The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-18
TODAY OR To-MoRROw.

pest Tor him TO make.
TO-DAY OR TOMORROW.
Report of the Naval Court Expected
Soon by the President.
Associated Press Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Presi-
dent expects the report of the court of in
quiry tomorrow or next day. 1t may even
now be on :ts way from Key West to
Washington. When the court arrived at
Key West yesterday from Havana and re-
ported to Admiral Sicard what progress it
had made towards reaching the end of its
long task the admiral promptly communi-
Gated with the secretary of the navy. It
was the secretary's purpose to have full
synopsis Of the courts conclusions put in
cipher and telegraphed to Washington. On
consultation with the President, however,
this plan was abandoned. Both the Presi-
dent and the secretary are determined that
no efforts be spared to maintain the Sc
crecy of the courts verdict until they
themselves have determined to give it pub
licity. Therefore even the admirably de-
signed naval cipher code could not be re-
lied on with complete satisfaction and, at
the Presidents instance Admiral Sicard
was directed to place the documents in the
custody of some naval officer, according
to the usual method, and forward them to
Washington in that manner. Whether this
officer has started or not is not yet known
but if he and Admiral Sicard have exc
cuted their orders with the regular naval
promptness 1t will not be long before the
PRESIDENT is placed in possession of such
information and conclusions as the court
has so far reached. 1t is not even known
positively that these conclusions are final,
hut if tho %Io
inquiry has been followed in this case they
probably are so, unless the secretary of the
navy believes after looking into the testi-
mony that soma lines of investigation
should be further pursued.
AS before stated, every precaution that
human ingenuity can suggest will be
adopted to safeguard the report the main
apprehension being that there may be
somehow publication in the newspapers
that may interfere seriously with the sue
cessrul working out of the policy of the
administration. The document will be
sealed at Key West under the personal OBJ
servation of Admiral Sicard, and the naval
officer who takes the papers in his custody
VIII be expected to deliver the envelope
with seal unbroken into the hands of the
secretary of the navy. Probably the mes
senger will be Lieutenant Commander
Mark, the judge advocate of the court of
inquiry, though the selection is entirely
within the authority of Admiral Sicard. 1t
must be remembered that the admiral or
dered the court, and to him the return must
be made. Technically, he must also review
the proceedings and conclusions, and SUBJ
nit his own opinion on these in an indorse-
ment to the department sent along with the
papers. As Admiral Sicard is the very in
carnation Of caution in the discharge of
official matters, and as he is technically re.
sponsible for the safe delivery of the
courts report to the secretary of the navy.
it may be safely set down as a fact that
any publication that attempts to set out
either in full or in substance the courts re-
port will be absolutely conjecturaI in its
basis.
Assistant Secretary Day was very busy
to-day 1t was diplomatic day, and, in ad-
dltion to his foreign callers, there were a
number OF senator's and representatives
kept waiting for some time in order to get
access to the assistant secretary Vice
President Hobart was also a prominent
caller, but he did not remain longer than
ten minutes. He was Immediately preceded
by Senator Davis, chairman of the commit
tee on foreign relations, who was closeted
with the assistant secretary for fully half
an hour The diplomatic callers included
the French ambassador, Senior Cana, the
Chilean minister, and Mr.. Hengel Muller!
the Austrian minister. Because Chile has
been mentioned the possible salesman
of war ship to the United States the as
sumption was drawn that the minister had
called on that business. AS a matter of
fact, he is preparing for his departure for
his new post in London, and has informed
~
York on the 2Sd inst. 1t was stated, posi-
lively, that the Austrian minister's call had
no reference to presentations to the State
Department in behalf of the Spanish side
of the present issue. In explanation of his
CALL it was suggested that he has not
missed diplomatic reception day in many
weeks, and is engrossed in reciprocity ne
gotiations.
The Spanish minister called at the State
Department at 3 o'clock and remained with
Judge Day something over an hour. Both
parties to the conference were extremely
reserved at its conclusion. 1t is under
stood, however, that it developed no new
phases, but was general talk in which
pacific assurances were exchanged and a
hopeful view of the situation expressed.
At that time the naval orders taking the
battle ships Texas and Massachusetts from
Key West and assigning them to the fleet at
Hampton Poads was not known at the
State Depai -ment, so that the minister was
not Officially informed Of the fact. He heard
1t later, however, and naturally was much
gratifed, as the gradual strengthening of
the American feet at Key West has been
the source of grave apprehension by the
Spanish government.
Report May BE Delayed.