The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-05

battle ship Maine has been received by the
Navy Department and was made public TO-
day. 1t is important mainly in showing
the exact scope of the inquiry and the ex-
tent to which the report will go. Aside
from the usual orders directing the court
10 report both findings of fact and its opin-
ions on these findings, Admiral Sicard also
directs the court to record any information
as TO person or persons rot connected
with the navy of the United States, who
are, In its opinion, responsible, in part or
wholly, directly or indirectly, for the ex-
plosion ard loss of the Maine" with names
and the degree of responsibility in each
case. The orders are dated at Key West,
Fla. Feb. e. 1898. and are directed to Capt.
Sampson, president of the court The text
is as follows:
"A court of inquiry. consisting of your
self Captain SampSon) as president and
Capt. F. i. Chadwick and Lieutenant Com
mander William F. Potter. as additional
members and OF Lieutenant Commander
Adolph Mark as judge advocate, is hereby
ordered to convene at noon on Monday
Feb n, 1898, or as soon thereafter as prac-
ticaDle, for the purpose of inquiring into
the circumstances connected with the loss
by explosion of the United States battle
ship Maine I'm the harbor or city Of Ha-
yana, Cuba. on the night of Tuesday. Feb.
To- 1893. The court Is authorized to hold its
session on board any ship of the North At
lantic squadron, or in the city of Key West,
Fla, or In the harbor Of the city of Ha-
yana. Cuba. The attention of the court is
Invited to the instructions concerning the
particulars to be investigated in the case of
the loss or grounding of a ship of the navy,
contained in the United States navy regula-
tons. The following described papers re-
lating to the loss of the United States ship
Maine, on the occasion referred to. are at
taehed TO and made part of this precept:
ftrst-The copy Of q telegram sent by
f6nFIag GfQGh4sa a Havana IN
Commander James NJ. Forsyth, United
States navy, at Key West, Fla. without
j., as it was received at Key West, Fla. by
Lieutenant Commander William S. Cowles,
United States navy, at a. m. OF Feb. 16.
1SyS. and by the cOmmander-in-chief at $50
a. m. of Feb. IS. At Dry Tortugas. Fla.
Second-A telegram sent by Capt. c. d.
Sigsbee United States navy. to the COM
mander-in-chief at Key West, Fla dated
Havana, Cuba, Feb. 16, $685.
The court viii diligently and thoroughly
inquire into all the circumstances attending
the loss of said vessel on the date named
and upon the conclusion of the investiga-
ton will report ~ the commander-in-ehief
its proceedings, all the testimony taken and
the evidence adduced together with opigl-
ions as to the further proceedings, If any
should be had in the matter. The court
Will also report whether or not the loss of
said vessel was. on the occasion named, in
sny respect due to fault or negligence on
the part of any of the officers or members
name of such officers or members of the
crew, and in what respect and t. what ex-
tent any or either of them We're so at fault
or negligent.
IF the court shall be OF the opinion tGat
further proceedings should be lad in the
matter, i will include in its report a sue
elnct statement as to the person or persons
against whom and the specific matter upon
which such proceedings should be had. The
court Will also report its opinion as to the
cause or causes Of the explosion or other
incidents that bore directly or indirectly
upon the loss Of the Maine.
IL viii also record any information that
u may be able to obtain by testimony and
evidence. as to any person or persons not
connected with the navy of the United
states. who are. in its opinion, responsible
~ part or wholly, directly or indirectly, for
the explosion and loss of the Maine. and
viii include their names. in It's opinion. to-
Retner with the degree Of such responsible
ity in each case"
The Mangrove sailed at S:25 D. M, with
eli the officers of the court and the ste
nographer Mr.. Bissell. She will touch at
the Tortugas with mail for the fleet.