The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-03
Maine Disaster Due to a
Floating Mine. .
FREDDY SHORE BATTERY
Board Of Inquiry Has Conclu1ed Its
Work al Key West.
LITTLE IMPORTATION SECURED.

Havana. March 3.-without adding un-
necessarily 10 the flood OF surmise. con-
lecture and prophecy concerning the
finding of the court of inquiry,it is fair
TO say that as a matter OF fact most
OF the naval officers here and at Key
West incline to the opinion that the
court will find that the disaster TO the
Maine was caused by the explosion OF a
floating submarine mine under the port
side of the ship. forward OF amidships.
Opinions differ as TO whether this mine
was made OF high explosives. such as
wet and dry guncotton, or ordinary gun
powder. Opinions concur not only as to
the existence OF mines in the harbor.
but also that this one was laid purposely
near the buoy where foreign war ves-
sells were directed TO iioor and was
fired by fash from an electric battery
on shore. 1t is believed barely possible
that the explosion OF the mine was the
result of the ohrelessness or ignorance
OF Spanish offiters in charge Of the mine
station keys when testing the circuit;
but the latter supposition is not felt to
be probable.
1t Is further regarded as settled by the
side of the hull forward was completely
blown to pieces and that the only ex-
plosion on the Maine. except Of isolated
cases OF fixed ammunition. was that OF
1000 pounds of saluting powder. stored
forward and OF which no trace can be
found These views are gathered from
officers who talk with great reserve and
only upon the assurance that their
identity will never be revealed The fact
remains that only members OF the court
of inquiry know all the testimony elicit
ed. and no one is authorized TO make pub
lie the opinion OF members in advance
OF the final judgment.
AS understood here, the Spanish re-
quest made Immediately after the dis
aster for Joint investigation was
promptly refused at Washington. but
after a cabinet consultation IL was
agreed that the Spaniards had moral
and international right TO discover the
cause of the wreck for themselves IL
possible. Therefore permission for an
independent examination was granted
on the ground, as understood here, that
IL could not be refused to friendly
power in her own harbor. That the per-
mission was not accorded until after the
court OF inquiry had finished its work
here and gone TO Key West is regarded
as significant 1t opens a wide field for
speculation. Some assert that the court
now has no objection to a Spanish in
Qury for one of two reasons: either the
court has sufficient evidence already Of
accident or malice. evidence that can
not be controverted by the Spaniards,
or. after a diligent search. the mystery
remains as deep as ever and the court
does not think the Spanish will reach q
conclusion where the Americans have
failed
The question Is frequently asked, Are
Americans in danger in Havana?" The
only truthful answer ever given by a
well informed resident or American Of
ficial or layman is I'VE think not: we
don't know" or course Spanish officials
who will talk on the subject deprecate
any idea OF danger; but they are as much
in the dark as the rest. well-informed
Cuban Of high social position and on good
terms with the government said To the
correspondent OF the Associated Press:
"Of course in the low dives and saloons
there are constant boasts by irrespon-
sible persons as TO what they intend to
do TO the Americans, but these people
are only dangerous in case riotous DEM
onstrations come from other quarters,
such, for instance as the volunteers. In
the 10 years war the volunteers shot
many innocent people and were con-
trolled with difficulty; but It seems prob
able that dissatisfaction is more likely
to he manifested later against the au-
Economists or against the Americans
since the impression is daily growing
stronger that only a short time will
elapse ere Cuba will be annexed to or
under the protection OF the United
States"