The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-26

Washington, March 25.-The court of
inquiry appointed to investigate the
cause of the Maine disaster has re-
ported that the loss of the battleship
was due to an outside explosion.
The state department, by direction of
the president, has cabled United States
Minister WoodfoTd at Madrid to notify
the Spanish government of this con-
clusion. The president and his cabinet
advisers held two extended sessions to-
day, one at 1890 a. m. and another at
$3.50 p. m, at which the report was con-
sidered in detail Members of the cab
met stated after the meetings that the
discussion was of a grave character.
and that never since the wrecking of
the Maine has the situation seemed so
critical
SPANISH CONTENTION.
The Spanish government has cabled
officially to Washington that the Span
ish naval commission holds the disaster
to the Maine to be of internal origin.
The government of Spain, it can be
stated positively, is not disposed to turn
back the torpedo fleet, now proceeding
from the Canaries, and would be dis
inclined TO consider a suggestion from
this government tending TO interfere
with the disposition by Spain of her
own naval forces.
War preparations on an unprecedent-
ed scale are being hurried to compile
ton by the war and navy departments,
AMI the country practically is on war
footing.
EvENTFUL DAY
The foregoing gives the record of one
of the most eventfuI days the national
capital has seen since the close of the
civil war. 1t was a day of profoundly
important action, and of the deepest
anxiety coupled with naval and mill
tary activity, one step following an
other in rapid succession. Representa-
tive men of the administration, public
men in all branches OF official and con-
eressional life, no less than the public
in 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
developments of the day, to minimize
the situation.
COURTS FINDINGS.
Viewed in detail, the finding of the
court of inquiry was the most vital
factor. Commander Mark, judge advo-
cate of the court of inquiry, delivered
the report to Secretary Long early this
4.
carried to the White House and placed
in the hands of the president. At 1890
the cabinet assembled, half an hour
earlier than usual, and began the con-
sideration of the mOmentous docu-
ment. Even the rigid rules of secrecy
which prevail at cabinet meetings were
made doubly strict in this case, and no
jntimation of the results reached by the
court were known until o'clock, when
an Associated Press bulletin gave the
information to the country, as well as
to the eagerly waiting officials through
out Washington. These results, briefly
stated, are that the loss of the Maine
was due to an explosion from the out
side the court being unable to tx the
responsibility for the explosion
SUBMARINE MINE.
The court does not express an opinion
as to the character of the explosion,
but the testimony goes to show that II
was a powerful submarine mine, the
exact character of which was not de-
ternined. though the belief was eX-
pressed that it was a floating submarine
mine. There were two explosions, the
court finds; the first was from the out
side. and that set off one Of the smaller
magazines. 1t was this result, expressed
in detail. and with the precision OF a
court deeply concerned of its respon-
sibiIitv. together with the evidence upon
which it was based, that occupied the
attention of the cabinet throughout its
extended sessions of the morning and
afternoon. All other subjects gave way
to this foremost question. There was
no change in the plan of making the
report public and transmitting it to
congress early next week, accompanied
by a brief message from the presi-
dent.
while interest was thus centered at
the White House. the navy and war de-
partments were hurrying forward their
work of preparations.