Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27
SECRETARY LONG REFRESHED.
He Says He Thinks Things Look
Much Better.


WASHINGTON, February 26.-Secretary
Long enjoyed sound sleep last night, the
first he has had for some time, and in
consequence he felt SO much refreshed
this morning that he decided to abandon
his proposed absence from the Navy De-
partment and continue at his duties so
he was early at his desk and in consulta-
ton with notwithstanding Roosevelt
and Captain CrOwninshied, chief of the
Navigation Bureau. AS to the outlook,
he said he thought things were looking
much better. He said the public ought
not to be under any misrepresentation with
regard to naval movements; that so far
they had mostly been the ordinary dis
positions which ere made from time to
time.
The attention Of naval officers has been
strongly attracted to the statement made
by representatives of the Spanish Gov
eminent TO the effect that there were no
mines or torpedoes of any kind in Ha-
bana harbor. 1t can be said that this
statement exactly agrees with the in
quiries that have been under way for
many months by agents of our govern
ment. for so far it is said, they have
been unable TO find the slightest evidence
the harbor by means of mines or tor
pedoes, much less to locate them, as has
been reported in some quarters.
Officials of the Navy Department say
that the effect of this statement, if it be
accepted as conclusive on that point, is
almost certain to negative the SUPPOSE
ton that the disaster resulted from other
than accidental causes, as the almost
unanimous testimony of experts here,
based on the history of torpedo work, is
to the effect that no single torpedo Of any
type could have caused the terrific wreck
of the Maine.
In the pursuit of details, some Of the
ordnance officers, acting upon the theory
that the large 1O-inch magazine forward
was not exploded, have been looking into
the contents of the smaller and adjoining
6-inch magazines They find that, allow
ing for the amount of powder that was
probably consumed in practice drills by
the Maine before she arrived in Habana
harbor there was certainly no less than
5000 pounds Of powder in this magazine,
a quantity sufficient to have caused the
enormous destruction had it been exploded
at one time.
EXPERT OPINION.
When the attention of Philip Alger, ex-
pert Of the Bureau Of Ordnance, was
called to Senior Du Bosc's statement, he
said:
"The statement is important, as rep
resenting the position taken by the
Spanish officials, who have absolute
knowledge of whether or not Habana har-
Dor was mined. 1t is, of course, inhe-
rently improbable that such mines ex-
listed, since it is not customary to plant
torpedoes in harbors at all, and especially
not in harbors constantly occupied by
friendly vessels. Should ii be possible
10 prove Senior Du Bosc's statement to
be true. the whole theory Of the Names
destruction by a torpedo will become un-
tenable. in my opinion. But the only pro-
per course to be now pursued is to await
patiently the report Of the board of in
vestigation. and TO accept their findings
as conclusive.
'eWhen the first news OF the catastrophe
arrived il was well to attempt to allay
excitement by pointing out the fact that
the probabilities were greatly in favor
Of the explosion having been an acct
dental one. Nothing that has yet become
known should lead to modification OF
this view. 1t is still vastly more proba-
BILE that the cause was an internal one
than that il was external. There seems,
however. TO be prevalent feeling that
the accident theory casts renecuon
upon the navy. and also that It's accept
ance would be hurtful TO the naVys IN
terests. The contrary seems TO me 10 De
true The wit Of man has not yet de-
vised any implement OF destruction which
accident may not turn against frlend with
an effect equal 10 that which II was ln-
tended TO produce upon an enemy"