The Springfield herald., 1898-04-01

Washington. March 2S.-The Presi-
dent to-day sent the following message
to Congress:
| To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior to the visit OF the
Maine to Havana harbor our consular
representatives pointed out the ndvan-
tages to follow visits of national ships
to the Cuban waters, in accustoming
the people to the presence of our flag
as the symbol of good will and Of our
ships in the fulfillment of the mission
| of protection to American interests,
| even though no Immediate need there
| for might exist.
Accordingly, on the 2jth OF Janu-
ary last, after n conference with the
| Spanish minister. in which the renewal
of visits of our war vessels to Spanish
waters was discussed and accepted,
the peninsular authorities at Madrid
and Havana were advised of the pur-
| pose of this government TO resume
| friendly naval visits at Cuban ports,
and that in that view the Maine would
forthwith call at the port of Havana.
the Spanish government with appreci-
alton of the friendly character of the
visit of the Maine and with notifica-
ton of intention to return the cour-
tesy by sending Spanish ships to the
principal ports of the United States.
Meanwhile the Maine entered the port
of Havana on the 25th of January,
her arrival being marked with no
special incident besides the exchange
of customary salutes and ceremonial
visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor
Of Havana during the three weeks fol
lowing her arrival. No appreciable
excitement attended her stay; on the
contrary, IL feeling of relief and conf
dence followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
So noticeable was the immediate eff
feet of her visit that the consul gen
eral strongly urged that the presence
of our ships in Cuban waters should
be kept mp by retaining the Maine at
Havana. or in the event of her recall,
by sending another vessel there to take
her place.
At forty minutes past 0 in the even
Ing of the 10Th of February, the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion, by
which the entire forward part of the
ship was utterly wrecked. In this ca
tastrophe two officers and 26O of her
crew perished. those who were not
killed outright by her explosion being
penned between decks by the tangle
of wreckage and drowned by the i'm
mediate sinking of the hull. Prompt
assistance was rendered by the neigh
boring vessels anchored in the harbor
aid being especially given by the boats
of the Spanish cruiser Alphonso MI.
and the Ward line steamer City of
Washington, which lay not far distant.
The wounded We're generously cared
for by the authorities of Havana, the
hospitals being freely opened to them.
while the earliest recovered bodies of
the dead We're inferred by the muni-
cipality in the public cemetery in the
city. Tributes of grief and sympathy
were offered from all official quarters
of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with crushing
force and for brief time an intense
excitement prevailed. which in a com
munity less just and self-controlled
than ours must have led to hasty acts
of blind resentment. This spirit, how
ever. soon gave way to the calmer pro-
cesses of reason and to the resolve to
investigate the facts and await the
ment as to the cause, the responsibility
and. if the facts warranted, the rene
dy due. This course necessarily rec
commended itself from the outset to the
| executive, for only in the light of a
dispassionately ascertained certainty
could it determine the nature and
measure of its full duty in the matter
The usual procedure was followed
| as in all cases of casualty or disaster
to national vessels of any maritime
| state A naval court of inquiry was
at once organized, composed of officers
well qualified by rank and practical
experience to discharge the onerous
duty imposed upon them. Aided by
I n strong force of wreckers and divers
| the court proceeded to make a thor
! ough investigation on the spot, EN-
4 ploying every available means for the
\ impartial and exact determination OF
| the causes of the explosion. Its opera
| tons have been conducted with the
utmost deliberation and Judgment, and
while Independently pursued, nc
source of information was neglected
and the fullest opportunity was al
lowed for simultaneous investigation
by the Spanish authorities.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after twenty-three days
of continuous labor, on the 21st of
| March, instant, and having been ap.
l proved on the 22d by the commander.
in-chief of the United States naval
| force on the North Atlantic station
| was transmitted to the executive.
II is herewith laid before the Con
| grcss. together with the voluminous
| testimony taken before the court. Its