The Washington herald., 1910-05-23

I So far as could be ascertained last
night. the State Department has had no
! request from the Spanish government for
an investigation into the causes OF the
blowing up OF the battle ship Maine.
While officers here decline 10 discuss
the attitude Of the United States Il such
a request is made. it IS known that both
the State and Navy departments viii
I probably oppose a second formal lnvesti-
cation Of the accident
Shortly after the Maine was blown up
IA naval court Of inquiry made a compre-
hensiye study Of the accident and decided
the Maine was destroyed by an external
. explosion. officers Of the State and Navy
departments believe that investigation
was complete and convincing. and they
DO not think a second inquiry will add
additional light on the subject.
More Money Needed.
The actual work Of raising the Maine.
however, viii probably not be begun IN
Ill Congress makes an additional appro-
p-!atlon. Several days ago a bill was
introduced by Representative sulzer OF
New York. who for many years has ad-
vocated the raising OF the wreck OF the
Maine, was passed by Congress and
signed by President Taft Originally ths
bin provided $4,000 for this work
On account OF the careful scrutiny OF
governmental expenditures by the Appro-
priauols Committee. however, the actual
amount appropriated was slOo 900. In an
Official communication 20 Congress sew
eraI days ago Brig. Gen. William L
Marshall Chief OF Engineers OF tho
army. who is instructed by the measure
10 supervise the work OF raising the
wreck. pointed out that the appropriation
OF $1,000 was inadequate. Even the
preliminary work. he said. could not be
accomplished within this sum. II is not
believed that Congress Will again take
up the question AT the present session.
In the meantime. the State Depart
ment has begun negotiations with tho
Cuban government for permission 10 raise
the wreck from Havana Harbo-. The
wreck has caused the formation OF a bar
i1 the harbor and the Cuban govern
ment is anxious 10 have the wreck re-
moved for this reason. Negotiations with
Cuba are purely perfunctory.
Remains in Hulk.
Gen. Marshall has estimated that Il Will
cost az least S510H0 20 remove the ruins.
The best way 20 raise the Maine. he
said. would be 10 construct coHerdams
around the wreck. pump out, remove the
remains Of the sailors still embedded in
the hulk. and examine the hull TO see
what would be necessary in The way of
patching 10 make IL float Gen. Mar
shall believes that the cost or The corer-
dams alone will be more than 10000
The court OF inquiry into the blowing
UP Of the Maine tell that the ship was
destroyed by the explosion Of a sub
marine mine, which caused the partial
explosion Of two or more OF her forward
magazines. The officers and men OF her
crew were absoIved from any responsi-
b.ity. The court added there was no
evidence obtainable FOR fixing the re
spOnsibility for the destruction OF the
Maine upon any person
While the Spanish government or any
OF its subjects was never officially held
responsible for the destruction OF the
vessel, there was a deep-seated belief
n the minds Of the American people that
some OF the Spanish officials in Havana
must have been implicated in the tragedy.
because the evidence showed that upon
arrival in Havana the battle ship was
conducted by a regular government pilot
TO a buoy 10 which she was rnoo-ed. IN
about six fathoms OF water. The span
ish government and Spanish naval ex-
perts, however. have always resented the
imputation.
Blamed Spontaneous Combustion.
They Contended the Maine was destroy
ed by an explosion in her forward maya
zine. which was probably due 90 spon-
taneous combustion. The Maine court
OF inquiry. however, said there was no
indication Of any cause OF an internal
explosion.
The evidence Of the divers established
the fact the after part Of the ship was
practically intact, and sank in that CON
citon very few moments after the ex-
plosion- The forward part. however. was
completely demolished. Two officers and
-5i men .erished. a determining feature
OF the testimony before the court was
the evidence presented by divers and
wreckers, that outside bottom plating
had been bent into a reversed V shape.
the after wing of which was doubled
back ucon itself.
Plates Forced Upward.
1t was also shown that the bottom plates
were forced upward through the deck.
In the opinion OF the court. this effect
could have been produced only BY tie
explosion OF a mine situated under the
bottom OF the ship at about frame eirh-
teen, and somewhat on the port side OF
The ship The members OF the court
" ere Capt William p. Sampson. presi-
de-G CAPT French F. Chadwick. Lieut..
Commander William p. Potter. members
and Lieut. Commander Adolph Mark.
judge advocate.
Capt sampson was promoted 70 the
grade OF admiral shortly afterward and
commanded the battle ship feet during