Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-07-12
sHAFTER's DELAY
CONTINUED from page ~

on lne regular eStaDllsWiheHt. >ap.'
Rowell was born in New YORK, ana ap
pointed to the military academy in 1870.
He became a I'd lieutenant in 1914, a Isl
lieutenant in 1881, and was placed In
command of the company which he LED
to his death, in 1896 His death caused
deep grief among the officers of the de-
partment.
The cable communication between
Washington and Gen. Skaters head
quarters has now been gotten into eX-
cellent condition, so that 1t mas been
possible TO receive at the department a
message within 90 minutes after hav-
ing been dispatched by Gen. Shafter
Col. Allen, who is in charge at Gen.
Skaters end of the line, reported To
the department that he is now engaged
in laying a cable from Guantanamo %
Playa del Este which will still further
reduce the time required for the eX-
change of communications.
The appearance at the navy depart
men, this morning, of Ensign Palmer
of the St. Louis, which arrived at
Portsmouth. yesterday. led the ofii-
cialS TO believe that he had brought
with him the reports of the American
naval commanders upon the battle
which resulted in the destruction of
Cervera's squadron. 1t turned out
however chat the st. Louis had start
ed from Siboney before the official re-
ports on that engagement had been
prepared.
Ex-Sccretary Herbert had quite a
conference with Secretary Long upon
the subject of fiie-proof wood for
naval construction. He brought with
him a formidable array of facts
gathered from the newspaper reports
of the naval battle to show that fire
was the element that worked the
greatest destruction among the yes
sels Of the Spanish squadron and that
whenever American vessels had been
hit even in the case of the tiny tor
pedo boat. they had escaped such fires
because all Of their woodwork was
fire rrcof. So impressed was Secre-
tary Ling with the statement that he
has concluded to reconVene a special
board which was appointed some time
ago to deal with these matters and
which had recommended that the use
of prepared wood be curtailed in some
measure in American warships then
| building.
Naval officials say that a serious ir-
regularity occurred At the time the
ships of Admiral CerVera's 5 fleet haul
ed down their collors and surrendered
INQUIRIES have brought the fact that
| breech blocks OF the guns were thrown
overheard. thus disabling the guns
and making them practically worth
| less and the valves by which the ships
| We're flooded were opened after the
/ surrender, when. under the rules ot
warfare, the enemy had ceased firing
and had asked for quarters. 1t is sale
| that further destruction Ia the ships ri
/ such a time was both Wanton and dis
/ honorable and that if the persons re-
! snCnsihle for it are located they are
/ likely to he held accountable.
The department has not yet received
til report of the court Of inquiry show
ing in deatu the injuries To the ship:
and the possibilities of salvage. Tn,
| press report of the boards findings
saying that only the Maria Teres;
could he saved. excited much surprlce
as il was confidently believed that tn,
! Colon also could be saved in whole oI
in part. The officials are still hopeful
that the full report of the board vii
show that there is a chance Of saving
the Colon.
Arrangements are being made by IN
quartcrmaster generals office for tn
transportation of 500 mules from Charlcs
ton. S. e.. on the ships scheduled to carr
the troops of the list Brigade of Maj
General Wilson's division, which is des
tined to go to Santiago. The dispatcAC
from the front indicate that Cen. Shaftt
jhas had considerable difficulty in keepin
the van of his army supplied w..n an
amount of rations and other necessarie
1t is believed that the wagons ana mul,
to be carried with Wilson'S brigade vi
answer all the immediate purposes
Skaters army.
The French ambassador, NJ. Gam
? bon. aud his secretary Welc at tn
state department, today. The FreuC
? ambassador left this afternoon fl
: New York. He probably will so t
Newport and Bar Harbor before Il
returns. His call on the Presider
naturally excited much comment an
lCu tt II IPi Is lllll tNttdlh iii'i 'tSfFd ~
pe2cc through French channels. Th
4 subject discussed by the amhassado
VIII he made known in the course Of
few days. in connection With an If
. teresiin% occasion, the details of whc
. cannot now be made public, but Whic
|, whom they are disclosed will show tha
. the conference. today, did not relat
. to the war in any respect.
The Chinese minister also called dun
ing the morning in reference to tn
disposition of the Chinese colony q
Santiago.