The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-26

gestion from this government tending
TO interfere with the disposition by Spain
of her naval forces.
War preparations on an unprecedent-
ed scale are being hurried to completion
by the war and navy departments, and
the country practically is on war foot
ing.
The foregoing gives the record OF one
of the most eventful days the national
capital has seen since the close of the
civil war. II was a day of profoundly
important action, of the deepest anxiety
coupled with naval and military activity.
one step following another in rapid sue
cession. Representative men OF the ad-
ministration. 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
brought. There was no effort among
the highest officials. nor indeed was II
possible, owing to what was clearly ap-
parent in the developments of the day,
to minimize the situation.
Viewed In detail, the finding of the court
of inquiry was the most vital feature.
Commander Mark. Judge advocate of
y
port to Secretary Long in the morning,
and shortly afterward IL was carried to
the White House and placed i'm the hands
of the president. At 10:S0 the cabinet
assembled. half an hour earlier than
usual, and began considering the mo-
mentous document. Even the rigid
rules OF secrecy which prevail at cab
met meetings were made doubly strict
T., 1~s~ Int aF <to
result reached by the court was known
until o'clock. when an Associated Press
bulletin gave the information to the
country as we'll as to the eagerly watt
ing officials throughout Washington.
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 responsibility
for the explosion. The court does not
express an opinion as to the character of
the explosion. but the testimony goes
to show that IL was a powerful subma-
rine mine. the exact character OF which
is not determined by the testimony.
though the belief was expressed that
II was floating submarine mine. There
were two explosions. the court finds: the
first was from the outside and that set
4
was this result expressed In detail and
with the precision of a court deeply
conscious OF it's responsibility. together
with the evidence on which it was based,
that occupied the attention of the cab
met throughout its extended sessions
OF the morning and afternoon. All other
lesser subjects gave way to this FORE
most question. There was no change
In the plan of making the report pub
lie and transmitting IL TO congress early
next week, accompanied by brief mes
sage from the president.
The extra session of the cabinet be-
gan at 3 o'clock and continued until
nearly $50 O'clock. 1t is understood
that the entire meeting was devoted to
the discussion of the situation and plans
for future action. All the members
present. however. were unusually reti-
cent but there is reason to believe that
the matters under discussion were of
the gravest character. and that 1t Is
the opinion of the administration that
never since the wrecking OF the Maine
has the situation semed so critical as
today, and that trouble can be averted
only with great difficulty.
While interest was thus centered at
the White House. the navy and war de-
partments were hurrying forward their
work OF preparation. The advance OF
the Spanish torpedo fiotilla continued
to receive the closest attention OF naval
officials and while. so far as could be
ascertained. no definite line OF action
was determined upon. the need OF inter-
cepting this fleet was urged by the high
est authorities. From the standpoint
Of the Spanish government this move
ment was not menace, having been
decided upon many weeks ago. On the
contrary. the Spanish government holds
that the extensive armament OF the Dry
Tortugas is a more directly hostile act
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