The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-29
MESSAGE OF A'K|NEY.
Report Of Maine Court Of In
qulry Sent to Spain.
STORY OF THE LOST SHIP.
President Tells How She Came to
Be Sent TO Cuba.
ASKS CONSERVATIVE ACTION
Takes the Ground That Spain wifi
Do What Is Right.

Washington, March 2s-The Presideng
to-day sent the following message to Com
gress;
ITO the Congress OF the United statess
For some time prior to the visit OF tha
Maine to Havana harbor our consular rep
resentatives pointed out the advantages To
follow from a visit from national ships
to Cuban waters in accustoming the peo-
pie to the presence of our flag as gyms
Dol OF good will and of our ships in full
filment of the mission Of protection Ia
American interests. even though no inn
mediate need therefor might exist. Ac-
cordlngly. on Jan. "a. last a conferences
with the Spanish minister, IN which ths
recall of the visits OF our war vessels tn
Spanish waters was discussed and accepts
ed. the peninsular authorities at Madrid
and Havana were advised Of the purpose
of this government to resume the friendly
naval visits at Cuban ports. and that in
that view the Maine would forthwith caII
at the port of Havana.
''The announcement was received by the
Spanish government with appreciation OF
the friendly character of the visit Of the
Maine, and with notification of the in
tention to return the courtesy by sending
Spanish ships to the principal ports of the
United States.
meanwhile, the Maine entered the port
OF Havana Jan. 25, her arrival being mark
ed with no special incident besides the
exchange Of the customary salutes ana
the ceremonial of visits.
rlra In "a har rf4or 90
Havana during three weeks following her
arrival No appreciabe excitement attend
ed her stay; on the contrary, a feeling
Of relief and confidence followed the re-
sumption OF long-interrupted friendly in
tercourse, so noticeable that the Consul
General strongly urged that the presence
of our ships in Cuban waters be kept up.
"At 40 minutes past o'clock on ths
evening OF Feb. is the Maine was de-
stroyed by an explosion, by which the en-
tire forward part of the ship was utterly
wrecked In this catastrophe two officers
and 26i of her crew pershed. those who
were not killed outright by the explosion
being penned between the decks by tho
tangle OF wreckage and drowned by ths
immediate sinking of the hull
Prompt assistance was rendered by the
neighboring vessels anchored IN the har-
bor, aid being specially given by the boats
OF the Spanish cruiser Alphonso XII and
the Wafu line steamer Clty Oh w dSutuB-
ton, which lay not far distant
The wounded were generously cared for
by the authorities OF Havana, the hos
pitals being freely opened to them. Trib-
utes Of grief and sympathy were offered
from official quarters Of the island.
"The appalling calamity fell upon the
people with crushing force, and for a
brief time intense excitement prevailed.
which, in a community less just and self
controlled than ours. might have led to
rash acts. This spirit, however, soon gave
way to the calmer process OF reason and
resolve to investigate the facts and
wait material proof before forming judg-
ment as to the cause, responsibility, and.
II facts warranted the remedy due. This
itself from the outset to
the executive, for only in
the light Of a dispassionately ascertained
certainty could II determine the nature
and measure Of its full duty In the mat
ter.
THE usual procedure followed as in
all cases of casualty or disaster to
national vessels of any maritime state.
A naval court of inquiry was at once
organized composed of officers well
qualified by rank and practical experience
20 discharge the onerous duty imposed
upon them Aided by a strong force OF
wreckers and divers the court proceeded
spot, employing every available means
for an impartial and exact determination
of the cause OF the explosion. It's opera
tions have been conducted with the ut
most deliberation and judgment and, while
Independently pursued no source Of in
formation was neglected and not the least
opportunity was allowed for simultaneous
investigation by the Spanish authorities.
The findings OF the court Of inquiry was
reached after % days continued labor on
March q and having been approved on
March % by the commander-in-chief OF
the United States naval force Of the north
Atlantic station We're transmitted 70 the
executive. II is herewith laid before Con-
gress. together with the volumnous testi-
mony taken before the court. The pur-
port is, IN brief. as follows:
when the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular govern
ment pilot to buoy No. 4. to which she
was moored in from 5ik to fathoms OF
water. The state OF discipline on board,
and the condition Of her magazines boil
crs. coal bunkers and storage compart-
ments are passed in review with the con-
clusion that excellent order prevailed and
that no indication of any cause for inter-
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