The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-11-22
New Board to Inspect
The Wreck of the Maine
None of Them Had Anything
to Do With the Investiga.
ton of 1898


press, as to whether or not the report
of the court of inquiry of 1898 was JUS
titled by the actual conditions of the
wrecked vessel.
Former Report Not Conclusive.
| While the officers who were 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 it 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 and
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.
Capps. former chief constructor of the
navy, was sent to Havana to identify
certain parts of the wreck Mr.. Capps
was one of the naval officers who su-
perintended the construction of the
Maine, and for this reason he was Sc
lected to go to Havana to identify por-
| tionS of the wreck which had been
disclosed when the water in the Golfer
dam was lowered. Mr.. Capps 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. It's
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 it's 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 f1oated 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 Arling-
ton National cemetery. The mainmast
of the vessel will be erected over their
graves as a memorial.