The record-union., 1898-02-25

of the armor, even that worked into
the protective deck, was entirely above
the magazines, and in case the latter
exploded the armor might easily have
been tossed upward.
The Navy Department has not been
informed of the probable length of time
to be occupied by the court of inquiry
in its work. Such a court. it is said
has the greatest liberty of action, much
greater than a court-martial, which is
strictly limited by the naval regula-
tions. OF course, it is possible that
the court Will leave Havana in the
course of a day or two for Key West.
in order to take there the testimony of
such of the surviving officers and men
as are now quartered at Key West.
The latter are not subject to release
from their position until the court has
declared that it has concluded their
testimony, and as many of these sur
vivorS ars anxious to secure short
leaves Of absence in order to see their
families and friends it may be that the
court Will cut short it's stay at Ha-
yana in order to accommodate them.
1t is believed, however, that in case
there should be unexpectedly signifi-
| cant developments before the court
leaves Havana it will return to that
place later on, in order to ascertain
from the work of the divers the cause
of the explosion.
In view of the many expressions of
doubt regarding the advisability of
raising the wreck of the Maine, the
| message sent yesterday to the Navy
Department by Admiral Sicard has
| ierhf 4 j
that the Court of Inquiry. which is on
the spot and has had the advantage of
opinions of divers, had declared that
the most powerful appliances would be
necessary to remove the wreck of the
ship. The latest expression is taken to
mean that the court had so far not con-
cluded that it would be impossible to
again float the Maine, else the language
would seem to have been unnecessary; !;
| an unwarranted supposition in the
| case Of expensive cablegrams.
1t can be stated that up to this time
the naval officials have given no
thought to the relief of Admiral Sicard
as Commanderin-Ch of the naval
forces on the North Atlantic station
They do not believe that the Admirals S
health is seriously impaired, and it is
safe to say that no movement will be
made toward his relief unless a sugS
gestion comes first from himself The
Admiral has been in command of the
squadron less than a year, and is, by
legal practice, entitled to retain that
command for another year at least, if
he SO desires. 1t so happens that none
of the Rear Admirals on the list are
a |,
important a command, owing to the
fact that they have had their tour Of
sea service and are not entitled again
to fly their flags at sea, or else they
are so placed otherwise as to make
change in their assignment unlikely.
Admiral Bunce, for instance, is so cir
cumstanced being not only in COM
mand of the New York navy yard, an
eminently important command in or
binary times, and certain to be more so
in case of hostilities, and also having
relinquished the North Atlantic squad
ron within less than year, so as to be
ineligible for another sea command
within year or two. The other Ad-
mirals are situated in about the same
way, 50 that it is probable that the
command of the squadron in the event
that Admiral Sicard We're relieved
might devolve upon one of the Commo-
dores, possibly Commodore SchIey. now
President of the Lighthouse Board.
which post he probably would be glad
to rehnquish for such command as
the North Atlantic squadron
There were no dispatches in the fore
noon at the Navy Department either
Io
only naval movement reported was the
dropping down from the Norfolk navy
yard to Hampton Roads Of the big
double-turreted monitor Terror. There
she will meet further orders Of the
Department.
Nothing has been heard from Cen
eral Lee at Havana since day before
yesterday in the shape of cablegram,
and as the Consul-Generai has been
prompt heretofore in informing the
State Department of any developments
of significance, it is supposed that there
have been none since General Lees last
report In the mail this morning from
him was a copy of a coincidence received
by him from Captain General Blanco in
the following terms:
Mr. Consul: 1t becomes my pain
full duty to express to you my pro-
found sorrow for the misfortune which
occurred yesterday on board the Amer
lean ship Maine. | associate myself
with all my heart to the grief of the
nation and of the families who have lost
some of their members, and upon doing
so I do not only express my personal
sentiments but l speak in the name Of
III ha i,1b o ontc nf +
nesses of the catastrophe which has
afflicted so many homes.
God guard you many years.
RAMON BLANCO.
"Habana, February 16, 1898.
ITO the Consul-General Of the Unit
ed States.
Representative Boutelle. Chairman
of the House Committee on Naval Af-
fairs, conferred with Secretary Long
again to-day. Mr.. Boutelle said that
his visit was confined wholly to the
question of relief for the sufferers Of
the Maine The bill which he has pre-
pared will carry about S16IO00. II
passed in its present form. 1t has been
suggested. however. that a general law
was passed in 1895. under which relief
may be given for the actual loss suf-
fered by those in the naval service IN
case of disaster. How far this general
law will affect the special relief ex-
tended to the Maine sufferers. cannot
be determined. but in any event. ii will
cover only the actual loss of clothing,
etc, while the relief measure is de-
signed to give a bulk allowance equiv
alent to twelve months pay. Mr.. Bou-
telle stated that his call had nothing
to do with the question of new ships
and nayal equipment 10 be provided by