New-York tribune., 1911-12-10
THE SECRET OF THE MAINE.


Just one highly important and graft
fying fact is to be regarded as estaD-
lished beyond all further reasonable DIS
pute by the official report of the experts
who have been examining the wreck OF
the Maine That IS, that the destruc-
ton of the vessel was not due TO any
interior fault. The fatal explosion was
not the result of careleSSness or slovenly
methods or lack of discipline on the part
of any of the officers or crew OF the Ill
fated ship. Neither was it due to faulty
construction or to the use of unsafe or
badly prepared ammunition, or any such
cause. 1t is gratifying to have this es-
tabIshed, not so much because of the
few vicious insinuations against the
conduct of our naval officers and sea-
men which were made with Incorporate
passion during the days Of the Spanish
war as because ii is known that some
grave disasters have occurred In other
navies through carelessness or the use
Of bad material, and it is now assured
to us that In this case, at any rate
the American navy did not share sucn
faults.
This fact is confirmed by the conf
dent report that while the destruction
Of the ship was effected by an internal
explosion. 1t was not spontaneous nor OF
internal causation, but was due to an
instantaneously preceding external ex-
plosion, probably not Of a projectile tor
pedo, but rather of mine containing
comparatively low powered explosive.
The external explosion badly damaged
the ship, but was not In itself totally
destructive. But it caused an explosion
of the ships own magazines, and that
was sufficient to rend the hull asunder
and to destroy two hundred and sixty
lives. This explanation of the disaster
is in accord with the original report
which was made by Admiral SIMPSONS
investigating board years ago. and
also with the belief into which probably
the majority of thoughtful Americans
have long since settled. We may now
regard it as the permanent Judgment OF
history.
There is absolutely no occasion or
excuse. however for the wild pretence
which some are now intemperately max
ing. that this judgment convicts Spain
of the crime Of destroying the ship. 1t
does nothing of the sort. 1t leaves the
question of responsibility unanswered,
and with several other possible answers
no less plausible than that which would
fix the guilt upon Spain. 1t is possible
that the explosion was due to accident,
through contact with mine which had
become displaced. or through the cross
ing of electric wires II has been sug-
gested more than once that it might
have been done by misguided Cuban
patriots, deSirous of forcing Amerl-
can intervention. and even that some
Americans might have done it, intent
upon gaining some advantage from the
trouble between America and Spain
which was likely to ensue-the inten-
ton in these cases being, of course,
merely to damage the ship and not COM
pletely to destroy ii and IFS crew. 1t is
also possible that ii was done by some
fanatical individual or company of con-
Spirators in the Spanish service. Of
whose doings the Spanish authorities
had no knowledge. That the Spanish
government was privy TO it, or that any
important members of it were. does not
in the least degree appear and is not
for a moment to he maintained.
The real cause Cf the external eXplo-
sion remains undScloSed The secret Of
the Maine remains hid. and probably
always will thus remain, unless the
seal of secrecy is broken by Il volun-
tary confession or by an accidental
discovery which there IS no reason to
expect Perhaps it is best so.