Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-03-31
NAVAL COURT REPORT.
Responsibility for Wreck Of the
Maine Not Placed.
DESTROYED BY SUBMARINE NINE.

President Mckinley Sends the Report to
Congress Accompanied by n Message and
Directs That the Conclusions of the Court
of Inquiry BE Sent to the Queen Regent
of Spain-Text of the Report-Testimony
of Important witnesses.
To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior to the visit of the
Maine TO Havana harbor our consular
representatives pointed ont the advan-
tages to flow from the visit of national
ships to the Cuban waters, in accustom-
ing the people to the presence of our
flag as the symbol of good will and of
u ships in the fulhllment of the mis-
sion of protection to American inter-
ests, even though 10 immediate need
therefore might exist.
Accordingly on the Gath 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 Hav-
ana were advised of the purpose OF his
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
eminent with appreciation of the friend
~ Lilo bSNNA ~ tAS ASiN u NAS
n with the notification of intention to
return the courtesy by sending Spanish
ships to the principal ports of the
United States.
Maine Enters Havana Harbor.
Meanwhile the Maine entered the port
of Havana on the 18th of January, her
arrival being marked with no special
incident besides the exchange of Gus
tomary salutes and ceremonial, visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor Of
Havana during the three weeks follow
ing her arrival. No appreciate ex-
element attended her stay; on the con-
trary, a 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 hat the consul general strong
ly urged that the presence of our ships
in Cuban waters should be kept up by
retaining the Maine at Havana, or in
the event Of her recall; by sending an
other vessel to take her place. At for
ty minutes past 9 in the evening of
the 18th of February the Maine was de-
stroyed by an explosion, by which the
entire forward part of the ship was ut
terly wrecked. In this catastrophe two
officers and 260 of her crew persisted,
those who were not killed outright by
her explosion being penned between
decks by the tangle of wreckage and
drowned by the immediate sinking of
the hull.
Assistance Was Prompt.
Prompt assistance was rendered by
the neighboring vessels anchored in the
harbor, aid being especially given by
the boats of the Spanish cruiser AL
phonso XII and the Ward line steamer
City of Washington. which lay not far
distant. The wounded were generous
ly cared for by the authorities of Ha-
vana, the hospitals being freely opened
70 fhnnn whf10 tho 90 rltnCt raanHTnro1
bodies Of the dead were inferred by the
municipality in a public cemetery in
the city. Tributes of grief and SYM
pathy were offered from all official
quarters of the island.
The appalling calamity fell 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
processes of reason n to the resolve
to investigate the facts and await the
material proof before forming a judg-
ment as to the cause, the responsible
ity, and IL h facts warranted, the
remedy due.
Court of Inquiry Organized.
This course necessarily recommended
itself from the outset to the executive,
" tlAly al lax ll5ll VI q oAopdSolOItdlS-
ly ascertained certainty could 1t deter
mine the nature and measure of it's full
duty in the matter. The usual proceed
ure 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, COM
posed of officers well qualified by rank
and practical experience to discharge
h onerous duty imposed pom them.
Aided by a strong force of wreckers
and divers the court proceeded TO make
a thorough investigation on the spot,
the impartial and exact determination
of the causes of the explosion. It's
operations have been conducted with
the utmost deliberation and Judgment,
and while Independently pursued, no
and the fullest opportunity was al
by the Spanish authorities.
Findings of the Court,
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after twenty-three days
Of continuous labor, on the 21st Of
March and having beer approved on
the 23d by h commander-in-chief of
the United States naval force on the
north Atlantic station, was transmitted
to the executive.
1t is herewith laid before the congress,
together with the voluminous testimony
taken before the court. Its purport
Is, in brief, as follows:
When he Maine arrived at Havana
she las conducted by the regular gov
e. emit pilot to buoy No. 4, to which