Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-02-28

Board of Inquiry Arrives at Key West,
Where 1t viii Take Testimony-Some
Further Information About Havana
Harbor and the Alleged Mincs-Roose-
welt sums Up Naval Operations In TX
sctiy Thirty-One Words.
Washington. Feb. ga member Of
the cabinet in speaking of the attitude
Of the president on the question of a
war with Spain. said: President Nc
Kinney is giving thoughtful and earnest
| consideration to every phase of the Gu
ban situation as 1t appears. but he will
not be jingoed' into war, or act in
anticipation of events which may never
occur. He fully realizes what war
means. and will not go TO this last dire
full extremity without the approval of
his conscience and a firm conviction
that such o course would be right in
the sight of God and of man. But
wherever the honor and integrity of the
ration or it's people become involved
| the president may be depended upon to
| do his whole duty and do it promptly"
The news from the wreck yesterday
may lie set down as nil. All of interest
from that vicinity was the arrival Of
the court of inquiry at Key West,
where twill continue its Investigations,
resumins at 10 n. m. today. AS sum-
l mariZing the situation Secretary Long
| said that he was now in possession of
no more inf rnation on the cause of the
| disaster than he was Immediately after
the occurrence. and that no evidence
had been received up to the present
time showing that the disaster was
caused by design.
Question of Havana Harbor Mines.
| a, the suggestion Of Secretary Long,
| Assistant Secretary Roosevelt gave out
the following statement IL regard to the
published map with the miEes in Ha-
vara harbor purporting TO be marked
on IL: AS soon as the map was brought
to MY atten,i' n sent TO MIR. John Rus
sci Young. of the congressional library,
| and got the original. IL is simply one
| ~ the innumerahle maps of Havana
harior. There is not the slightest sign
| of n mine marked anywhere on it. AS
n matter OF fact | am Informed that
this map is one which has been used in
giving lectures at the Columbian uni
versity." In answer to the question as
10 what was the meaning of the move
menis of guns and munitions. Mr..
| Roosevelt said: 1t merely serves to
show that the department does not be-
lieve that there will be any trouble. but
| neither does IL intend to be caught un-
prepared II there should he trouble"
| Opinion Of an Expert.
| When the attention of Philip Alger,
| expert Of the bureau of ordnance, was
| called TO Senor Du Bosc's statement
that Havana harbor was not defended
by mines he said: THE statement is
important as representing the position
taken by the Spanish officials who have
absolute knowledge of whether or not
Havana harbor was mined. II Is Of
course inherently improbable that such
mines existed. since II is not customary
10 plant torpedoes in harbors at all,
ESPECIALLY not in harbcrs constantly oc-
cupied by friendly vessels. Should it
be possible to prove Senor Du Bosc's
statement 20 be true the whole theory
Of the Names destruction by a torpedo
will become untenable. In my opiI-
Ion. IL is still vastly more prob
able that the cause was an internal one
than that IL was external Accidents
will sometimes happen. and IL is self
evident that the force of the explosives
carried by any wsrship will always be
sufficient to destroy her IL they are
accidentally set on fire. II 1t was an
accident, its cause may be ascertained
and a repetition can be guarded
against
Some Dead Can Re Brought Home.
Saturdays development of real inter-
est and truth was that some of the
Maine's dead can be brought home and
buried in United States soil. Captain
Sigsbee telegraphed: Have succeeded
In making arrangements by which
bodies may be sent to Key West in
hernetical,y sealed zinc cases. II is
probable that bodies hereafter cannot
be recognized. The condition of the
bodies requires immediate action. Can
secure a health permit at Key West tn
land the bodies there. Divers canno;
get down aft after bodies this morn
ing" The following reply was sent:
Referring to your telegram of this
date. send bodies that may hereafter b.
recoverable o Key West for burial. Send
by the Bache."
1 rnsu nN-r ayr nruN nrSManCE