Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1898 — THE WRECK OF THE MAINE-FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN THE MORNING AFTER THE EXPLOSION. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WRECK OF THE MAINE-FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN THE MORNING AFTER THE EXPLOSION.

O XT' AVAL experts claim that the appearance of the twisted and torn wreck is in itself evidence O of the fact that the Maine was destroyed by outside influences. The position of' the wreck X shows that the shock was from the port side. The main deck between the forward and after O magazines is blown upward and to the starboard. The forward Smokestack is thrown back and O to the starboard. The whole wreck has a list to port It is claimed that the picture indicates X that the Maine was destroyed by a submarine mine. After awning is In view; ship’s rail is six Q feet under water; superstructure twisted and thrown aft; forward superstructure thrown 300 O feet from the ship forward; smokestack lying down.

reversed it would be only on the testimony of witnesses who had standing in the court of public opinion. No foreign country can appreciate the full depth of American patriotism, writes • Washington correspondent, and it takes •n incident of this sort to show it up in tts full strength and magnificence. Gov. Tanner of Illinois was the first to •ffer'the fighting forces of his State to the nation. .Gov. Mount of Indiana telegraphed that Indiana would make a generous response to arms. Gov. Black of New York sent word that militia of the Empire State, numbering 14,000, could mobilise within twenty-four hours after orders were received. The belief is nlso ex-

preened that there are 000,000 men in New York State available for service. Gov. Atkinson of West Virginia insists that'he •rill furnish at short übtice fifteen of the beat regiments that can be raised in the Onion. Gov. Holcomb of Nebraska will ■nppiy 1,200 well-drilled- men and pledge aOfU)00 volunteers. Gov. Wells of Utah any* Ms will do its full duty when It eemes to raising troops. AdJV Gen. -dykes of Tennessee will enlist 1,800 exjpeienced soldiers and raise 50,000 volunteers. Gov. Clough of Minnesota wires:

sentiment of Senators and Representatives. They all say that the time has gone by for any questions of belligerency and that the only point at issue now is whether the United States shall seize Havana harbor, root up its submarine mines and make it free ami safe to the navies of the world. The administration fully recognizes the dangerous situation and is making preparations for war. War may not eoine, but the Government will be prepared if it does route. The suspicion that,the Maine was blown up by a torpedo or submarine mine lias grown almost to a conviction. No one in Washington, says this correspondent, can explain why such nn act should have been committed, and many hope that it may be proven that it was not committed by auy Spanish official; but there are few who any longer hold to the theory of an accidental explosion in one of the magazines or have any assurance that u conflict with Spain will not follow the development of the fact that the Maine was destroyed by an act of treachery. It is admitted that Consul General Lee has warm'd Americans who are in Ilavann on pleasure to leave because they nre not Rate. Cabinet.members nre talking guardedly about indemnity. Naval ofllcinls admit that warships nre moving toward Key West and that work is being pushed with all possible speed on ships now in the various navy ynrds. Army ofllcials admit that fortifications arc to be manned at once and that other preparations nn> making to place our military arm iu the best possible condition.

i Activity In Kignißcnnt. 'All these tilings nre explained as only in keeping with the plans formulated months or weeks ago, and that they have no especial or immediate significance at this time. But they nre iu keeping with the suspicion now almost n conviction, that the Maine was destroyed by a hostile act of some one connected with the Spanish army. I,t is not, however, the preparations in the Navy or War Department „or the warnings of Gen. for Americans to leave Havana that point to a crisis ns much ns it is the feeling that the Maine was destroyed by treachery. The most conservative men in Congress fail to t fiud any possible plan for fighting this great

Ous assault upon the United States. Those who are most experienced iu diplomacy and the more delicate relations of Governments express the opinion that the President can do nothing but declare war on Spain and send the navy to bombard Havana. He must accept the evidence before him. Spain alone can prevent war under such circumstances by making amends. She can express her regrets, tender her npologies, lay hands on the criminals whom Hlanco must know, because they must have been in his employ, and execute

them, salute the American flag and offer to pay an indemnity for the loss of the ship and another for the lives of the 250 men who were murdefed. It would remain for this Government to make the terms of peace that would be acceptable, and the independence of Cuba would be one of these conditions. The diplomats fee no other way to prevent

END VIEW OF THE WRECKED MAINE.

LOOKING FORWARD FROM THE AFTER SEARCHLIGHT.