The San Francisco call., 1898-03-29

WAOf1lNGl ON, MarCn 2S.-l ne President to-day sent the following mes sage to Congress:
 To the Congress of the United States For some time prior to the visit of the Maine to Havana harbor our Consular representatives pointed out the advan- tages to follow visit of national ships to the Cuban waters, in accustomingt the residents to the presence of our flag as the symbol of good will and of our ships in the fulfllment of the mission of protection to American interests. even though no immediate need there for might exist.
 Accordingly, on the 25th of January last, after a conference with the Span ish Minister, in which the renewal Of visits of our war vessels to Spanish waters was discussed and accepted, the peninsula authorities at Havana were advised of the purpose of this Govern ment to resume friendly visits at Cuban ports, and with that view the Maine would forthwith call at the port of Hav- ana. This announcement was received by the Spanish Government with ap- preciation of the friendly character of the visit of the Maine and with notih- cation of the intention to return the courtesy by sending Spanish ships to the principal ports of the United States. Meanwhile the Maine entered the port of Havana on the 25th of January, her arrival being marked with no special incident besides the exchange of GUS tomary salutes and ceremonial visits.
 The Maine continued in the harbor of Havana during the three weeks fol- lowing her arrival. No appreciable ex- citement attended her stay; on the contrary, feeling of relief and con fidence followed the resumption of the long interrupted friendly intercourse. So noticeable was this immediate effect of her visit that the Consul General strongly urged that the presence of our ships in Cuban waters should be kept up by retaining the Maine at Havana; or, in the event of her recall, by send ing another vessel there to take her place.
 At forty minutes past 9 o'clock in the evening of the 18th of February, the Maine was destroyed by an explosion, by which the entire forward part of the ship was utterly wrecked Tn this catas- trophe two oiAcers and 200 of her crew perished, those who were not killed outright by her explosion being penned | L,r @I, of age and drowned by the immediate sinking of the hull Prompt assistance was rendered by the neighboring yes sels anchored in the harbor. aid being especially given by the boats of the Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII and the Ward line steamer City of Washing ton, which lay not far distant. The wounded were generously cared for by the authorities of Havana. the hospitals being freely opened to them, while the earliest recovered bodies of the dead were inferred by the municipality in the public cemetery of the city. Tributes of grief and sympathy were offered from all official quarter of the island.
 The appalling calamity fell upon the people of our country with crushing force, and for brief ti1re an intense excitement prevailed, which in com munity less just and self-controlled than ours must have led to hasty acts of blind resentment This spirit. how ever, soon gave way to the calmer pro- cesses of reason and to the resolve to investigate the facts and await the ma terial proof before forming a judgment as to the cause, the responsibility, and if the facts warranted, the remedy due. This course necessarily recommended itself from the outset to the executive. for only in the light of disDassionately ascertained certainty could it determine the nature and measure of its full duty in the matter
 The usual procedure was followed. as in all cases of casualty or disaster to national vessels of any r aritime state A Naval Court of Inquiry was at once organized, composed of officers well qualified by rank and practical ex- perience to discharge the onerous duty imposed upon them: and by strong force of wreckers and divers the court proceeded to make thorough investi- gation on the spot, employing every available means for the impartial and exact determination of the causes of the explosion. Its operations have been conducted with the utmost deliberation and judgment, and, while independently pursued, no source of information was neglected, and the fullest opportunity was allowed for simultaneous inves- tigation by the Spanish authorities.
 The finding of the Court of Inquiry was reached, after twenty-three days of continuous labor, on the 2Ist of March, and, having been approved on the 22d | by the commander-in-chiefo of the Unit ed States naval force on the North At lantic station, was transmitted to the executive It is herewith laid before the Congress, together with the volum- inous testimony taken before the court. .of f11t