The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-22
REPORT Is READY.
Mark Puts It in the Hands
Of SiCdrd.
WILL WHIRL WASHINGTON
Lieutenant Commander Apt to Start
To-day.
PLANS OF The PRESIDENT.
Will First Lay the Facts Before
Spain.

Key West, March 21.-Judge Advocate
Mark. Of the court of inquiry, came
ashore at 8 o'clock this afternoon accom-
panied by an armed orderly from the
Iowa. who carried bulky package of
official documents, which was handed over
to Rear Admiral Sicard.
1t is believed the documents are the full
findings of the court of inquiry.
Lieut. Commander Mark, when ques-
toned on this subject, refused either to
deny or confirm, but an officer from the
Iowa said the documents were the long
expected report on the Maine disaster.
The papers were Immediately examined
by the rear admiral and Commando
West.
1t is presumed that If these documents
are the anxously expected report they
viii be taken to Washington Tomorrow
by Lieut.. Commander Mark.
Washington, March 21.-'The procedure
in connection with the submission of the
report of the Maine court of inquiry by the
President to Congress is. now clearly out
lined and a cabinet officer to-day explain
Il ed the general line of action at present in
tended to be pursued upon receipt of the
report which is expected to reach WASH
ington next Thursday.
copy of it will be laid before the Span
ish 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 accom-
panied by message from the President
stating that after receiving the report the
conclusions were laid before the Spanish
government and appropriate action from
that quarter asked.
1t is stated positively that no part of the
report and no intimation of the findings
has reached the executive authorities in
Washington.
AT the same time it is a noticeable fact
that the current official opinion is begin
nng to follow that of the unofficial opin-
Ion expressed SO positively and persistently
at Havana and Key West, that the cause
oI the explosion was external.
Officials high in the administration stat
ed to-day that while they are wholly with
out exact information as to the findings
oil the court Of inquiry. they found them
selves sharing in the apparently intangible
conviction that the cause of the explosion
was not accidental. The opinion express
N1 ly the Maine survivors, who reached
mere last Saturday, doubtless has contrib
Uted largely 10 this view in official circles
I'D this connection, il is understood that
one OF the officers, who arrived on Satur-
oa!' stated, not as an opinion, but as his
personal observation on the night of the
ui7tsier' that there were two distinct ex-
Poslons. The tendency of this is to sup
port The theory of external cause, as this
IL BASED upon the idea that the first ex-
''.nal explosion was followed by a second
internal explosion.
intense interest in the report was mani
s'sa to-day at the White House, and at
war state and navy departments.
i"e resident received a number of con-
g. 'ohal leaders, among them being
ANceu ana chairman hit Ol lHe
-1'Use committee on foreign affairs. The
s.s'' OF Mr.. Reed naturally attracted much
ooehNon, as he seldom leaves the con-
onal sphere Co make calls on the eX-
'u.e branch, and it was naturally in
.''1 mat the purpose of his visit was to
9N-tr upon The Cuban situation and it's
''o.e before Congress, though neither he
-il. Hit was communicative.
tary Long also had an extended
Vo-. renee with the President, but so far
IL" j. could be learned it developed nothing
0ahal relating to the Spanish ques-
% army and navy preparations are
,'N'HWng without interruption, although
't nave now become so regular as to
INTO routine on a gigantic scale.
'' llrther purchases of warshlps were
WI 'daed to-day, and the negotiations are
a-suming a promising aspect, except
owing that the United States can
'laIHand the market as against Spain
A ordnance office Of the war depart
H- presented a very busy scene to-day,
"'''l bids were opened for furnishing the
,iai ment about 1900 cast iron projec-
or sea coast cannon with which to
Z ne fortihcations The advertisement
sue Tor 1a 10-inch solid shot and 80
"h mortar shells, weighing 800 POUNDS
a There were an unusually large num-
4 hrms who bid for the contract and
r -tces az which they proposed 70 tur-
ne projectiles showed wide range.
c,eAong the bidders were the Petersburg
laJ iron Works and the Walk & Murdoch
'A company Of Charleston, 5. G. 30