The Mysterious Explosion of the U.S.S. Maine

1. How long after the explosion of the Maine was this article written?

2. What does the headline of the article suggest about the newspaper's point of view?

Answer:

1. The article was written soon after the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine on February 15, 1898.

2. The headline of the article suggests that the newspaper, the New York Journal, firmly believes that the destruction of the battleship Maine was the work of an enemy.

The explosion of the battleship U.S.S. Maine on February 15, 1898, led to the deaths of 266 crew members and heightened tensions between the United States and Spain. Even though an official U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry did not lay blame on any specific person or nation for the explosion, public opinion in the United States pointed fingers at the Spanish military occupying Cuba.

The headline of the article, "Destruction of the Battle Ship Maine Was the Work of an Enemy," clearly indicates that the New York Journal firmly believed that the sinking of the Maine was deliberate and orchestrated by an adversary. This aligns with the prevailing sentiment at the time that Cuba was under occupation by the Spanish military.

The New York Journal's perspective on the incident reflected the widespread belief that the Spanish military was responsible for the explosion. This stance further fueled the passions of the American populace against Spain, eventually leading to a declaration of war and the start of the Spanish-American War.