The Portland daily press., 1898-03-29
s-REsPoNs1BIL1TY NOT FIXED.


| The court has been unable to obtain
evidence fixing the responsibility for the
destruction of the Maine upon any person
". T. SAMPSON, U. S. n,
President
A. MARK.
Lieut.. Com U. S. N, Judge Advocate.
The court having finished the inquiry
| it was ordered to make. adjourned at ii
| ing authority.
W. I. Sampson, Captain U. S. N,
President.
A. Mark, Lieutenant Commander, q. S.
NJ, Judge Advocate, u. S. Flagship
New York, March az, 1898, off Key
West, Fla.
The proceedings and findings of the
| court of inquiry in the above cases are ap-
| proved.
M. Sicard, Rear Admiral Commander
in-Chief of the U. S. Naval Forces in
the North Atlantic Suadron.
HOPES SPAIN WILL, DO RIGHT THING.
Presidents Message Not a Startling State
Document.
WASHINGTON, March 28.-The President
today sent the following message to the
Congress-: -
To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior to the visit Of the
Maine to Havana haTbor our consular
representatives pointed out the adyan
tages to flow from the visit Of national
f ships to the Cuban waters, insaccustom-
hug the people to the presence Of our flag
| as the symbol of good will and of our
ships in the fulfilmentof the mission of
protection to American interests, evon
though no immediate need therefor
might exist.
Accordingly on the Gath Of January
last after conferences with the Spanish
minister in which the renewal of visits
of our war vessels to Spanish waters
was discussed and accepted, the peninsu-
lar authorities at Madrid and Havana
were advised of the purpose of this gov
eminent to resume friendly naval visits
at Cuban ports and in that view the
Maine would forthwith call at the port
Of Havana.
This announcement was received by the
Spanish government with appreciation
Of the friendly character OF the visit Of
the Maine and with notification of inten-
ton to return the courtesy by sanding
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 custom
airy saIutes and ceremonial visits.
Tho Maine continued in the harbor of
Havana during the three weeks follow
ing her arrival. No appreciable excite
feeling of relief and confidence 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 sending an.
other vessel there to take her place.
At forty minutes past nine on the eve
ming of the 10Th of February the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion by which
the entire forward part of the ship was
utterly wrecked.
In the catastrophe two sofiicers and two
hundred and sixty-four of her crew per-
ished, those not killed outright by her
explosion being penned between by the
tangle of wreckage and drowned by the
immediate sinking of the hull.
Prompt assistance was rendered by the
neighboring vessels anchored in the har-
Dor. aid being especially given by the
XII and the Ward line steamer City
Of Washington, which lay not far dis
tant.
Vhe wounded were generously cared for
by the authorities of Havana, the hos
pitfalls being freely opened to them, while
the earliest recovered. bodies OF the dead
were inferred by the municipality in q
public cemetery in the city. Tributes
Of sorrow and sympathy were offered
from all official quarters of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with crushing
force and for a brief time an intense ex-
element prevailed, which in commu-
nity less just and self controlled than
ours, might have led to hasty acts OF
blind resentment.
This spirit, however, soon gave way
to the calIner processes of reason and to
the resolve to investigate the facts and
await material proof before forming o
Judgment as to- the cause, the RESPONSE
bility that the facts warranted, the rem
edy due
This course necessarily recommended
itself from the outset TO the executive, for
only in the light of dispassionately
ascertained certainly will 1T 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 ma
tional vessels any maritime state.
A naval court of inquiry was at once
organized lcomposed Of officers well
qualified by rank and practical expert
ence to discharge the onerous duty i'm
posed upon them.
Aidei by d strong force of wreckers
and divers the court proceeded to make
u thorough investigation on the spot,
employing every available means for the
impartiai and exact determination of the
causes of the explosion.
Its operations have been conducted with
the utmost elaboration and Judgment
and while independently pursued, no
source Of information was neglected ana
the fullest opportunity was allowed for
a simultaneous investigation by the
Spanish authorities
Tho finding of the court of inquiry was
reached after % days Of continuous labor
on the 2ist of March, instant, and having
been approved on the 22d by the COM
mander in chief of the United States
naval force in the North Atlantic station,
was transmitted to the executive.
1t is herewith laid before the Congress-