The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-22
FINISHED.
Work of the .. s. Naval Board
of Inquiry is Done.
Report Has Been Submitted to
Admiral Sicard
And Will Be Taken to Wash
ingtOn Today.
COMMANDER MARK,
As Judge Advocate Of the Court
to Take 1t.
The Impression Prevails Among
the Naval Officers
The Impression Prevails Among
the Naval Officers
STAYING AT KEY WEST
That the Report Will Find
That the Maine
Was Intentionally Blown Up
Reports Contents Not Known.
Report Will Probably Be Given
to the Press Monday.


ted States court of inquiry into the loss
of the battleship Maine has at last
finished it's laborious work of investiga-
tion of the disaster and has submitted
its report to Rear Admiral Sicard. He
has pointed out some alterations, which
he considers necessary, and the report
will probably be taken to Washington
today by Lieut.. Commander Mark.
judge advocate of the court.
It is possible, however, that its arriv-
al in Washington may be delayed sew
eral days longer, as Admiral Sicard said
last night:
7 could scarcely say that the report
viii leave tomorrow. The court has
practically finished its work, but some
details may engage its attention long
enough to keep the report here several
days I trust. however, that the navy
department will have the documents in
a very short time"
The decision reached by the court is
still a matter of surmise. Perhaps some
significance may be attached and con-
cluSiOns drawn from a remark made by
Admiral Sicard last night, when he
said to a correspondent:
The case of the Maine is most pecu-
liar, perhaps the most peculiar which
has ever occurred in the history of the
world
From the general tone of his remarks
it might be inferred that the court
findings do not definitely solve the mys-
terry of the explosion This is further
borne out by the admiraFs statement
that even after the report has been sent
to Washington, the department may re-
quire further investigation
It is certain in any case, whether the
report leaves today, or later in the
y
istence at the call of Admiral Sicard.
the cOnvening and reviewing authority.
All rumOrs as to the report being al
ready on its way to Washington were
set at rest yesterday afternoon when
Judge Advocate Mark walked into the
hotel and asked for Admiral Sicard.
Behind Lieut.. Commander Mark was
an armed orderly with a large dispatch
bag slung across his shoulder and in
that bag was the report of the court of
inquiry.
In the little writing room of the hotel
Lieut. Mark personally delivered the
report to Admiral Sicard. Commander
West of Admiral Sicard's staff then
Joined Lieut.. Mark, and the trio walk
ed up stairs to the admiraPs rooms.
For two hours they were clOseted to-
gether, going over the vOluminOuS pa
pers. Lieut.. Commander Mark then
personally took the papers on board
the Nashville, which lies close off shore.
If the report can be finally prepared to-
day to the admiraPs satisfaction. there
is little doubt that it can be taken on
the afternoon boat to Miami
The feeling here, after it became
known that the report had been turned
over to the admiral was one of relief.
Naval officers and others discussed
the possibilities of the courts finding
until a late hour. The general impress
sion continues to prevail that the court
had found that the Maine was inten-
tiOnally blown up, but no new reasons
were adduced for this conclusion.
The United States battleships Massa-
chusetts and Texas passed here yester-
day afternoon at o'clock for Hampton
Roads. The battleship Indiana arrived
here yesterday from the Tortugas is
lands and is anchored beside the bat
tleship Iowa and cruiser New York, six
miles from shore.
Chicago. March PA special to the
Tribune from Washington, D. c., says:
Late last evening Secretary Long ad-
mitted that a telegraphic summary of
the report of the court of inquiry had
been received. and he also admitted
that Admiral Sicard had received the
report last evening and would forward
1t to Washington without delay with
the telegraphic summary received as a
basis, the state department has already
proceeded to notify Minister WOOdfOrd
officially of the character of the report,
and he in turn by this time has prOba-
bly, communicated the news to the
Spanish government with an intimatiOn
that it must be prepared to present a
satisfactory reply within a few days.
It is commonly supposed at the navy
department that there will be no de-
parture from the usual custom of hav-
ing the report of the court of inquiry
come to Washington in the custody of
the judge advocate. It would be a great
surprise if the report reached here in
any other way, or was received before
Thursday, the day set for its receipt
by Secretary Long, who has explained
that his estimate of the date of arrival
is based on information in his possess
sion.
It is a significant fact that after the
different conferences at the White
House yesterday there was a demand