Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-03-26
WAR INEVITABLE.

intention of the war department to
have three or four more of these dis
appearing guns at the Presidio, one at
Lime point, and about seven at Point
Lobos,
Several carload 8 CT powder and pro-
jectiles for modern weapons at the
Preside and Lime point are now en-
route from the East. At the Presidio
there are five 12-inch rifles and three
dynamite guns in position; also five
12-inch guns On barbettes and l6 12-
inch mortars. A second battery of
mortars is now being prepared. At
Lime point there are three Pinch
rifles on barbettes.
WASHINGTON, March 27.-Cause of
the Maine disaster, has been reported
that the loss of the battle-ship was
due to an outside explosion. The
state department, by erection of the
presidens, has cabled Minister Wood
ford, at Madrid,to notify the Spanish
government of this conclusion. The
president and his cabinet advisers,
held two extended sessions: one at
1890 O'Clock a. M. and another at
$3.50 at which the report was consd-
cred in detail. The members of the
cabinet stated, after the meetings,
that the discussion was of grave
character, and that never since the
wrecking of the Maine had the situa-
tion seemed so critical.
The Spain 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 disposed to
turn back the torpedo fleet now pro-
ceeding. to the Canaries, and would be
disinclined to consider a suggestion
from this government tending to in
terfere with the disposition, by Spain,
of her own naval forces,
Representative men of the admin
istratian, public men in all branches
of official and congressional life, no
less than the public in general, shared
In the tension to which the situation
has been wrought. There was no eff
fort among the highest officials, nor
index that it was possible, from what
was clearly apparent in the develop
ments of the day, TO minimize the sit
uation. Viewed in detail the findings
of the court of inquiry was the most
vital factor.
The cabinet assembled, half an hour
earlier than usual, and began the con-
sderation of the momentous docu =
ment. EYen the rigid rules of secrecy
which prevail at cabinet meetings,
were made doubly strict in this case,
and no intimation of the results
reached by the court was known un-
til II O'Clock, when an Associated
Press bullitin gave the information to
the country, as we'll as to the eagerly
waiting officials throughout Wash
tington. These results, briefly stated,
are that the loss of the Maine was
due to an explosion from the outsi de,
the court beicg unable to fix the res
possibility for the explosion. The
court does not express an opinion as
to the character of the explosion
but the testimony goes to show tina
it was a powerful submarine mine,
the exact character of which was not
determined, though the belief was
expressed that il was floating sub
marine mine. There were two ex-
plosions, the court finds, the first
from the outside, that set off one OF
the smaller magazines.
The navy and war departments are
hurrylng forward their work of prepa-
rations. The advance Of the Spanist
torpedo fiotilla continued to receive
1.-The closest attention Of naval oficiall