The Washington herald., 1909-05-17

Asserting that circumstances IN the de-
struction Of vessels in the war between
Russia and Japan had corroborated the
findings OF the court OF inquiry. which
in 1Sss decreed that the Maine was blown
Up from the outside. Rear Admiral sigs-
bee last night closed an address at the
National Theater.
IN the presence Of a representative au-
dience. composed largely OF members OF
Congress. the officer narrated the story
Of that destruction, which was a turn
ing point in our history and in the his
tory OF Spain
The recent agitation TO have the wreck
Of the Maine raised served as connecting
link 10 bring the story down 70 the pres
ent time Admiral Slgsbee is apparently
opposed 10 the project. and gave rea-
sons TO support his claim
For Benefit Of Memorial.
Under the auspices Of the Maine Ne
mortal Association, the meeting was held
/ primarily 10 begin Al active campaign
for funds 70 erect a monument at Airing
ton 70 the officers and men who wers
/ lost n the explosion
4 touch or realism was added 70 the
narration BY the presentation OF unpub-
lished scenes by stereoDucon slides Ths
Marine Band. and especially SIS bugler,
won applause for selections Played AZ
timely intervals in the course OF the ad-
dress
The admiral vas apparently anxious
/ TO vindicate the officers and crew OF those
Whispered Questionings or the findings or
the naval court
II vas but natural that usanv peoule.
especially abroad. should uEestion ths
1 findings OF the court said Admiral Sirs-
bee II was even declared that the e.
feets produced OF the Maine could not
/ have been produced as found by the
court. But. since the loss OF The Maine
there have been various explosions that
sustain the court An exact parallel
was afforded by the destruction OF the
Russian battle ship Peuopavlovsk. the
/ flagship OF the unfortunate Admiral Ma
and Japan. On April Is. 1so4. she ran
/ agains. a nire that had been planted by
the japanese. The explosion OF the
mine itself was communicated 10 tbs
magazines OF the ship. which exploded
I 4 turn. producing awful obstruction
+ The ship sank in two minutes. But few
OF her people escaped The admiral him
self was killed. Apparently. the cass
OF the japanese battle ship Hatsuse il
also an exact parallel Now We hear
little question OF the findings Of The court
/ The question OF raising the Maine IS
much agitated al present Regarding ths
policy OF raising the Maine I have Moth
/ ing 10 say / can only speak OF condi-
I tions as to the wreck 1 do not know gov
! ierumentaI considerations Il might better
I be asked. Why IS not the Maine Te-
mOvedZ
/ Recourse to Photographs.
Apparently the people have forgotten
the almost inconceIvsbIe vreckage Of tbs
vessel and need recourse 10 the earlier
/ photographs Of the wreck Most OF ths
parts above water were removed long
/ ago and the present appearance abovs
I the water suggests but little OF the mass
Of torn. ruptured. and twisted parts still
under water.
TO raise her SC as 10 maintain the
/ existing mutual relations Of her multi
tudinous details would require engineer
ing operations too gigantic to contem-
plate A cofferdam could be built around
/ her and the fnclosed water pumped out.
thus exposing the wreck.
The records of the court already
show the conditions below. The Maine
would be found 10 have settled deep in
thick with marine growth In clearing
away the wreck the filthy mud Of the
harbor bed would be exposed for weeks
/ or months 10 the action OF the tropical
sun. Would the people Of Havana submit
1 TO that2 Taking her as she is, she could
/ be blown into manageable parts and tho
parts removed. but that might subject u
to the charge OF trying TO conceal some
thing. whereas the whole world now
virtually accepts the-Opinion OF the court
Il can sesAsome things for myself but
/ I repeat that do not know the govern
meRt's view. While the Maine was in
/ tact and free TO swing around her moor
I ing buoy she pre-empted the whole ara
/ OF a large circle in the available space OF
/ the harbor Now. lying static. she Sc
/ euesters only very small area and IS
/ IN precisely the position OF least tncoH-
! venience to the commerce OF the port
| Probably she viii De blown UP in detail
ultimately as the only practicable sOlu-
/ ton Of the problem
| ReteIIing the events that happened on
the night OF February Is. 1895, the speak
er in a calm. precise manner described tho
/ ren6ing asunder OF the vessel and the
/ subsequent suffering and death that csma
/ 70 sd Of his men within few minutes
Much has been said and oversaid
about the Maine having entered Havana
! harbor in a militant condition She was
TO: cleared for action nor IN offensive evt-
/ dence IN any way She was simply n a
/ condition 20 60 az once 10 general quar-
ters had any demonstration been usds
/ Continued on PAGE 2 Column 3