Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-03-30
MESSAGE 70 CONGRESS
THE DISASTER TO THE MAINE.
Testimony Taken Before the Board
of Inquiry Accompanied the Re-
pOrt-Spain Notified That the War
in Cuba Must Cease-COncentra-
ton of United States Troops.


washington March 2s'-lhe determina-
ton was reached early this morning to
send in the testimony taken before the
board OF inquiry to accompany the report.
Inc members OF the foreign relations COM
mlttee OF the senate made vigorous pro-
tests against the former arranged pro-
gram, saying it would be great deal OF a
farce to refer to that committee the lind
ings OF the court and withhold the testl-
mony. The committee desired the testi-
mony at the earliest possible moment. 1t
was also pointed out that withholding the
testimony would be construed by some
persons 10 mean al attempt was peihS
'',''oe ~ heeP HUH congress anu 'he peo'
PIE "' 'e'''hio'y 'es''"eu do eeh'"'io''''
The Message.
To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior to the visit of the
Maine to Havana harbor our consular rep
resentatives pointed out the advantages
to follow visit of naval ships to Cuban
waters in accustoming the people to the
presence of our flag as a symbol of good
will, and of our ships in fulfllment of the
mission of protection to American inter
ests, even though no immediate need
therefor might exist.
Accordingly, on the 25th OF January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister, in which the renewal of the Wis
its of our war vessels to Spanish waters
was discussed and accepted, the peninsular
authorities at Madrid and Havana were
advised of the purpose of this government
to resume friendly naval visits at Cuban
ports, and with that view the Maine
would forthwith call at the port of Ha
vana.
Apparent FriendIiness.
This announcement was received by the
Spanish government with appreciation Of
the friendly character of the visit of the
Maine and with notification of the inten-
ton to return the courtesy by sending
Spanish ships to the principal ports of the
United States. Meanwhile the Maine en-
tered the port of Havana on the 25th of
January, her arrival being marked with
no special incident besides the exchange
of the customary salutes and ceremonial
visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor of Ha-
vana during the three weeks following her
arrival. No appreciable excitement at
tended her stay; on the contrary, feeling
of relief and confidence followed the re-
sumption of the long interrupted friendly
intercourse. So noticeable was this imme-
date effect of her visit that our consul
general strongly urged that the presence
Of our ships in Cuban waters should be
kept up by retaining the Maine at Ha-
vana, or, in the event of her recall, by
sending another vessel there to take her
place.
The Fatal Night.
At 40 minutes past 0 in the evening Of
the 18th of February 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 26O of her crew persisted, those who
were not killed outright by her explosion
being penned between decks by the tangle
of wreckage and drowned by the immedi-
ate sinking of the hull.
Prompt assistance was rendered by the
neighboring vessels anchored in the har-
Dor, aid being especially given by boats
of the Spanish cruiser Alphonso XIII and
the Ward line steamer City of Washing
ton, which lay not far distant. The wound
IL