The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-02
THE MAINE DISASTER.
The Noble Ship was BIownup by Design.
Her Back Was Broken.

Washington, March at seems almost
an impossibillty to cause the administra'
ton to adopt the proper view OF the Maine
horor. 1t is now settled beyond doubs
that the noble battlsship was blown up ~
design. The Government, however, fails
to take action with Wow to upholding
the honor and dignity Of the Nation or OF
avenging the death of the brave sailors
who, were treacherusiy killed OF thsis
posts of duty
The Names back was broken.
The keel of the noble warship has been
found broken, bent and twisted, twenty
nino feet above It's original resting place,
This important information comes di.
rect from Havana.
This discovery supports the testimony Of
Ensign Powelson, and Is convincing proof
that submarine mine wrecked the Maine.
The keel WAS forced in the middle until
1t was broken In two
1t then collapsed in two sections.
There is now no need for any further in
vestigation and further delay on the part
of the Court OF Inquiry can only be con SID
cred as the result Of the sO-called 'conser.
va;ism" of President Mckinley and bis
cabinet Of procrastinators.
Despite this oil important evidence
Secretary of the Navy Long comes ous
boldly and attempts to acquit Spain OF
any connection with the terrible tragedy.
It's positively asserted that the breaking
of the Names keel, as now disclosed could
not possibly DO done by an inside explo~
sion.
LII asserted here that unloss the Ad.
ministration soon takes some action, Con-
gross will force the matter to an issue.
The war feeling is high, and will not DO
subdued, despite the craven attitude Of
those in position to right tho great wrong
dons this country through Spanish foul
play.
Naval officers In Havana are discusss
ing the position In which Spain
would stand II the report of the Court OF
Inquiry shows that the explosion which
shattered the Maine came from mine in
the harbor. Many oonjectures are ad-
vanced In this connection
Many Witnesses were examined by tho
Court Of Inquiry at Key West yesterday,
but little that was unknown or of import
ance was told The witnesses were sur
vivors of the Maine, some officers and sew
ersl men, who told Of their personal e1.
periences.
Naval Constructor Hoover reached Key
West yesterday, and whom the Court OF
Inquiry returns to Havana, probably on
Thursday, he will go along. 1t Is expected
that Mr.. Hoover will make personal ex-
animation of the wreck of the Maine In
Havana harbor, and will Then give testi-
mony before the court. His statements, ID
is believed, will boot the greatest import
ance, tending to corroborate those OF En-
sign Powelson, who holds that the pri'
mary explosion which wrecked the battle
ship came from underneath.
One move in Washington which Is re.
garded as significant is the award by tho
War Department of contracts for ono mil
hon dollars worth of projecties. This
1,mlpvs is made in advance of Congressional
,s;.aion and is regarded as an emergency
Step for this reason.
Once the report Of the Maine Court Of
Inquiry is before President Mckinley,
there will he no delay in formulating any
demand on Spain which may be warrant
ed by the Washington authorities.
Washington, March 2.-Orders have
been sont to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to
enlist ordinary seamen, seamen and ma
chinists without limit. These orders wero
issued regardless OF the navy list being
nearly up to the legal number OF enlisted
men. 1t is understood by the Navy Yard
authorities that Secretary Long has issued
tho or ders in absolute certainty of the in
crease to 1000 men asked for being grant,
by Congress.
Mounts are bsing made for the batteries
of the auxiliary cruisers at tho Brooklyn
Navy Yard machine shops. When the
guns arrive they will DO assigned places
in the Cob Dock storehouses. The guns
now on tho way and the mounts being
prepared are for the American lines fleet.
the St. Louis, st. Paul, Paris and New
York