The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-05
LONG TELEGRAPHS SICARD
ASKS WHEN NATAL COURTS FIND
ING MAY BE EXPECTED.


ASKS WHEN NAYAL COURTS FIND
ING MAY BE EXPECTED.
Late Last Night the Admiral Sent Word
That He Had Conferred With the Presi-
dent of the Board and They Are Agreed
That 1t Is Impossible to Set Date for the
Finding.
Washington, March At was devel-
oped this afternoon through telegraph
ic correspondence between Secretary
Long and Admiral Sicard that the
court of inquiry is unable to fix even
an approximate date for the conclusion
of it's investigation into the disaster to
the Maine. Sharing the general ankle
ty for some information on this point,
Secretary Long to-day, at the instance
of the cabinet, sent a telegram to Ad-
miral Sicard asking him when it was
expected that the report would be made
and late tonight the following was re-
ceived: ''Have talked with the presi-
dent Of the court of inquiry and agree
with him that it is impossible to fix
date for the finding of the court. Every
effort Is being made to advance the in
quiry The court returns to Havana
by the Mangrove this evening, having
about finished the examination at Key
West. (Signed) Sicard."
Admiral Sicard's message is regard
ed as disposing of the reports of de-
cision. 1t is taken to mean that upon
the testimony or discoveries of the div
ers will depend the finding, the exami-
nation of the officers of the ship hav-
ing been insufficient to enable the court
to even form an idea as to what lines
may be opened up from the 1nyestlga-
ton Of the wreck itself. While the
telegram was naturally somewhat of
disappointment, it was welcomed as
practically setting at rest the report
as to the results of the investigation up
to date 1t is said that the board will
in all probability not return to Key
West after their further investigation
in Havana.
1t is probable that the Olympia of the
Asiatic squadron and the Peerless
Queen of the cruisers will come home
to San Francisco. The navigation bu-
reau has this movement under consid-
GRAFTON and in view of the fact that the
ship has been three years away from
navy yard it is probable that the or
der will be given. The torpedo boat
Winslow at Norfolk has completed her
repairs and will join the flotilla at Key
West as soon as the gale on the coast
blows itself out and makes the run
down safe Naval officials are deeply
interested in the reports of the pur-
chase Of warships by Spain and make
the reports of these transactions the
text for complaints of the inability of
our navy department to do likewise.
q However, as to the report from London
to-day as to the purchase of the ANA
zonas by Spain, 1t is said at the depart
ment that this vessel sailed for Brazil
several months ago and has been de-
lfvered to the Brazilian government.
Her sister ship is nearing completion
in the Armstrong navy yard. The
other two ships building for Brazil in
France are presumed to be the Dedoro
and the Floriona, which are building
at LaSeinne Toulon. These are small
but powerful built ships. Their tom
mage is only 3,162 but they carry four
six six-inch and four 4.7-inch guns and
a good secondary battery. Their coal
endurance, however, is small and their
fort would seem to be coast defense op-
erations or cruising near base Of
supplies.
The London reports also caused COM
ment at the state department. In some
quarters the feeling was expressed that
pending the opinion of the court of in
quiry nothing definite would be decided
upon. Matters were very quiet, at least
externally, in the war department to-
day. There was q strong indisposition
to discuss the proposition to resume
possession of Dry Tortugas, but the Of
ficials did not hesitate to declare that
only normal movements were going on
So it was unknown officially that the
troops at Salt Lake were being review
ed, and it was said that If this was SO
1t could be nothing more than the usl-
al periodical inspections required by
the regulations. AS for the reported
orders to inspection of soldiers at
Bethlehem to be ready for a quick
start, it was said that Captain McNutt
and Lieutenant Bennett, who have
been on inspection duty for several
days, have no orders such as are re-
ported from Bethlehem.