The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-22
No IntimatiOn of Nature
OF the Report
OF MAINE INQUIRY BOARD
Theory OF External Explosion Pre-
walls at Wash ington.
CAPTAIN sIesBEH's FUTURE.

Washington. March 22.-The procedure
In connection with the submission OF the
report OF the Maine court OF inquiry by
the president TO congress Is now clearly
outlined. copy of 1t will be laid before
the Spanish government very early and.
as soon as can be consistently done, the
report will be sent to congress and made
public at the same time. The report to
congress will be accompanied by mes
sage from the president stating that af-
ter receiving the report the conclusions
were laid before the Spanish govern
ment and appropriate action from that
quarter was asked.
1t is stated positively that no part OF
the report and no intimation OF the find-
ings has reached the executive authori-
ties in Washington as yet. At the same
time the current of official opinion is
beginning to follow that Of the unofficial
opinion expressed so persistently In Ha-
vana and Key West. that the cause Of
the explosion was external TO the battle
ship. Officials state that while they are
wholly without exact information as to
the findings OF the court Of inquiry they
find themselves sharing in the convic-
ton that the cause OF the explosion was
not accidental. Opinion expressed by
the Maine survivors who reached here
last Saturday doubtless has contributed
largely to this view in official circles.
In this connection 1t is understood that
one Of the officers who arrived on Satur-
day stated not as opinion, but as his
personal observation on the night of the
explosions. The tendency OF this 70 to
support the theory OF external cause.
as this is based on the idea that the first
external explosion was followed by a
second internal explosion.
Intense interest in the report was
manifested yesterday at the White
House, and at the state. war and navy
departments. The president received
a number OF congressional leaders,
among them being Speaker Reed and
Chairman Hit of the house committee
on foreign affairs. The visit Of Mr..
Reed naturally attracted much atten-
ton, as he seldom leaves the congress
sional sphere to make calls on executive
branches, and 1t is inferred that the
purpose OF his visit was to confer upon
the Cuban situation and it's future be-
i.
Hit was communicative.
The military and naval preparations
have become so regular as TO lapse into
routine on a gigantic scale. No further
purchases OF warships were concluded
yesterday. and the negotiations are not
assuming a promising aspect, except in
showing that the United States can com
mand the market as against Spain. The
ordnance office of the war department
presented a very busy scene when bids
were opened for furnishing the depart
ment with about 1900 cast iron projec-
tiles for sea coast cannon in the forti-
fications. The advertisement called for
Isl l0-inch solid shot go 12-inch mortar
shells Weighing 500 pounds each, and 200
12-inch mortar shells weighing 1000
pounds each. An unusually large num-
Der OF firms bid for the contract and
their prices showed a wide range.
The battleship Texas started north
ward from Key West Monday, thus
settling the question as to the formation
OF second squadron at or near Hamp-
ton roads. 1t is expected the Massa-
chusetts will follow In a few days, but
The final orders for that move have not
been given.
The navy department has received a
preliminary report from one of it's agents
who are at Havana watching the prog
ress OF the wrecking. 1t is understood
that this refers mainly to the technical
work of salvage and not to the question
of cause.
According to the orders 10 naval Of
ficers the Maine IL still In existence.
II Is presumed that the battleship will
not be stricken from the register until
after IL has been established that tne
hun cannot be raised from its bed OF
mud In the harbor OF Havana and re-
constructed into at least a semblance OF
her former self. The navy department
Will not abandon its efforts TO raise the
vessel until the wreckers report that II
is impossible. That the wreckers al
ready take that view is evident from the
fact that the mammoth floating derrick
Monarch. which was chartered con-
ditionally for raising the Maine. has not
even started on her proposed trip 10
Havana and the officials OF the depart
ment have practically concluded TO
abandon II. Under the terms of the con-
tract $500 day was TO be paid for the
Monarch for every day she was in ae-
tual service on the wreck of the battle
ship. The owners of the Monarch were
TO be paid lump sum aggregating
many thousand dollars In case they were
able to raise the warshlp and take her To
the New York navy yard; and in case
che wos used in the wrecking operations
Il was also expected that she would be
specially employed 90 raise the turrets
and heavy guns. The navy has sarticu-
lar need OF hrst-class guns at this time.
Although there is not much prospect OF
raising the Maine there Is good reason TO
believe that many IL not all OF the guns