The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-29
A Submarine Mine Mine
Blew Up the Maine
SO REPORTS THE UNITED STATES
NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY.
The situstlon Is Extremely Critical-War
Sc Preparations on an Unprecedented scalo
Arc Being Hurried 70 Compile ton
Our Warships Ready for Any
Emergoncy-A German Tor. ...
pedo Boat Purchased
On the Verge of '.. r..
War. ..... .-..

Washington, March Is. - The
Court Of Inquiry appointed to inves-
tigate the cause of the Maine disas-
ter has reported that the loss of the
battleslip was due to an outside ex-
plosion. ,.
The State Department, by direction
Of the President, has cabled United
States Minister Woodford at Madrid
to notify tho Spanish government of
this conclusion.
The President and Cabinet adj
visers held two extended sessions to-
day, one at 1890 a. m. and another
at $3.50 p. m., at- which the report
was considered in detail. Members
Of the Cabinet stated after the
meeting that the discussion was of a
grave character, and that never since
the wrecling of the Maine has the
situation seemed 80 critical.
The Spanish government has
cabled officially to Washington that
the Spanish naval commission holds
the disaster to the Maine to be OF in
ternal origin.
The government of Spain, it can
be stated positively, is not disposed
to turn back the torpedo fotilla now
proceeding from the Canaries, and
would be disinclned to consider "a
suggestion from this government
tending to interfere with the disposi-
tion by Spain Of her naval forces.
War preparation on an unprece-
dented scale is being hurried to COM
pletion by the War and Navy De-
partments, and the country practical
ly is on a war footing.
The foregoing gives the record of
one of the most eventful days tho
national capital has seen since the close
of tho Civil War. It was day of
profoundly important action of the
deepest anxiety, coupled with naval
and military activity, one step fol-
lowing another in rapid succession.
Representative men of the admins
tration, public men in all branches
of official and congressional life, no
less than the publicin general, shared
in the tension to which the situation
has been wrought. There was no
effort among the highest officials,
nor indeed was it possible from what
was clearly apparent in the develop
ments of the day, to minimize the
situation.
REpoRT OF MAINE COURT OF INQUIRY.
Viewed in detail, the findings of
the Court of Inquiry was the most
vital feature. Commander Mark,
Judge advocate Of the Court of In
quiry, delivered the report to Secre-
tary Long early this morning, and
shortly after it was carried to the
White house and placed in the hands
of the President. At 1890 the cabi-
net assembled, half an hour earlier
than usual, and began the considera-
nf hn
Even the rigid rules Of secrecy which
prevailed of cabinet meetings were
made doubly strict in this case, and
no intimation Of the result reached
by the Court were known until 2
O'Clock, when an Associated Press
bulletin gave the information to the
country, as we'll as the eagerly wait &.
ing officials throughout Washington.
These reeults, briefly stated, are that
the loss of the Maine was due to an
explosion from the outside, the court
being unable to fix the responsibility
for the explosion. The Court does
not express an opinion as to the
character of the explosive, but the
testimony goes to show thatit was a
powerful submarine mine, the exact
character Of which is not determined
by the testimony, though the belief
was expressed that it was a floating
submarine mine. There were two
explosions, the court tinds--the frat
from the outside, and that set of
one of the smaller magazines.
1t was this result, expressed in do
tail and with the precision of a court
deeply conscious Of it's responsibility,
together with the evidence on which