The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-12-14
Former Report Not Conclusive.

I
wrecked vessel.
Former Report Not Conclusive.
While the officers who we're on board
the Maine and who were connected
| with the investigation which followed
| the disaster have always maintained
| that the vessel was blown up by a
/ submarine mine. there has been an ele-
ment in the navy and elsewhere who
contend that # is impossible TO regard
| the report Of the court of inquiry as
| conclusive. Last winter Rear Admiral
George W. Melville. retired. former en-
gineer In chief of the navy, wrote a
magazine article In which he argued
that, although parts of the keel aud
bottom plates were driven upward
many feet above their normal position.
this did not constitute conclusive evil
dence that the primary explosion was
external The army engineers who are
engaged in raising the wreck also in
cline toward this view They hold
that the explosion OF the two forward
magazines caused such widespread de-
structiOn and the action Of explosives
is so uncertain that the real cause of
the destruction Of the Maine probably
will never be positively ascertained.
Several weeks ago Washington L.
Caps. former chief constructor Of the
navy, was sent to Havana to Identify
certain parts of the wreck Mr. Caps
was one of the naval officers who su-
perintended the construction Of the
Maine, and for this reason he was Sc
lected to 90 to Havana to identify por-
tons Of the wreck which had been
disclosed when the water in the Golfer
dam was lowered. Mr.. Caps submit
ted his report to Secretary Of the Navy
Meyer While his report has never
been made public, it is in accord with
the theory that the primary explosion
was external Army and navy officers
who have seen the wreck since the
cofferdam has been built are confident
that the report of the new board will
corrOborate the finding of the first in
vestigation in 1898
Findings to Go to Congress.
For some time the feeling has been
growing among the higher officers Of
the war and navy departments that
some official action should be taken to
| put an end TO the view which Is preva
| lent in some quarters that the primary
explosion on the Maine was inside the
vessel. The officials of the govern
ment have resented the suggestion
that the finding of the court Of inquiry
OF 1898 was not based upon accurate
data. This was one Of the important
considerations that led to the appoint
ment OF the second Maine board Its
report will probably be filed with the
secretary of the navy in time for sub
mission to congress at the coming ses-
sion
After the board completes its investi- |
cation of the wreck the army engi- |
neers will lose no time in complying |
with the law OF congress which pro-
vides for the removal of the hulk from |
Havana harbor The after part OF the
ship, according to reports received
here. can be raised and foated out to |
sea. where it will be sunk in deep wa
ter. The bow will have to be cut In
sections and placed on scows and dis
posed of In the same manner.
The remains of more than fifty VIC
tins of the disaster have been recov-
cred and will be buried in the Airing
ton National cemetery. The mainmast
of the vessel will be erected over their
graves as memorial
o o o o