The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-28
Message of the President to
Congress
In Connection With the Report
of the Court
GIVES THE HISTORY
Of the Considerations and the
Events
Which Led to the Vessels Trip
to Havana.

Washington, March 2S.-The president
today 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. consular
representatives pointed out the advan-
tageS TO flow from the visit of national
ships to Cuban waters, in accustoming
the people to the presence of our flag
as the symbol of good will and of our
ships in the fulfllment of the mission
of protection to American interests.
even though no immediate need there
for might exist.
Accordingly. on the oath of January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister in which the renewal of visits
of our war vessels to Spanish waters
was discussed and accepted, the penin-
sular authorities at Madrid and HaVa-
ma We're advised of the purpose 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 This announce
ment was received by the Spanish gov
ernment with appreciation of the
friendly character of the visit of the
Maine and with notification of intention
10 return the courtesy 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 custO-
mary sa1utes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor of
Havana during the three weeks follow
ing her arrival No apprectable excite
ment attended her stay; on the contra
ry, feeling of relief and confidence
followed the resumption OF the long IN
terrupted friendly intercourse. So no
ticeable was this immediate effect of
her visit that the consular general
strongly urged that the presence of our
ships in Cuban waters should be kept
up by retaining them at Havana, or, in
the event of her recall, by sending
other vessels there to take her place.
At 40 minutes past nine in the even
ing of the 18th of February, the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion, by which
the entire forward part of the ship was
utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe
two officers and two hundred and sixty
of her crew perished, those who were
not killed outright by her explosion be
ing 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 XIII
and the Ward Line steamer, City of
Washington. which lay not far distant.
The wounded were generously cared for
by the authorities of Havana, the hos
pitfalls being freely opened to them,
while the earliest recovered bodies Of
the dead, were inferred by the munich
paIity in public cemetery in the city.
Tributes of grief and sympathy were
offered from all official quarters of the
island.
The appalling calamity fall upon the
people of our country with crushing
force and for a brief time an intense
excitement prevailed. which in a com
munity less just and self-cOntrOlled
than ours might 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 ma
terial proof before forming a judgment
as to the cause. the responsibility and
if the facts warranted, the remedy due.
This course necessarily recommended
itself from the outset to the executive
for only in the light of a dispassionate-
" ascertained certainty could it deter
mine the nature and measure of its full
duty in the matter.
The usual procedure was followed.
as in all cases Of casualty OF disaster
to national vessels of any maritime
state. A naval court Of inquiry was al
once organized, composed of officers
well qualified by rank and practical ex-
perience to discharge the onerOus duty
imposed upon them. Aided by a strong
force of WreckerS and divers the court
proceeded to make a thorough investi-
cation on the spot, employing every
available means for the impartial and
exact determination of the causes of
the explosion. It's operations have been
conducted with the utmost delibera-
ton and judgment and while indie
pendently pursued no source of infOr-
nation was neglected and the fullest
opportunity vas allowed for stimuli
taneous investigation by the Spanish
authorities.
TSe finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after twenty-three days of
continuous labor. on the 21st of March,
instant. and having been approved on
the 22d by the cOmmander-in-chief Of
the United States naval force on the
North Atlantic station was transmitted
to the executive
Tt is herewith laid before the congress
together with the vOluminous testimony
taken before the court, its purpOrt is in
brief. as follows:
! The Maine arrived at Havana, she
WAS conducted by the regular govern
-ment pilot to buoy No. 4, to which she
was mOOred in from five and one half
to six fathOms of water.
The state of discipline on board and
the condition of her magazines, boilers.
coal bunkers and storage compartments
are passed in review. with the cOnclu-
sion that excellent order prevailed and
that no Indication of any cause for an
internal explosion existed in any quar-