The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-05
INVESTIGATORS REPORT
Into the Maine Disaster May Be
Long Delayed.
THE NEW SPANISH WAR VESSELS

Government officials Discuss the Re-
ports From London, and Comment
on the Inability OF Our Navy De-
partment to Do Likewise.
Washington, March SIT was devel-
oped last evening through telegraphic
correspondence between Secretary of
the Treasury Long and Admiral Sicard
that the court of inquiry is unable to
fix even ah approximate date for the
conclusion of the investigation into the
disaster to the Maine.
Sharing the general anxiety for some
information on this point Secretary
Long, at the instance of the cabinet,
sent telegram to Admiral Sicard ask
ing him when it was expected that the
report of the court would be made, and
late last night the following reply was
received:
"Have talked with the president of
the court of inquiry, and agree with
him that 1t is not yet possible to fix a
date for the finding, as so much de-
pends upon the progress of the divers
and wreckers and the results they OBJ
tain. Every effort is being made to ad-
vance the inquiry"
Admiral Sicards message is regarded
officially as disposing of the reports
that the court has as yet obtained
positive or conclusive information bear
ing upon the object of their investiga-
ton 1t is taken to mean that upon the
testimony or discoveries of the divers
will depend the finding, the examina-
tiOn of the officers and crew of the ship
having been insufficient to enable the
court to even form an idea as to what
lines may be opened up from the inves-
tigation of the wreck itself.
1t is stated that the board in all prob
ability will not return to Key West, the
department having intimated that it
was it's desire that the examination of
the officers and men should be conclud-
ed at this sitting, as they are needed
for reassignments to ships.
Naval officers are deeply interested
in the reports of the purchase of war
ships 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 Amazonius by Spain, it
is said at the department that this ves-
sci sailed for Brazil several months
ago, and has been delivered to the
Brazilian government. Her sister ship
is near completion in the Armstrong
yards. They are useful cruisers copies
of the Barossa, now of the Brazilian
navy, and their strong point is their
great radius of action-S,OOO miles
which would enable them to cross the
Atlantic and recross without renewing
OIL f1rA CHI
building for Brazil in France, which
are also reported to be about to pass
into Spanish possession, are presumed
to be the Deadro and the Floriona,
which are building at La Seinne, Tou-
lon. These are small, but powerful lit
tie battleships. Their coal endurance,
however, is small, and their forte would
seem to be coast defense operations or
cruising near a base of supplies.
The London reports also caused COM
ment at the state department. In
some quarters the feeling was express
ed that pending the finding of a court
of inquiry on case having the inter-
national phases of the Maine explosion
the obligations of neutrality were as
strongly imposed on Great Britain and
Brazil as in time of war The pre-
cedents apply only to a condition of
war, and not to conditions which may
eventually lead to war. In the Geneva
award, however, unfriendly acts by
Great Britain prior to the breaking out
of the rebellion constituted part of the
case on which damages were awarded
against her. But as a general rule for
eign governments are free to sell war
ships either directly or through their
citizens up to the actual date of hos
tilities.
Matters were very quiet, at least ex-
ternally, in the war department There
was a strong indisposition to discuss
the proposition to resume possession OF
Dry Tortugas, but the officials did not
hesitate to declare that only normal
movements were going on.