THE MAINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 5

THE MAINE

HOW SHE WAS SUNK BY EXPLOSION FROM WITHIN. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. NEW YORK, July 6. General Bixby, Chief of tho United States Engineers’ Corps, has personally inspected the battleship Maine, which was sunk in Havana Harbour early in 1893, and which was recently raised. The General announces that the sel’s loss was duo to the explosion of throe magazines. It was impossible for the disaster to bo duo to any external explosion. THE STOEY OF THE MAINE. General Bixby’s report means the removal of au undeserved stigiha from the Spanish people, who. ever since the night of February 15th* 1593, when tho Ha-mo sank in Havana harbour, have been subject to tlie imputation that the explosion which sent her to tho bottom was the result of tho deliberate act of a Spaniard. That this was so was universally believed throughout the United States, and the belief had much to do with precipitating the war which cost Spain well nigh tho whole of her colonial possessions. There wore, it must bo admitted, circumstances which appeared to warrant the .supposition that tho loss of the Maine was the result of foul play. When the venae! paid her illstarred visit to Havana, relations between the United States and Spain were extremely strained. The severities practised by the Spaniards on the Cuban insurrectionists had inflamed tho American people U) an extraordinary degree, r-ud from Maine to Florida there was a general desire tp deliver and avenge the unfortunate Cubans. The Spaniards, for their part, bitterly resented what they deemed the unwarrantable interference of the Americans in their affairs, and the visit of the Maine to the Spanish port, though not by any means so intended, was regarded by them as an insult. Their feelings on the subject were expressed in terms highly offensive to the United States in .a leaflet which was circulated in Havana. A copy of this production, with tho more especially insulting phrases underlined, was anonymously sent to tho captain of the Maine soon after the cruiser's arrival at Havana. That officer, by the way, was firmly of opinion that his ship had been sunk by a Spanish torpedo, and his view was heartily endorsed by his comrades of the American navy. It was said, indeed, that the United States seamen, when engaging the Spanish fleet off Santiago de Cuba, worked their guns to the cry of “Remember , the Maine." After the war sl ! - considerable sensation was caused by the publication of what purported to be a statement by an English diver, a man of tho first rank in his profession, whose story was that he had been engaged by tho United States Government to examine the sunken warship and report as to whether the explosion which had wrecked her had come from within or from outside the vessel. Ho made a careful examination, and gave as his opinion that the explosion had been external. President McKinley, on receiving his report, directed him to make another examination. Ho did so, and reported as before. dho President, on hearing this second report, asked him, w Do you know what your report moans ?" He replied that he did not. “It means war with Spain" was Mr McKinley's answer. It would .now appear that tho British diver, the American Court of Inquiry which took tho same view as he is said to have done, and the American people, who accepted their statements, wore mistaken, and that the Spanish Commieeion, whose report was scouted, was right when it attributed the disaster to an internal explosion. Though, however, on© mystery has been solved, General Bixby’s report has set un another which, perhaps, will never be solved, for it will probably never be ascertained what caused the explosion in the 'lMated cruiser’s magazine.