Evening star., 1898-02-19

After that is completed the Spanish govern
ment would like to unite with ours in hav-
ing bottom of ship and harbor in vicinity
Jointly examined. LEE.
WASHINGTON, February 10, 1895.
Lee. Consul General, Habana.
The government of the United States has
already begun an investigation to the
causes of the disaster to the Maine through
officers of the navy specially appointed for
that purpose, which will proceed independ-
eLtly.
This government will afford every facility
it can to the Spanish authorities in what
ever investigation they may see fit to make
upon their part. DAY,
Assistant Secretary.
Spain's Request Refused.
Secretary Long and Assistant Secretary
Day bad an interview with the President
this morning, which lasted nearly AN hour.
Mr.. Day read a cablegram from Consul
General Lee at Havana, transmitting a re-
Guest from the Spanish authorities lii Cuba
that the Spanish officials De permitted to
join with our own people in making ali in
YES ugation into the cause of the disaster
TO the Maine. The matter was discussed
at considerable length. ard the conclusion
was reached that while this government is
willing to afford the Spanish authorities all
reasonable facilities for conducting an in
vestigation yet it is thought best the first
inquiry should be made by our own COM
missioners The request of the Spanish
authorities, therefore, will be respectfully
Ceclined.
Secretary Long wired Admiral Sicard
after his conference with President Nc
Kinley telling him briefly what answer had
been returned to Gen. Lees application in
tehalt of the Spanish government for per-
mission to examine the Maine. He also in
structed tine admiral to press forward as
rapidly as POSSIBLE the work of survey
npon the Maine's null, and to have the
court of inquiry to proceed to Havana as
soon as possible.
What the Divers Are Doing.
1t is scarcely expected at the department
that any information of value to the
cause of tine explosion will be available
until the court has begun the formal in
quiry. The divers now at work in the
wreck are understood to be employed in Sc
curing dead bodies and in removing ships
papers and small articles of value. so that
it is unlikely that they would give any
heed to the bottom of the hull, buried
it probably is, deeply in the mud The Off
cials here intimate that the discovery of
pieces of torpedoes Is not to be taken In
itself as evidence of an outside attack upon
the vessel, for it is fully expected that Of
the eight torpedoes on the Maine some
were more or less ruptured and scattered
by the explosion which destroyed the ship
To Save the Maine If Possible.
Commander Francis w. Dckins the act
ing chief of bureau of navigation, and Sec
retary Longs right-hand man in the pres
ent emergency, says that the court of In
GUlry will determine whether the Maine
can be saved, but under no circumstances
can any man in the navy, while there Is a
chance of success, forget the ringing order
of the hero of the Chesapea
The Maine" he said, must be taken to
an American port il there Is enough of her
| bones holding together to warrant removal.
| ard in all likelihood that will be done. If
| the explosion was more disastrous than is
now thought to be the case, If the hull Is
| so wrecked as to be beycr repair. then as
| much of the material can be secured
! Will be brought home and placed in a new
Maine. 1t is to be remembered that great
advances have been made in shipbuildin2
| since the Maine was designed, and a finer
/ ship to bear her name could be built today,
| but 1t would take time. and If any consid-
| cradle portion o; the ship is good, with a
| modernized battery and improvements in
| rebuilding the destroyed portions, a mag
| nificent vessel can be quickly secured"
MnnErOve Returns to Key West.
| The Secretary of the Navy received a
| telegram from Captain Forsythe at Key
| West this afternoon as follows:
'Mangrove arrived with ten @swounded.
/ They will be cared for at army hospital.
| Will wire names and rates later"
Subsequently he received another tele-
gram from Captain Forsythe. follows:
/ Following is list of Maine survivors
| just arrived In Mangrove: Edward Mattson,
| ordinary seaman: b. r. Wilbur, coxswain;
j. c. White. landsman; Daniel Cronin,
| landsman; John Coffey, marine: j. III.
BIoomer, landsman: Alfred Hernis. gun
| ners mate; James A. Rowe ships cook:
| Charles Pitcher. ordinary seaman; Vim.
| McGinnis. marine. Surgeon says they are
all doing well. None in danger"
Half-Mas sting the Colors.
| Secretary Long today sent Geographic
| orders 10 the commanding officers Of all