The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-03-30
MAINE BLOWN UP
FROM OUTSIDE.
sITUATl0M is VERY SERIOUS
The Boar of Inquiry Does Not Fasten
Responsibility.

WASHINGTON, March 23.-Ihe
Court Of Inquiry appointed to investi-
gate the cause Of the Maine disaster
has reported that the loss Of the bat
tleship was due to an outside explo-
sion.
The State department, by direction
of the President, has cabled United
States Minister Woodford at Madrid
to notify the Spanish government of
this conclusion.
The President and cabinet advisers
held two extended sessions to-day,
one at 1890 a. M, and another at 3:3O
D. NJ, at which the report was consid-
cred in detail. Members of the cabi-
net stated after the meeting that
never siace the wrecking of the Maine
has the situation seemed so critical.
The Spanish government has cabled
officially to Washington that the
Spanish naval commission holds the
disaster to the Maine to be of internal
origin. The government Of Spain, it
can be stated positively, is not dis
posed to turn back the torpedo fotilla
now proceeding from the Canaries and
would be disinclined to consider a
suggestion from this government tend
ing to interfere with the disposition
by Spain of her own naval forces.
War preparations on an unprece-
dented scale is being hurried to COM
pletion by the war and navy depart
ments, and the country practically is
on war footing.
The foregoing gives the record of
one of the most eventful days the
national capital has seen since the
close Of the civil war. 1t was day
Of profoundly important action, of the
deepest anxiety, coupled with naval
and military activity, one step follow
ing another in rapid succession. Rep
resentative men of the administration,
public men in all branches Of official
and Congressional life, no less than
the public in general, share in the
tension to which the situation has
been wrought. There was no effort
among the highest officials, nor, in
deed, : was it possible from what was
clearly apparent in the developments
of the day, to minimize the situation.
Viewed in detail, the findings Of the
Court of Inquiry was the most vital
feature. Commander Mark, Judge
Advocate of the Court of Inquiry, de-
livered the report to Secretary Long
early this morning, and shortly after
it was carried to the White House and
placed in the hands Of the President.
at 1926 the Cabinet assembled, halt
an hour earlier than usual, and began
the consideration of the momentous
document. Even the rigid rules OF
secrecy which prevailed at Cabinet
meetings were made doubly strict in
this case, and no intimation of the re-
suits reached by the Court we're known
until 2 clock, when an Associated
Press bulletin gave the information tc
the country, as well as the eagerly
waiting officials throughout Washing
ton. These results, briefly stated
arc that the loss of the Maine was due
to an explosion from the outside, the
Court being unable to fix the response
bility for the explosion. The Court
does not express an opinion as to the
character of the explosive, but the
testimony goes to show that it was
powerful submarine mine, the exac
character of which is not determined
by the testimony, though the belief
was expressed that it was floating
submarine mine. There were two ex
plosions, the Court finds, the frs
from the outside, and that set of ont
Of the smaller magazines.
ltwas this result, expressed in de
tail and with the precision of Cour
deeply conscious Of its responsibility
together with the evidence on whicl
it was based, that occupied the attcn
ton Of the Cabinet throughout it!
extended sessions of the morning ant
afternoon. All other and lesser sub
jects gave way to this foremost ques
ton. There was no change IN tn,
plan Of making the report public ant
submitting it to Congress early mex
week, accompanied by brief message
from the President.
While interest was thus centercd a
the White House, the navy and wa
departments were hurrying forwar'
their work of preparations. The ad
vance Of the Spanish fotilla contln
ucd TO receive The closest attention o
naval officials, and while so tar a
could be ascertained, no definite lin
Of action was determined upon, tn
need OF intercepting this fleet wa
urged By the highest naval author
ties. From the standpoint OF tn
Spanish government, this movemen
was not Il menace, having been de
cided on many weeks ago. On tn
contrary, the Spanish government
holds that the extensive armament O
the Dry Tortugas is more direct hos
tile act against Spain than any move
mcnt of the hotilla. Instead of stop
ping the Aotilla, the present attitude
Of Spain tends towards reinforcing
with other Spanish war vessels: not a
a menace, but from what the Spanist
government feels is requirement
called for by the existing condition O
affairs
Hardly less suggestive than the ap
proach of the torpedo hotilla, was th'
IN