The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-04-01
THE MAINE REPORT.
THE SHIP WAS LOST BY AN
EXTERNAL EXPLOSION.
Spain Says It Was Internal VIII Not
Turn Back Her Torpedo Boat Flotilia
Country on n War Footing Spain
FortIfying Porto Rico.

the cause of the Maine disaster has
reported that the loss OF the battle
ship was due to an outside explosion
The State department, by direction
of the President, has cabled United
States Minister Woodford at Madrid
to notify the Spanish government OF
this conclusion.
The President and his cabinet held
two extended sessions yesterday, one
at 1880 a. m, and another at $3.50 p.
M, at which the report was consid-
cred in detail Members of the cab
met stated after the meeting that the
discussion was of grave character, and
that never since the wrecking of the
Maine has the situation seemed so
critical.
The Spanish government has cabled
officially to Washington that the
spanish naval commission holds the
disaster to the Maine to be of internal
origin.
The government of Spain, it can be
stated positively, is not disposed to
turn back the torpedo fleet now pro-
ceeding from the Canaries, and would
be disinclined to consider q sugges-
ton from this government tending to
interfere with the disposition by Spain
)fher own naval forces.
War preparations on an upprece-
Tented scale are being hurried to COM
pletion by the war and navy depart
ments, and the country practically is
IN war footing.
The foregoing gives the record of
me of the most entful days the
rational capital has seen since the
close of the civil war. 1t was day of
profoundly important action, of the
leepest anxiety, coupled with naval
and military activity, one step follow
ing another in rapid succession. Rep
resentative men of the administration,
public'men in all branches of official
and congressional life, no less than
the public in general, shared in the
tension to which the situation has
been wrought There was no effort
among the highest officials, nor, in
deed, was it possible, from what was
clearly apparent in the developments
of the day, to minimize the situation.
Viewed in detail, the findings of the
court of inquiry was the most vital
feature. Commander Mark, judge
advocate of the court of inquiry, de-
livered the report to Secretary Long,
Oh III I'D ,.o1
to the White house and placed in the
hands of the President. At 10:3D the
cabinet assembled, half an hour ear
lier than usual, and began the consid-.
Grafton of the momentous document
Even the rigid rules of secrecy which
prevail at cabinet meetings were made
doubly strict in this case, and no init
nation of the results reached by the
court were known until . o'clock.
These results, briefly stated, are
that the loss OF the Maine was due to
an explosion from the outside, the
court being unable to fix the RESPONSE
bility for the explosion. The court
does not express an opinion as to the
character of the explosive, but the
testimony goes to show that it was
powerful submarine mine, the exact
character of which is not determined
by the testimony. though the belief is
expressed that it was a floating sub
marine NINE
There were two explosions, the
court finds. The first was from the
and that set off one of the
smaller magazines.
While interest was thus conferred at
The White house, the navy and war
were hurrying forward
heir work of preparations. The adj
vance of the Spanish torpedo fotilla
continued to receive the closest atten-
ton of naval officials and while, so
Tar as could be ascertained, no definite
inc of action was determined upon, |
The need of intercepting this fleet was
urged by the highest naval authori-
lies.
From the standpoint of the Spanish
this movement was not
menace, having been decided upon
many weeks ago On the contrary,
The Spanish government holds that
The extensive armament of the Dry
rortugas Is a more directly hostile act
lgainst'Spain than any movement OF
The flotilla. Instead of stopping the
1otilla, the present altitude of Spain
ends toward reinforcing it with other
Spanish war vessels, not as menace,
put from what the Spanish govern
nent feels is requirement called for
BY the existing condition of affairs
Hardly less suggestive than the ap-
oroach of the torpedo flotilla was the
Information received by the highest
authorities that the Spanish
had hurried to completion
extensive Notifications on the island
If Porto Rico, lying just off Cuba, and
he only Spanish possession in this
hemisphere other than Gu ba. The ex-
lct character of these new defenses
has been made known here, and they
ire being given weight with the mill
AIRY authorities, as showing the dis
position of Spain.