Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-22
REPORT EXPECTED THURSDAY.
Line Of Action TO Be Taken With Re
sUect To IL.

Line Of Action 10 lie Taken With RE
spect tO IL.
WASHINGTON. March A.-The proce
dure in connection with the report Of the
Maine court of inquiry TO the President
and Congress is now clearly outlined. a
Cabinet officer to-day discussed the gene
raI line Of action intended to be pur-
sued upon receipt Of the report, which
ls expected to reach Washington next
Thursday.
A COPY Of It will be laid before the
Spanish Government very early and as
soon as can be consistently done the
report will be sent 10 Congress and made
public at the same time. The report 10
Congress will be accompanied by
message from the President stating that
alter receiving the report the cOnclu-
s.gus were laid before the Spanish Gov
eminent. and appropriate action from
that quarter asked.
IL ls stated positively that no part ol
the report or intimatiOn Of the findings
has reached the executive authorities in
Washington as yet. At the same time
!t is a noticeable fact that the current
Of official opinion is beginning 10 follow
that OF the unofficial opinion expressed
sJ positively and persistently at Hapana
and Key West-that the cause OF the eX-
p.Js.Jn was external. Ofhclals mere nave
stated that while they were wholly with
out exact information as TO the findings
OIL tho court of inquiry they found them
selves sharing in the apparently lntansi-
b.. conviction that the Maine explosion
was not accidental The opinions eX-
pressed by the Maine Survivors VINO
reached here last Saturday doubtless,
have contributed largely 10 this view IN
Official circles In this connection II Is
understood that one OF the officers VINO
arrived ON Saturday stated, not as an
opinion. but as his personal Observation
o. the night Of the disaster, that 'here
were two distinct explosions. Ihe ten
dgucy Of this is TO support the theory oil
external cause, as this is based on the
iC,a that the first external explosion was
followed by a second internal explosion
REED AT WHITE HOUSE.
Intense interest in the report was mani
Tested to-day al the White House ana al
the War. State. and Navy departments
The President received a number " gVA
uysslonal leaders, among them w4Ba
Speaker Reed and Chairman Hit 20 y"
House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The
Visit Of Mr. Reed naturally attracted
much attention, as he seldom leaves tno
oongressiOnal sphere TO make calls on 'he
Executive branch, and ii was iniefreu
that the purpose OF his visit was 10 CON
Ter upon the Cuban situation ana It's lu-
ture before Congress, though neither ne
h9r Sir. Hit was communicative.
Secretary Long also had an extended
conference with the President but so iar
as could be learned. IL developed nothing
additional relating TO the Spanish ques-
ton.
The army and navy preparations are
continuing, without interruption, although
they have now become so regular as TO
lapse into routine on a gigantic scale. NO
ilf'her purchases OF warships were con-
Guided to-day. and the negotiations are
not assuming a promising aspect except
h showing that the United States can ,
command the market as against SPAIN ;
The ordnance office OF the War Depart
nent presented a very busy scene TO-DAY ?
~hen bids were opened for fufnish-i