Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-26

WASHINGTON. March 25.-The court
Of inquiry appointed to investigate the
cause Of the Maine disaster has reported
that the loss of the battieship was due to
an outside explosion.
The state Department. by direction of
the President. has cabled United States
Minister woodford, at Madrid to notify
the Spanish Government of this conclu-
sion.
The President and his advisers held two
extended sessions to-day-one at 1O:SO
and another at S:15-at which the report
was considered in detail.
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 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 disposed to turn
back the torpedo fotiIa now proceeding
from the Canaries, and would be disin-
clined TO consider a suggestion from this
government tending to interfere with the
disposal by Spain of her own naval
forces.
War preparation on an unprecedented
scale Is being hurried to completion by
the War and Navy departments, and the
country practically is on a war-footing.
AN EvENTFUL DAY.
The foregoing gives the record of one
Of the most eventful days the national
capital has seen since the close of the
civil war. It was a day of profoundly
important action, and of the deepest
anxiety. coupled with naval and military
activity, one step following another in
rapid succession Representative men OF
the administration, public men IN all
hranches Of Official and congressional
,fa No less than the public in general
shared in the tension to which the situa-
,,o, had been wrought. There was no
Intention among the highest officials nor
indeed. was It possible, to minimize the
situation.
Viewed IN detail. the finding OF the
court Of inquiry was the most vital lea'
tpre Commander Mark, judge-advocate
Of the court of inquiry. delivered the re-
port 10 Secretary Long early this morn
inc and shortly afterward it was carried
TO the White House and placed IN 'h'
hands Of the President
A., to.2o the Cabinet assembled, hall
an hour earlier than usual. ana Deeah 'n'
consideration OF the momentous uocu'
mont even the rigid rules of secrecy
which prevail at Cabinet meetings "ei'
made doubly strict in this case, ana NJ
ionma,Ion OF the results reached by th'
court were known until o'clock whef
an Associated Press bulletin gave the u"
formation 10 the country. as wen as u
The eagerly waiting officials Throughout
Washington.
THE COURTS REPORT
These results. briefly stated are 'nS
the loss of the Maine was due 10 an "a
plosion from the outside, the court pe.'s
unable 10 fix the responsibility for the ea !,
plosion. The court docs not express al al
opinion ar 10 the character oil the eap'V
slye, but testimony goes 10 snow ina. !,
was a powerful submarine mine, .ne ga
act character Of which Is not oe'e, i''''.s' ~
by the testimony. though the pehei - ga
pressed that IL was a floating submarine
mine
There were two explosions. the cous
finds. the first from the outside, ana va"
set of one OF the smaller magazinsS,
1t was this result, expressed ~ oe'e''