The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-15

away with the Spanish preferential
rate on -four. and VIII leave the United
States and Cuba TO effect an arrange
ment by which this country will here
after supply the Cubans with this hrst
necessary of life.
SENIOR POLO AT STATE DEPART
MENT
Senior Polo was formerly received in
his official capacity by Secretary Sher-
man and Assistant Secretary Day at
the state department at IL O'Clock this
morning. He will be given an aud
ience by the president at the White
house tommQrrow morning at IL
O'Clock.
Most of the time of today's cabinet
7 meeting was taken up in the discus
sion Of measures which have been put
into operation for the acquisition OF
naval vessels by the government. One
Of the members said after the meet
ing:
1T is now altogether probable that
we will secure two vessels that . are
under construction for the Brazilian
government. 1t is not possible at this
time to say how many ships in all the
government will be able TO secure. 1t
has options on a number that have
been offered fbut nothing is likely to be
definitely accomplished in the way of
acquiring them until an examination
is made into their condition for which
purpose a naval officer has been dis
patched abroad. We do not want a
lot of vessels that other nations con-
tracted TO be built and now find are
not up to expectations l should not
be surprised but what the president
could get five or six vessels in all. The
$4,000, 600 appropriated for war prepa-
rations will be expended in this cOun-
try, except such as may be used in the
purchase of ships and in the acquisi-
ton of munitions of war that are not
obtainable here.
Yes, I think the sympathy of the
British government in this controversy
is with the United States. At any rate
she does not side with Spain. I do not
mean by this statement to have you
infer that the Englishmen will openly
advocate cur course and extend us sub
stantial help, but viii give Us their
moral support"
PLANS TO SETTLE CUBAN QUES-
TION.
Washington, March 11-Projects for
the settlement of the Cuban question
are numerous, but most of them are
regarded in official circules as unworthy
of serious consideration. One plan,
however, has been presented to the
president which has received the ap-
prevail in general way of leading
men whose cOunsels have weight with
the administration and there is reason
to believe it is the subject StudiouS re-
flection in the cabinet The proposed
plan gives to Cuba all the rights, priv
ileges and immunities enjoyed by Can
n hQrCQlf
such rights as England exercises over
her colonies.
SPANIARD'S ACCOUNT FOR THE
EXPLOSION.
Havana, March n.-Today Captain
Peral, president of the Spanish court
of inquiry into the cause of the Maine
disaster granted an interview to the
correspondent of the Associated Press.
Captin Paral said: Our divers are
hard at work examining the hull of
the Maine. Great difficulty is expert
enced, owing to the deep mud in which
the hull is buried and the condition of
the wreck forward of amidships. The
whole forward part of the ship is a
mass of iron and steel debris. We have
hoisted UP much of it, but in the mud
it is not always possible to tell what
parts of the ships armOr, deck, beams
or stanchions are found, the explosion
so changed their positions.
I'VE think we have located the ram
or prov, but not in the position sup
posed. The forward turret, mounting
| two large guns, was blown clear of the
| hull into the water on the StarbOard
We shall continue our work and try
| to examine the hull forward down to
| the keel. 1t is possible that we may
propose to the American authorities
| to raise the hull by means of the float
| ing dock, brought from England and
now in the harbOr. We cannot believe
| there was an external explosion of a
| torpedo, for the following reasons: A
| torpedo, following the line of least re-
| sistance, must have blown a great hole
! in the mud at the bottom of the har-
| bOr. No such hole was found. A tor
! pedo must have thrown a large mass
! of water into the air if exploded at a
! depth of only twenty-five feet or so OF
1 at least have produced wave reaching
/ the other ships and the shore of the
! harbor. We have examined every one
on ship board or shore who saw the
/ explosion but no one can be found who
remarked any upheavel Of the water
or a big wave. A torpedo always kills
| fish in the vicinity. No fish were killed
by the Maine disaster, as fishermen
L
| years testify. To produce the effects
noted in the wreck, a torpedo woult
| have to be of enormous size, fully 15'
| or 200 kiloS. I am therefore of opinion
| that the explosion occurred within tn,
| ship. l know and respect Captain
| Sigsbee, and I believe the American
regulations affecting naval conduct
| which I have read and found admir-
| able, were carefully observed. Blu
| some things which cannot be foreseel
are bound to happen in any navy. :
| have been reading of the explosion
on the English ship DOlerel, which tn
| En- glish believe was caused by chemi
cal combustion in the paint used fo
quick drying. / have also read al
English account of shells that wer
found burst open because of hardenin,
points that split and produced heat
thus flashing the powder in the interio
of the shell. AS I have said, I do no
believe there was any carelessness ol
the part of the officers of the Maine
I do believe there was an acciden
which could not possibly have beel