The Washington herald., 1909-05-25
BATTLE SHIP MAINE.
Question of Raising Wreck OF III
fated Vessel.


From the Detroit News Tribane
Admiral 'Sigsbee. who commanded the
iI-fsted battle shipe Maine when she was
destroyed b. an explosion IN the har-
Dor Of Havana, has been lecturing at
/ Washington for the benefit OF a move
ment 70 erect monument TO the victims
Of that calamity He deprecates the agi-
tation for the raising Of the wreck. and
insists that the report Of the board ap-
pointed 10 investigate the cause Of the
explosion was correct "a finding that the
cause was exterior 10 the vessel and that
no Investigation at this time could posi-
bly, reverse that verdict He, however,
adds no new argument OF fact 20 those
already known. 20 sustain that theory.
but merely urges that the wreck could
be raised only by the construction Of a
/ eofferdam. and the exposure for several
months Of the muddy bottom 20 the in
jury TO the health OF Havana, 20 which
the people OF that city would justly OBJ
Ject The wreck could otherwise be re-
moved only by dynamite charges which
would break IL up and render discovery
Of new conditions Impossible, while open
ing the way to the charge that II was
broken up 70 prevent such discovery. He
also pleads that the wreck e Of little
Inconvenience TO the harbor. and that the
world has almost unanimously agreed
with the finding Of the board
There are several discrepancies IN the
admirals facts as well as in his argu-
ments. The worli does not agree with
the findings OF the board Indeed. it IS
fact that Europe is almost unanimous
" Of the contrary opinion. and although
few newspapers outside Spain make the
charge openly. Americans abroad have
il constantly thrust into their faces in
private conversations that this country
and its government have deliberately re-
fused 10 authorize The raising Of the
wreck 20 prevent the discovery that the
Maine was destroyed by an explosion
originating within It's hull Many very
high authorities. too. IN our own navy
have advocated the raising OF the wreck
for the purpose of putting the contro-
versy 70 an end, and have conceded that
the harbor IS considerably iacommoded
by the situation. and Increasingly 50 as
the shoai extends further and further
around the submerged remains Of the
ship. This growing obstruction has made
the removal Of It desirable % the people
% EAGfo4taf ana LItf5 - no VpF9EttieEs
whatever among the Cubans 20 q thor
ough sitting of the facts as they might
be revealed. OF course, 10 one viii dream
Of suggesting that Admiral Slgsbee has
any desire 20 conceal the facts. but many
VIII regret that opposition 10 the only
way OF satisfying the world regarding
them comes from the man who was n
command Of the vessel al the tine. and
whose vigilance might possibly be i'm
peached by a discovery contrary 70 the
report Of the board
Il Is q matter IN which the honor Of
this country is seriously involved. and
in which. therefore, every honorable
American should be profoundly concern
ed. Whatever the facts may be. and
upon vhomsoever they may reflect when
revealed. The national honor can be vim
dicsted against charges which are credit
ed in very high places all over the world.
only by removing all possible doubt Of
what they are. Il IS. OF course, seriously
doubtful II the present condition OF the
wreck, subjected as Il has been 20 long
submergenCe in the mud of the harbor
bottom. VIII reveal anything conclusive:
bat the raising and removal OF Il VIII az
least put an end 10 the widespread suspi-
cion that the American people and gov
eminent have consT ired 70 conceal the
facts and 20 put Al odioUs and abomin-
able stain upon q proud and honorable
people for the purpose OF making war
upon them