Show un v M XAIV The studied efforts of officers ot the Illfated Maine Io withhold from the publics any nilnlun I they may entertain on the disaster Is undoubtedly correct I hut the effect of It 1 Is l not as Intended to allay suspicions that may have taken hold ot the publta mind People Peo-ple will naturally conclude that the silence Itself Is nusplcloui If the olllceis are convinced that the loss of tho Ilessel 1 un due 10 acclAnt there con hu no harm done hy saying ou unless Indeed the explosion might be traced to the criminal neglect ot somebody some-body On the other hand If they believe In the theory of foul I ply discretion dis-cretion would command silence until the proofs are furnished The disaster In the harbor of Havana has called attention again to the naval Mrenrflh of the United States The navy now consists of four battleships of the first class one of the second class Iwo armored cruisers sixteen cruisers fifteen gunbonts Ills double turreted monllor one rom one dynamite dyna-mite gllnboat one dispatch hoat one transport steamer and live torpedo boats In addition to these there are Ixtyfour other naval ven eK 1 used for training nnd naval reserves and about twenty subsidized steamers and n number ot lore merchant steamers available nt any time The United Slates Is I stronger than Spain on the seas and when the new battleships are completed this country will be I the equal uf Germany In I naval strength I only England Fiance Itus sla and Italy being l ahead The re ommem1Uon or Secretary Long hat I Congress temflne Its naval appropriations appropria-tions to one battleship I for the 1aclflG coast with a few torpedo boat destroyers destroy-ers may not be acted upon In view o the lots to the navy ot the Maine and the complications that posslblv inn arise |