The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-26
WAS CAUSED BY AN OUTSIDE EXPl lOS|ON
The Finding Inquiry Investigation of the
Disaster to the Battleship Maine While in
the Harbor Havapa

Aa- AhStCdu VI StOpDiuS tnc noNlld,
the present attitude of Spain tends to-
ward reinforcing with other Spanish
war vessels. not as a menace, but from
what the Spanish government feels is
requirement called for by the exist
ing condition Of affairs.
Hardly less suggestive than the ap-
proach Of the torpedo fiotilla was the
information received today by the high
est military authorities that the Span
ish government had hurried to compile
tion extensive fortifications on the
island OF Porto Rico, lying just off
Cuba, and the only Spanish possession
in this hemisphere other than Cuba. The
exact character of the new defenses has
been made known here. and are being
given weight with the military author
tiles as showing the disposition Of Spain.
Naval Orders.
The instructions issued by the navy
department during the day covered
every branch of naval armament. The
flying squadron" was definitely estab-
lished, with Commodore Schley in COM
mand. He will hoist his commodore's
flag on the flagship Brooklyn next Mon
day. The squadron is to consist of
exactly five ships, despite conjectures
as to possible ships that might be add
ed. These of the squadron will be the
crack armored cruiser Brooklyn. the
battleships Massachusetts and Texas,
and the cruisers Columbia and Min
neapols. Other ships which are now
here. or hereafter at Hampton Roads.
will not be of the flying squadron. but
will belong to the North Atlantic sta
tion. under Captain Sampson. The fly
ing squadron is to be a small compact
fleet Of the best ships of the navy, for
quick service at any point along the At
lantic. At the same time the North
fatt tuf.
son. is to be further augmented. The
cruiser Cincinnati, which left Port An
tonic three days ago under sealed or
uers. is to report at Key West and be-
come a part of Captain SIMPSONS fleet.
The gunboat Wilmington, also en- route
from Port Antonio. will likewise report
to Captain Sampson at Key West, as
well as the gunboat Vicksburg, now at
Hampton Roads.
Late to-day the navy department
gave out the following list of vessels
as showing the exact character OF each
fleet as IL stands to-day. The follow
ing vessels comprise the North Allan
tic squadron: New York, Iowa, In
diana, Miantonomah. Fern. Puritan,
Terror, Marblehead. Montgomery. Del
aware. Castine, Nashville. Helena, Will
mington, Nesuvius, torpedo boats
Foote, Dupont, Ericsson. Gushing. Por-
ter, Winslow, tugs Leyden and Samo-
set. The following vessels comprise
the flying squadron: The Brooklyn.
Massachusetts. Texas. Minneapolis and
Columbia. Some of the other more i'm
portant developments of the day may
be summarized as follows:
acquisitions were made on the ma
val ordnance bureau for a large num-
Der of quick-fire four-pounder and six
FOUNDER guns to be mounted on the
revenue cutters and the steam yachts
about to be purchased. The bureau
determined to use the quick-fire guns
for these crafts. which had been origi-
nally intended for the Atlantic liners,
st. Paul and st. Louis. Captain Brad
ford. chief of naval equipment, has
completed plans for securing a naval
coaling station in waters south of
Cuba and the papers are now ready for
final action. The station will be on
Navassa island. as has been suggested,
but is likely to be at one of the sew
eral fine harbors of Hayti or San Do
mingo, or else on the Danish island of
st. Thomas, which is open to purchase
from Denmark for a considerable sum.
Late to-day the battleship Texas was
from Hampton Roads at the
navy yards to receive her machinery
for hosting ammunition and guns.
Favorable answers We're received
from the New York naval militia of
their readiness on short notice to sup
ply officers and men to man the single
turreted monitors now called into serv-
Ice. Orders were issued to-day to have
all the warships painted black. a color
that is better adapted to hostilities be-
cause the vessels will not afford as good
q target.
Torpedo Boat Purchased.
The navy department was informed
,y cablegram from Lieutenant Colwell,
naval attache to the United States en-
oassy at London, that agents of this
had purchased a "Schis- |
had" torpedo boat that had been con-
'tructed for the German government.
rhe new acquisition is of the general
ype of German torpedo boats, and is
'egarded as a valuable addition to our /
navy. One feature regarding her that /
lffords special qualification to the Of |
icials of the navy department is that /
he is now ready for sea.
1t is expected that in a day or two 1
he will leave for the United States. !
She will be able to make the journey /
icross the Atlantic without difficulty. !
Is she is a good sea-going vessel and /
Ter coal capacity is ample for the trip |
o this country. She is a 23-knot ves-
el and about $50 feet long. While of |
he same general type as the Rodgers /
md Foote of the United States navy, !
he Is a trifie larger. At the navy de- \
'artment the precise dimensions of the 4
lew boat could not be given. The 1
,rice paid for her the navy officials l
leclined at this time TO state. but said !
was very reasonable. Work on the
'essel has just been completed. She
las never been in service. She is sup
'osed to carry three torpedo tubes and
wo small caliber rapid-fire guns. Nine
o II men will be needed to man her.
Word reached the navy department /
'ficials to-day that the Spanish au-
horities have taken steps to supple
nent the existing fortifcations at San
uan de Puerto Rico. the main port of
he island of Porto Rico. The news 4
; regarded as significant. Porto Rico
) the only other possession which be-
ongs to Spain on this hemisphere he
ides Cuba The officials of the depart
nent. while acknowledging that infor-
nation of the foregoing character has
cached them, are very chary about inn
,arting any of the details TO the press