File No. 811.304M28/59.
[Untitled]
Washington, February 22, 1912.
U. S. SS. North Carolina and Birmingham will arrive at Habana March 4, or at about that time, as may hereafter be settled, for removal of wreck of the Maine. You will so inform the Cuban Government.
You will request that permission be given by the Cuban Government, if practicable, for a suitable force of men under arms from the above-mentioned vessels to land on Cuban soil in order appropriately to participate in the ceremonies which the Cuban Government contemplates holding to mark the transfer of the Maine victims to the resting place on shore.
After appropriate ceremonies these vessels will accompany the wreck of the Maine as it is towed to sea, under direction of the military authorities. A salute of twenty-one minute-guns will be fired from the senior ship simultaneously with the similar salute which it is understood will be fired from shore as the vessels leave port. The salute will be started by the Cuban battery, each gun of which will be followed at a five-second interval by gun from the senior ship.
When the wreck is sunk in deep water outside the harbor appropriate ceremonies will be observed, after which the North Carolina and Birmingham will proceed to Hampton Roads.