The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-20
MEETS MEN FROM THE MAINE.
muaEE OF THE OFFICERS CALL
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

ponresented to the President That
,he Explosion Was ExternaI-Be-
,,eved TO Have Brought With Them
same official Knowledge of the
Report of the Court OF Inquiry.
washington, March 1s.-Presdent Nc
xtrlev to-day had a personal interview
Nth some of the surviving officers of the
inflated Maine. and from them he re-
oeved further assurances that the de-
struction Of the warship in Havana harbor
was not an accident
Among the earliest callers at the execu-
five mansion was Secretary Long, who
informed the President of the arrival of
three of the officers of the Maine who are
relieved from active duty, with permis-
sion to proceed to their respective homes
on leave of absence.
The ranking officer of the, three surviv-
ors is Lieut. George F. W. Holman, navi-
gator of the Maine. He was accom-
panied by Lieut. George P. Blow, one of
the watch officers, and Lieut.. A. B. Gait
lin, commanding the marine guards aboard
the ship.
Secretary Long had a long conference
with these officers at the navy department
them he learned many heretofore unknown
circumstances attending the disaster.
AT the suggestion Of the President these
officers called at the White House later
in the day and repeated to President Nc
Kiney as commander-in-chiefo of the army
end navy in substance what they had pre-
yiously stated to Secretary Long and the
bureau officers of the department, who
were present in Secretary Longs room.
These officers were not known to the
group of war correspondents at the White
House, and as they were in civilian at
tire and came unheralded their visit at
tracted no particular attention at the time.
They did not go to the White House to-
gether but an official of the navy depart
ment piloted them to the Presidents Of
fee,
It was said the visit was purely volun-
tary on their part, as they are now on
waiting orders and are free to go where
they please. Their long conference at the
navy department. and later at the White
NHtS lSu W conjecture NJ D6lnB
asserted that Lieut. Blow brought with
him the report of the court Of inquiry or
at least the general conclusions reached
by that court. 1T can be stated positively
however, from an authoritative source
that the officers did not bring with them
the report, either as a whole or its gem
era conclusions. 1t is stated with equal
postiveness and authoritatively that they
20 not know what the action of the court
fc md flo,@o
position to convey any information to the
PRESIDENT or Secretary of the Navy on
that point. Their talks were confined en-
uiey to graphic narratives of their ex-
perences on the night of the explosion In
tne course of this narrative, however in
ulVlaual opinion as to the cause of the
explosion found expression. These opin-
IONS as already stated, We're purely per-
soha and not founded on the proceedings
OF the court of inquiry These personal
opihions, however, 1t was learned reliably
were strongly favorable to the theory Of
al external cause leading TO the destruc-
'oh OF the Maine. The officers them
serves maintain the strictest reserve.
Just what they related to the President
as much of a secret as is the official
aIung mlolngs OF the court of inquiry Lieut.
uloHnan, as the navigator of the Maine,
oecupled a position third in rank to that
VI Capt. Sigsbee. 1t was his duty to be
ollealiy " advised of the exact condition
~ 'he snip at eight belIs' Is o'cloclS) on
me ilight Of the disaster, when the officers
u 'he several divisions rendered their last
itepoit to the captain of the ship. He
SueW now many boilers were under steam,
ne knew the temperature of all the de-
pariments of the Ship and all the reports
made to Capt. Sigsbee that night showed
mat all due precautions had been taken
~ secure the absolute safety of the ves-
rom all natural occurrences.
e resident was deeply impressed hy
tne information he derived from these cf-
els' Tor they violated no clause In the
ray regulations in talking with the ut
must freedom to the President of the Unit
~ states. They were more guarded, how
49, IN discussing the subject with their
peIsonal friends and naval associates at
'ne department.
VINE they studiously avoided any at
@hpc TO anticipate the verdict of the
S Eou.l OF inquiry, they left very strong
IMPRESSION upon those with whom they
oou'elsed that the disaster was due to an
exterior explosion
As TO who is directly responsible for this
os luetlon of the Maine even the Court
Inquiry may encounter great difficult
ues m determining
ms Iact remains, however, that on the
ne OF the disaster every department of
ro e sn'p was thoroughly inspected and re-
IN NE yea TO be in perfect condition.
IN. ue Information which the President de-
seu from these officers is but the con-
nra ,rinatlon of the unofficial returns and inn
icons he has previously received, but
rVulng directly from survivors of the ter
r NJ disaster probably made a deeper and
rW1 astng impression than even the ter
stoS De presentation of the situation by SEN
elor Proctor
liter Secretary Long left the White
fouse Assistant Secretary Day came over
Cd u .he department of state and remain
WIN the President more than an hour.
tne conclusions of the conference, Mr..
"a ds preserved his usual reticence but stat
~ uiat there was no new developments in
me ppiomatic status. 1t is fair TO assume
snl . .he President related to Mr.. Day the
fror. vs'ance Of the information he derived
~. NJ me officers of the Maine. and the
Sis SSins II may have upon the case from
Pnatic standpoint
ana T ~ the conferences with the President
ON 'ne Secretary Of the Navy. the Maine
mnss 'gsfs did not return to the navy depart
IN ana considerable care was exercised
n,t1. n1.aVing their whereabouts kept from
N.ININ