Evening star., 1898-02-26

explained. was to make the statement as
one of fact, established from the best Off
cial authorities, and not to make it as a
government utterance, which is regarded
as unnecessary.
AS a statement of fact, however, it is
given by Mr.. Du Bose with the greatest
positiveness and from sources of Spanish
information whose authority, he says, is
not open to question.
When seen today Senor Du Bose said ne
had nothing to add to his statement of last
night. The information reaching him was
confined to the one succinct declaration
that no mines or submarine .defenses OF
any kiIld exist inside or outside Of Havana
harbor With emphasis he expressed his
indignation that he should feel it to be his
duty to repel the insinuations and state
ments that the harbor was mined, which
assertions were inspired, he said, by per-
sons anxious to stir up passion and resent
,nent between the two nations. He con-
siderei such suggestions an insult to Spain,
and without deigning to answer them he
submitted as bare fact that there were
mines or submarine defenses of any
character in or about Havana harbor'
Considerable Comment Caused.
In other circles Mr.. Du Bosc's statment
was the subject of considerable comment.
1t was pointed out by those familiar with
Havana harbor that its entrance is through
a narrow strip of water. This geographical
feature, 1t was argued, would naturally re-
suit in defenses at the entrance of this pas
sage rather than by mines inside of the
harbor. barge load of coal for instance,
would be an effective obstruction in this
narrow strip of water sufficient to keep out
hostile vessels and to prevent it's use as a
means of escape These features are cited
in connection with the discussion of the
mine explosion theory and a possible ex-
PLANTATION of the Spanish declaration that
TO mines exist within the harbor
Although no official evidence on this point
had been at hand up to the time of Mr..
Du Bosc's statement, the naval experts here
had always been inclined to the view that
Havana harbor was like other strategic
points and provided with system of sub
marine mines. Tney accept Mr.. Du Bose S
statement to mean that other defenses than
mines are considered more serviceabIe for
the protection of Havana, or else that any
system OF mines for that harbor is designed
to be put into operation only after it is ap-
parent that they are actually needed in the
event of hostilities.
Cannot Exhume the Bodies.
Notwithstanding the repeated explana-
tons by Captain Sigsbee couched in Ian
suage as broad as consideration for the
feelings of relatives of the deceased sailors
would permit, to show that 1t is practically
impossible to bring the remains Of the VIC
tins of the explosion to the United States
fer m of
sIst in their efforts to overcome his de-
cision. Recently an application was made
through the friends of Keyes, one of the
mission 10 have his remains brought to the
United States. The man had already been
Inferred for several days. his body being
among the first to be recovered
The request was referred to Consul Cen
eral Lee, who has just replied to the Stale
Department that the Spanish law forbids
the exhumation of dead bodies. This legal
obstacle, in addition to the other serious
objections that have been made to the re-
Toyal OF bodies. such as the danger OF
bringing contagion into the country the
impossibility of accurately identifying the
remains and other reasons will probably be
SUFFICIENT, it is thought to deter the prose
cution of further applications of the kind.
To Work ON the Maine.
Judge Advocate General Lemly has re-
ceived telegram from w. F. Humphrey
president of the Boston Tow Boat Com
pany, one of the concerns engaged in the
wreckinS of the Maine stating that the
big tug Underwater sailed from Boston
yesterday for Havana, to join the Merritt
Company's boat now at that place. The
Underwater is TO stop at New York on
her way south and pick up the Merritt 4
Chapman floating derrick Chief and later
on the big derrick Monarch will follow
The principal function of the latter craft
which specially engaged at large ex-
rense, will be to undertake to lift off the
turrets and big guns of the Maine, a weight
beyond the capacity of the smaller derrick
the Chief, to handle.
No Word From the Court of InauirS,
No word has yet come from the court OF
inquiry at Havana touching the time when
| they will leave Havana for Key West nor
in fact, has the court been heard from In
any manner since the last published re-
pert.
Will Not Influence the President.
The President Is understood to have had
laid before him the denial of the existence
of submarine n inc in The harbor of Ha-
vana at the time of the Maine explosion
! This denial will have no effect on the de-