The Cairo bulletin., 1909-01-25
sHoAL FORMING OVER IT
e. t.,pPlNG IN HAVANA HAR-
Bon SUFFERING.
REMOVAL LRECOMMEND[O
BY Gov Maooon in Annual Report
hinted That Raising Would
Disclose That Mine Did Not
Destroy It.

washington, Jan. 24.--GOvernor Ma,
gcon of the Provisional Cover lert
Iof Cuba, in his annual report to the
secretary Of war, made public today
brings to his attention the wreck of
the United States battleship Maine
in Havana harbor and recommends
that the government take immediate
steps 10 accomplish its removal with,
out further delay He says.
Menace 10 Shipping.
The wreck OF the Maine continues
to lie in the mud ana waters of Ha.
ga.a harbor The sunken battieship
Is a serious menace to the shipping
~ the harhor as IL occupies portion
the best anchorage. The obstfue-
tion has increased annually during tho
past ten years by canslng a shDal.
Fhe moderate tides prevailing In tie
harbor are hardly sufficient to pre-
vent gradual filling up and this shoal
seriously interferes with the action Of
the tides and, therefore. the entire
harbor is rapidly filing. II will be
necessary, In a short time, To begin
dredging In order to provide proper
anchorage for the large amount OF
shipping now entering the hafbor un-
less flIe wreck is removed The an.
ehorage is also restricted by the
wreck and the shoaI. for ships are
Obliged to anchor at sufficient dis
tancG 10 prevent grounding Ia cas-.
they strain on their cables.
Abandoned and Forgotten.
Even more Important than this oh. /
struction 10 navigation IS the fact
That this wreck, although 1t contains
be bodies of sixty-three American
eamen- or what is left of them, Ia an
abandoned and forgotten by
he Government and people of the
United States Thousands of Ameri.
ans and other thousands OF other
Iationalities annually enter the har-
'or Of Havana aud probably not ona
mlts to express regret and censure
or the edplorable spectacle. II has
ecome n national reproaeh aud an
ntemational scandal
May Disclose Mistake.
The neglect 10 remove the wreck Is
ttributed by many, especially the
lrgc Spanish contingent In Cuba. To
ne fear that its removal will disclose
ne fallacy OF the popular belief that
ne Maine was destroyed by a torpe.
D or mine instead OF an interior ey.
Iosion; so generally does this opin-
m prevail that believe the Cuban
overnment was deferred thereby
ON dealing with the wreck as an
bstmction Of navigation OF it's coast
waters and destroying It; however.
should be added that the Cuban an.
loritles were also restrained by be-.
IF that the nited States woulI
)me time desire and attempt to r.
ave IL and preserve the wreck as a
hole instead of breaking II w and
moving IL In the more inexpensive
annc:
cubs Would Help.
The correspondence on file ia thu
apartment OF State and the Navy
apartment AZ Washington shows
Iat a belief prevails In those depart
cnts that IL is necessary TO secure.
y treaty or otherwise. the consen:
the Republic Of Cuba 10 the au.
.0rities Of the United States enter
z the harhor Of Havana aud pro
'eding with the work Of removal.
lis permission. II necessary. can De
lsly secured. aud the Cuban govern
ant would gladly afforl every ASST.
nee In It's power 10 accomplish th-
ssired result. not only because 90
le injury 90 the harboF facilities bat
atri0tlsm and sentiment egrncsi-
. recommend that the limited States
syenment take Immediate steps %
,compiish the removal without fur
Ter delay."