.
The correspondents consists largely of
cablegrams exchanged by Assistant Secre-
tary Day and Consul General Lee. The
first OF the kilograms is dated In Havana
January II. and relates to the riots which
were then occurring in the city. This and
the subsequent kilograms upon the same
subject have been published either I'm whole
or In part.
On January "a Gen. Lee was notified by
the State Department that the Maine
would call at Havana in a day or two. and
he was directed to make arrangements for
an interchange Of friendly calls between
officers and authorities.
Under the same date Gen. Lee advised
a postponement of the Names visit for
six or seven days that the excitement
might abate.
Later on the same day Gen. Lee was
notified that the Maine would arrive In
Havana the next day, and was asked TO
Cooperate with authorities for her friend
ly visit.
Wiring the State Department the next
day General Lee informed the State De-
partment that the Spanish authorities pro-
fessed to think the United States had an
Interior purpose in sending the ship.
Say it will obstruct autonomy. produce
excitement and most probably a demon
stration. Ask that 1t is done until they
can get instructions from Madrid. and say
that IL for friendly motives, as claimed, de-
lay unimportant."
The kilograms from January - to Febru-
airy relate merely to the reception of the
Maine and to the exchange of visits be-
tween her officers and the civil and naval
authorities in Havana
On February Assistant Secretary Day
informed General Lee that the Secretary OF
the Navy thought 1t imprudent for sanitary
reasons to keep the Mainodong in Havana.
He asked If some vessel should be kept
there all the time. and requested his views.
In reply Gen. Lea said he thought there
would be no danger to the health of the
vessels crew before May.
we should not relinquish position of
peaceful control of situation OF conditions
would be worse than IL vessel had never
been sent. Americans would depart with
families ia haste IL no vessel in harbor on
account Of distrust OF preservation of order
10y authorities. If another rios occurs II
Will be against The governor general and
autonomy, but might Include anti-American
demonstration also. First-class battle shin
should replace present one if relieved, as
object lesson and TO counteract Spanish
opinion of our navy, and should have tor
1edo boats with it to preserve communica-
ton with admiral
The next telegram of Importance was
sent by General Lee early on the morning
o. February 16 announcing to the State
Department the destruction of the Maine.
That telegram has been published. During
the forty-eight hours that followed Gen.
eral Lee kept the department informed of
the occurrences in chronological order. In
dispatch of February is he said that
after the divers, under Captain Sigsbee.
had made a cursory examination of the
wreck, 1.-The Spanish government would
Ike to unite with ours in having bottom
of ship and harbor in vicinity Jointly ex-
amined."
The next day Judge Day informed Cen
eral Lee that this government had already
instituted an investigation OF the disaster,
which would be conducted Independently.
He added, however: This government will
dioFu every facnity III can 10 the SpdfnSh
authorities in whatever investigation they
may see fit to make upon their part
I. The first intimation of the cause of the
explosion, was given by General Lee on
February 81, when he telegraphed: Cop
per cylinders ammunition found in the in
tact In the 10-inch forward magazine star
board side this morning. Seems to show
that magazine now exploded. Evidence be-
ginning to prove explosion on port side by
torpedo"