The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-11

/ clusion OF It's investig alton into the
disaster tostle Maine. i
Sharing the general anxiety for
some information on this point, Sec
rotary Long, at the instance OF the
cabinet, sent a telegram to Admiral
Sicard asking him when it was prob
able that the report of the court would
be made, and late last night the fol-
lowing reply was received:
"Have talked with the president Of
the court Of inquiry and agree With
him that it is not yet possible to fix
date for the finding as so much de.
ponds upon the progress OF the divers
and wreckers and the results they OBJ
tain. Every effort is being made to
advance the inquiry. The court re.
turns to Havana this evening, having
about finished the investigation at
Key West. -Sicard.
Admiral Sicard's message is regard
ed officially as disposing of the re-
ports that the court has as yet OBJ
tained positive or conclusive informa-
ton bearing upon the object of their
Investigation. 1t is taken to mean
that upon the testimony or discoveries
of the divers will depend the finding,
the examination of the officers and
crew Of the ship having been insult
ticient to enable the court to even form,
an idea as to what lines may be opened
I'D from the investigation of the wreck
itself.
1t is probable that the OlymI flag
ship of the Asiatic squadron, and the
peerless queen Of the cruisers, will
come home to San Francisco. The
navigation bureau has this movement
under consideration, and, in view Of
the fact that the ship has been three
years away from nevy yard, en-
gagged in hard cruising service, even If
there were no other reason, it is prob
able that the order would be given.
The Olympia is q protected cruiser of
extraordinary speed and endurance,
with q battery strong enough to over
power almost anything short of q bat
tleship, and speed enough to run away
from that or anything else she does;
not care to fight.
Naval officials are deeply interested
in the reports of the
Purchase of Warships
by Spain. and make the reports Of
these transactions the text for COM
plants of the inability Of our navy de-
partment to do likewise. However, as
to the report from London of the pur-
chase Of the Amazonas by Spain, it is.
said at the department that this vessel
sailed for Brazil several months ago
and has been delivered to the Brazilian
government. Her sister ship is near
completion in the Armstrong yards.
The other two ships building for Bra
I'll in France, which are also reported
to be about to pass into Spanish
hands, are presumed to be the Deadoro
and the Floriana, which are building
at La Seinne, Toulon. These are
small but powerful little battleships.
The London reports also caused COM
ment at the state department. In
some quarters the feeling was ex-
pressed that, pending the finding of q
court of inquiry OH a case having the
international phases of the Maine ex-
plosion, the obligations of neutrality
We're as strongly imposed on Great
Britain and Brazil as in time of war.
ton of war and not to conditions
which may eventually lead to war; In
the Geneva award, however, unfriend-
~ acts by Great Britain prior to the
breaking out of the rebellion consti-
tuted part of the cause on which
heavy damages were awarded against
her. But as a general rule foreign
governments are free to sell warships
either directly or through their citi-
Zens up-to the actual date of HOSTILE
ties.
Things were very quiet. at least ex-
ternally, in the war department.