The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-03-30
OFFICIAL REPORT ON THE MAINE
OUTSIDE EXPLOSION.
Discipline on Board the Ship Was Excellent
and the Temperature Of the Maya
zine Normal

The report OF the officers appointed
to investigate the Maine disaster was
made public last Monday. The Ameif-
can people now have positive evidence
that the ship was blown up by an out
side explosion. Hundreds of loyal
American soldiers were hurled to death
and a proud cruiser sent to the bottom
by an act OF treachery. "a tremendous
crowd was present in the halls of con-
gress last Monday as the report. Of
which the following is a synopsis was
presented. The report is made up of
eight parts as follows:
First-The court finds that at the
time of the explosion the battleship
Maine was lying In five and one-half
to six fathoms of water.
Second-The discipline aboard the
ship was excellent; everything slowed
according to orders-ammunition,
the magazines at s p m. was normal,
except in the after ten-inoh magazine,
and that did not explode.
Third-The explosion occurred at 9:40
o'clock on the evening of February 10.
There were two explosions with very
short interval between them; the ship
lifted on the first explosion.
Fourth-The court can form no
definite opinion of the condition of the
wreck from the divers evidence.
Fifth-Technical details of wreckage
from which court deduces that a mine
was exploded under the ship on the
port side.
Sixth-The explosion was due to no
fault of those on board.
Seventh--Opinion of the court stating
that the explosion of the mine caused
the explosion of two magazines.
Eighth-The court declares that IL
cannot find evidence to fix RESPONSE
bility.
The report is unanimous and is signed
by all the members of the court. II
does not refer to the existence or nom
existence of mines in the harbor of
Havana except in the specific finding
that a mine was exploded under the
ship, and the opinion that the ex-
plosion of the two magazines was
caused by thsexplosion of a mine. 3.
The discipline the court specifics with
extreme minuteness, the least detail Oh
the satisfactory condition of every
thing on board being given. The nor
NAL temperature of the large forward
magazines at s o'clock-only an hour
and forty minutes before the explosion
--disposes of the question of accidental
combustion within these magazines.
While the court holds that these maya
zines did not explode from internal
causes, they nevertheless are of the
opinion that the explosion of the mine
under the port side of the ship caused
the explosion of the two magazines.
This will explain the remarkable de-
struction wrought. the explosion thus
being shown to have combined the
force of mine without and two mag
azines within. The two explosions
which the court finds to have occurred,
with a very short interval between
them, is an additional detail showing
that two forces operated in causing the
destruction.
The finding that the ship lifted on the
explosion indicates an external source,
and one of tremendous power to be
able to lift battleship of thousands of
tons.
The feature of the report of deepest
interest to the navy is the complete ex-
oneration of Capt. Sigsbee and all on
board, contained in the second finding,
setting forth the perfect order and dis
cipline prevailing on the ship, and
more directly stated in the sixth find
ing, which declares the disaster to be
due to no fault of those on board.
The inability of the court to find
evidence to fix responsibility, as stated
in the eighth part, makes the report 50
guarded in expression of blame that
neither Spain nor the Spanish are men
toned throughout.
The Spanish government has cabled
ish naval commission holds the disas-
ter to the Maine to be of internal
origin.
The orders issued by the navy de-
partment last week covered every
branch of naval armament. The flying
squadron" was definitely established.
with Commodore w. S. Schley in COM
mand. He has hoisted his commodore's
flag on the flagship Brooklyn. The
drpn 10 ~ ciCr Df
ships, no more and no less, despite con-
lecture as to possible ships that might
be added. Those Of the squadron will
be the crack armored cruiser Brooklyn,
the battleships Massachusetts and
Texas, and the cruisers Columbia and
Minneapolis. Other ships which are
now or hereafter at Hampton roads
will not be of the flying squadron but
will belong to the North Atlantic sta-
ton under Capt. Sampson. The flying
squadron is to be a small, compact fleet
of the best ships in the navy. for quick
service at any point along the Atlantic.
Serious attention is being given by
the navy department officials to the
question of the acquisition of a suitable
location for a coaling station some-
where in the West Indies. Steps have
been taken already to establish such
station at the Dry Tortugas, but this,
II Is said, is the only deep water harbor
available for big war vessels between
Hampton roads and the Rio Grande.
Besides. ii Is practically unprotected at
present, and a fleet would have to be
stationed there to protect the coal
stored. which is unsatisfactory. There
are number of fine harbors among the
West Indies, said a naval officer and
In one of these we ought to have a
coaling station. The Importance of Sc
curing one, the officials point out, is
very great. as in the event of hostilities
our chips might be put to very great
Inconvenience and delay in filling their
bunkers when their presence might ba
needed to protect critical points. /
While no one having knowledge of
the matter is willing to speak for the
president, II is believed that the q,,es-
tion OF arbitration in connection with
the disaster TO the Maine Is no longer
under consideration. The recent speech
of Senator Proctor seems To have
cleared the minds OF the members OF
the administration as to the real con-
ditions In Cuba and il Is now believed
that the disaster of the Maine will be
treated only as an incident TO the main
Iutstion 1t Is assorted that the two
A. Ip n al taA IN