The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-13

| Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
| WASHINGTON, March 12.-For a week or
more reports have been persistently in cir
| culation that the Maine court of inquiry
! has proof of Spanish treachery in connec-
ton with the explosion, and that the Presi-
| dent had been advised Of the facts These
reports have been repeated day in and day
| out with such earnestness that many have
believed they had foundation, if, indeed,
they did not form the real explanation Of
the $4,000, 900 appropriation and the conse-
| quent military and naval preparations for
defense. What was generally accepted as
| confirmation of these reports appeared this
| evening in the Army and Navy Register of
| this city, publication of excellent reputa-
| ton for reliability, which gave the follow
| ing the emphasis of double leads" on the
| editorial page:
"The Register is in possession of informa-
ton, the correctness of which it has no rea-
son to question in the least, that certain
evidence gathered by the court of inquiry
at Havana has come in a serni-official form
to the President from two prominent mem
bers of the board. The information has
been in the hands of the President since
Sunday, and has served the occasion of un-
| usual activity during the present week.
The information is to the effect that the
Maine was destroyed by a government sub
marine mine planted in Havana harbor and
deliberately exploded. More than this, it
appears the Maine was purposely moored in
the vicinity Of the mine, and that the ex-
plosion occurred at the moment when the
ship had been opportunely carried by wind
and tide directly over the mine.
"These facts have been hinted at and
written about in dispatches from Havana,
Madrid and Washington, and among the
varied statements made the actual condi-
tions have been touched on, but nothing
authoritative has been permitted to escape
from the court That body is understood to
have completed it's work, but nothing is
likely to be officially promulgated in regard
to its findings for a week or more. There
is obvious reason for such action, the OBJ
jects of which cannot be defeated by inde-
pendent newspaper statements. There can
be but one outcome of such a report and
preparations for the inevitable result are
being industriously and indefatigably prose
cuted."
The article produced a genuine sensation
in Washington, and was eagerly seized on
by correspondents as 'war news" of the
reddest hue and as "tip" right from the
inside. Your correspondent is in position
to state, by the very highest authority,
that there is not the fainest shadow of
foundation for the publication. The Pres
ident has not received officially, semi off,
cially or through any confidential channels
the slightest intimation that the court of
inquiry has evidence of Spanish treachery,
and, furthermore, he does not believe that
there was treachery. He has not said that
much in so many words, for he has scrup-
ulously observed the injunction placed upon
subordinateS to refrain from an express
sion of opinion" but in confidential con-
versations with his closest friends he has
never dropped a suggestion or employed a
word indicative of such suspicion. On the
contrary. from what he has said and from
his conduct and actions it has been obvious
to his intimates that he took no stock in
the sensational reports and had no infor-
nation that would justify suspicious of foul
play. There is good ground for believing
that Mr.. Mckinley has been given an int-
nation of what to expect from the court
of inquiry, but the statement cannot be
couched in language too emphatic that foul
play or Spanish treachery is not in the cat
egory. 1t is regarded as almost certain
that the court will agree that the explo-
sion was caused by external agencies, but
that fact would not fix direct criminal re-
sponsibility on the Spanish government.
Very much stronger proof than that would
be required 70 establish such indictment.
If the charge has been proved the Presi-
dent is in absolute ignorance of the fact.
and 1t is incredible that pointers Of less