New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-26
PRICE THREE CENTS.
A MINE BLEW UP THE MAINE
so COURT OF INQUIRY SAYS
1T IS UNABLE TO FIX THE RESPONSE
BILITY. HOWEVER.
AN OUTSIDE EXPLOSION SET OFF ONE or THE
SMALLER MAGAZINEs-sPAIN REFUSES TO RE
CALL HER TORPEDO FIOTTLLA AND IS
STRENGTHENING THE FoRTTFTcA-
TIoNs OF PORTO RIco-AN ExCTT-
ING DAY AT THE CAPITAL.
(B~ the Associated Press)

TIoNs OF PORTO RICo-AN ExCTT-
ING DAY AT THE CAPITAL.
CB~ the Associated Press)
Washington, March 25.-The Court OF Inquiry
! appointed 10 investigate the cause OF the Maine
disaster has reported that the loss OF the battle
ship was due to an outside explosion Tho
State Department by direction OF the President,
has cabled United States Minister Woodford at
Madrid, to inform the Spanish Government OF
this conclusion.
The President and his Cabinet advisors held
two extended sessions to-day, one at 1870 a m.
and another at $50 p. m, at which the report
was considered in detail Members OF the Cab
met said after the meeting that the discussion
was OF grave character. and that never since
the wrecking os the Maine has the situation
seemed so critical.
The Spanish Government has cabled officially
to Washington that the Spanish Naval Commits
sion holds :he disaster 10 the Maine 70 be OF in
ternal origin. The Government OF Spain, II can
be said positively. is not disposed to turn back
the torpedo hotnla now proceeding from the
Canarles. and would be dsirclined 10 consider
a suggestion from this Government tending to
interfere with the disposition by Spain OF her
own naval forces.
War preparation on an unprecedented scale is
|
Navy departments. and the country practically
| IS on a war footing
AN EVENTFUL DAY IN WASHINGTON.
The foregoing gives the record OF one Of the
most eventful days the National Capital has
seen since the close Of the Civil War. It was .
day Of profoundly important action. Of the deep
est anxiety coupled with naval and military
activity, one step following another In rapid sue
| cession. Representative men ot the Admnstra-
ton. public men in all branches OF official and
Congressional life. no less than the public In
general shared in the tension 70 which the situa-
ton has been wrought. There no effort
among the highest officials. nor indeed was II
possible. from what was clearly apparent in the
developments OF the day. 70 minimize the situa-
tion.
Viewed in detail the verdict OF the Court
Of Inquiry the most vital feature. Lieuten-
ant-Commander Mark. Judge Advocate Of the
Court, delivered the report TO Secretary Long
early this morning. and shortly afterward It
was carried 70 the White House and placed in
the hands II the President. At 1870 the Cabi-
net assembled. half an hour earlier than usual.
and began the consideration OF the momentous
document. Even the rigid rules OF secrecy which
prevailed at the Cabinet meetings were made
doubly strict in this case. and intlmation OF
the results reached by the Court were known
until . o'clock. when an Associated Press bull
letin gave the Information TO the country. as
we'll as the eagerly waiting officials throughout
Washington.
UNABLE TO FIX THE RESPONSIBILITY.
These results. briefly stated are that the loss
OF the Maine due to an explosion from the
outside the Court being unable to fix the re-
sponsibility for the explosion. The Court does not
express an opinion as to the character OF the
explosion. but the testimony goes TO show that
it a powerful submarine mine the exact
character Of which is not determined by the tes-
tnony. though the belief was expressed that IL
was floating submarine mine.
There were two explosions. the Court finds.
The first was from the outside and that set OF
one OF the smaller magazines.
1t this result. expressed IN detail and with
the precision Of court deeply conscious OF its
responsibility, together with the evidence on
which It was based. that occupied the attention
Of the Cabinet throughout It's extended sessions
OF the morning and afternoon. All other and
lesser subjects gave way TO this foremost ques-
ton. There was no change in the plan OF maxi
ing the report public ard transmitting It 10
Congress early next week. accompanied by .
brief message from the President
SPANS TORPEDO FLEET.
While interest was thus centred at the White
House. the Navy and War departments were
hurrying forward their work OF preparation.
The advance OF the Spanish torpedo lotilla con-
tinued to receive the closest attention OF naval
officials. and while. far as could be ascer-
tained no definite line OF action was determined
upon the need OF intercepting this fleet was
urged by the highest naval authorities. From
the point OF view Of the Spanish Government
this movement was not menace. having been
decided upon many weeks ago. on the con-
rsch ms holds
extensive armament OF the Dry Tortugas Is a
more directly hostile act against Spain than any
movement OF the fotil!a instead OF stopping
the fotilla the present attitude OF Spain tends
toward reinforcing II with other Spanish ves-
sells. not as a menace. but from what the Span
ish Government feels IS requirement called FOR
by the existing condition OF affairs
Hardly less suggestive than the approach OF
the torpedo fotilla the information received
to-day by the highest military authorities thae
the Spanish Government had hurried 10 COM
pleti0n extensive fort!hcations on the island
new defences has been made known here. and
they are considered by the military authorities
as showing the disposition Of Spain.
FLYING SQUADRON ESTABLISHED
The orders issued by the Navy Department
during the day covered every branch Of naval
armament The flying squadron was definitely
established with Commodore ". $. Schley in
command He will hoist his Commodores flag
on the flagship Brooklyn next Monday. Tho
SQUADRON IS 10 consist Of five ships These will
be the crack armored cruiser Brooklyn. the bat
tle-ships Massachusetts and Texas. and the
cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis. Other ships
which are now hereafter at Hampton Roads
will not be Of the flying squadron, but will be-
long 70 the North Atlantic station under Captain
Sampson
The flying squadron is 10 be a small compact
feet Of the best ships In the Navy for quick
service at any point along the Atlantic.
MORE SHIPS FOR CAPTAIN SAMPSON.
At the same time the North Atlantic Station.
under Captain Sampson is 20 he further aug