Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-24
zinc navy department has mot hnnn

The navy department has not been
informed of the probable length OF
time to be occupied by the court of in
curry in Its work. Such n court, il is
said, has the greatest liberty of action;
much greater than q court martial.
which is strictly limited by the naval
regulations. OF course 1t is possible
that the court Will leave Havana in
the course of n day or two for Key
West. in order to take there the testi-
mony of such of the surviving officers
and men as are now quartered at Kew
West. The latter are not subject to re-
lease from their position until the
court has declared that It has con-
cluded their testimony and as many of
these survivors are anxious to secure
short leaves of absence In order to
see their families and friends, 1t may
at Havana in order 10 accommodate
them. 1t is believed. however, that
in case there should be unexpectedly
significant developments before the
court leaves Havana 1t will return to
that place later on In order TO ascer-
tain 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
some WElBnt. uuHllIUl reported tnut
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 he
necessary to remove the wreck of the
ship. The latest expression Is taken
to mean that the court had SO far not
concluded that 1t would be impossible
to again float the Maine. else the lam
guage could seem to have been unnec-
essary an unwarranted suppositlon 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 commander in chief Of the naval
forces on the North Atlantic station
They do not believe that the admirnl's
health IL seriously impaired and 1t is
safe to say that no movement will be
made towards his relief unless n sug-
gestion comes first from himself The
admiral has been in command of the
squadron less than year and is, by
legal practice. entitled to retain that
command for another year at least, If
he so desired. 1t 30 happens that none
of the rear admirals on the list is re-
garded to be in place to assume this
important 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 Il
change In their assignment unlikely.
Admiral Bunce. for instance, is so
circumstanced. being not only In com
mand of the New York navy yard, an
eminently important command in or
binary times and certain to be mors
so In case of hostilities, and also hav-
ing relinquished the North Atlantic
squadron within less than year SO as
to be Ineligible for another sea COM
mand within a year or two. The other
ulfnirulG Situated in Ahnllt the
same way so that 1t is probable that
the command of the squadron in ths
event that Admiral Sicard were re-
lieved might devolYe upon one of the
commodores, possibly Commodore
Schley, now president of the ligh.
would be glad to relinquish for such n
command as the North Atlantic squad
ron.
There were no dispatches in the fore
noon a; the navy department from
either Key Nest or Hawaii and tl:e
only naval :nos-mrut porred was the
dropping down fro II the Norfolk navy
yard to Hampton Roads OF the biz
double turreted monitor Terror. There
she will wait further orders of the de-
partment.
Nothing has been heard from Gen.
Lee at Havana since day before yes
terday in the shape of IA cablegram,
prompt heretofore In informing the
state department of any developments
of significance 1t is supposed that there
have been none since General Lees
last report. In the mail this morning
form 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 profound
sorrow for the misfortune which oc-
cured yesterday on board the Amcri-
can 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 per-
sonal sentiments, but I speak in the
name of all the inhabitants OF Habana,
Witnesses of the catastrophe which has
afflicted so many homes.
God guard you many years.
RAMON BLANCO.
"Habana, Feb. 16. 1898.
ITO the Consul General of the United
Gtnt