The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-02
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE
CABINET MEETS BUT MERELY DISl
CUSSES THE SITUATION.

Secretary Longs Statement Exonerating
Spain from "oficial Participation" in
the Disaster is Merely a Personal Opin-
ion-Movements of warships-Two IRON
clads Ordered Into Commission-Nava-
Court of Inquiry.
Washington, March 1.-The main in
terest of the day in connection with
the Maine inquiry centered in the
statement by Secretary Long, following
the cabinet meeting that in his per-
sonal opinion any official participation
by the Spanish government in the
blowing UP of the Maine was now prac-
tically eliminated from the situation.
This statement was not formal or Off
cial and was made by Mr.. Long as he
walked away from the White house. AS
usual the various cabinet officers were
besieged with inquiries as to the ques-
tions before the meeting and in re-
sponse to these opportunities, the Sec
retary rather casually summed up the
situation in a few words, stating that
most of the time had been given to
the outrages on colored postmasters in
the south Naturally the Cuban situa-
tion had been gone over, he said, but
thsre We're no actual developments and
he felt that public excitement over the
explosion had abated.
Mere Personal Opinion.
Mr.. Long dictated statement as re-
CARDS his personal opinion. 1t was not
In any sense, it was explained, a con-
clusion drawn from new evidence not
made public, either from the court of
inquiry or any officer now concerned
in the inquiry. Neither facts nor in
timations have come from such sourc-
es, it is said at the department, which
would serve as the basis of an opinion.
The official declaration of Senor Du-
bose, the Spanish charge d'affaires,
that no mines nor submarine defences
exist in the harbor of Havana have
come to the attention of Secretary
Long and this statement from the min
lister of the Spanish government was
felt to have been given it's due weight
In the opinion expressed by the secre-
tary. 1t was pointed out by persons
bearing close relations to the secretary
that the language used was official
participation" on the part of the Span
ish government. This, it was said, had
no bearing on the question of Spain's
responsibility. In case it was shown
that the act was due to some fanatic
or persons unconnected with the gov
ernment then the question of Spain's
responsibility would be still open.
Movements of Warshfps.
A - 49,.
brought forth few developments of i'm
portance relating to the Maine. No
dispatches Of any character from Key
West, where the court of inquiry is sit
ting, were given out during the day
and as the rule of publicity is still in
force, presumably nothing came from
that quarter. The vessel movements
announced during the day were devoid
of significance. Orders went out from
the navy department late this after
noon to put the ironclads Miantomoh
and Katahdn into commission on the
tenth instant. They are now at the
League Island navy yard, where they
have been laid up for a year or two
past. 1t is said at the department that
the purpose of putting them in commits
sion is to make berths for the sur
waiting on the court of inquiry, which
without doubt will have finished with
them by the tenth instant. The Mian-
tomoh is formidable double-turretted
monitor carrying four ten-inch guns.
She is of 1890 tons displacement and
steams 10 1-2 knots per hour. In addi-
tion to her main bttery, she carries a
good secondary battery OF rapid fire
l. i
II 1-2 inch armor Her commander has
not yet been definitely selected.
Freak in Naval Architecture.
The Katahdin, known as the Anime
Ram, is freak in naval architecture
and although opinions are divided as
toher qualities, there is little doubt
that her presence in any harbor would
make an enemy anxious. In action the
coming tower and smokestack are
about all of the ship that would pre-
sent mark. The former is made of
steel eighteen inches thick. The Ka-
tahdin is ram pure and simple, hav-
ing in the way of weapons Of offense
nothing but her sharp steel and small
rapid fire guns to keep off torpedo
boats. When she was designed her
speed was placed at very high mark,
but she did not realize expectations oW-
4 ing to her peculiar obstructive under
& water model. The two vessels have
3 crews respectively of $50 and 80 men.
4 1t was learned at the navy department
to-day why the Maine was tied up to
buoy in Havana harbor instead of
anchoring, a fact that has been the
q base for some of the theories as to the
u cause of the disaster 1t is said that
a not only is man-of-war at buoy
4 in much better place for quick service
than when anchored, but it appears
4 that if a ship casts her anchor in Ha-
vana harbor so foul and polluted with
\ yellow fever and other disease germs
II is the mud that adheres to it when it
is hoitsed that the ship must go into
quarantine upon her return to any
Florida port.