The herald., 1898-03-20
ynent, and great care was exercised In
hesine their whereabouts kept from public

hasine their whsreabouts kept from publ,
attention.
A SILENT EXPERT
Another interesting arrival Of the da,
Vt6s Constructor Hoover, the technical ex
part sent to Havana to identify the twisted
plates in the Maine wreckage, with view
to learning whether the explosion was Of
tanternal or external origin. Mr.. Hoover
Hlso maintained silence concerning the
wreck. He made no report to the secretary
Of the navy. as he was sent to Havana to
learn facts and then embody them in the
testimony before the naval court OF IN
quiry.
SHIPS IN SIGHT
Late In the day the prospects became
much brighter for the acquisition by the
United States OF two fine warships. namely
the armored cruiser San MARITIME, belong
ing to the Argentine republic and the bat
tleship Gen. Oaiggins belonging to Chile
The hope Of getting these ships had been
almost given UP, but cablegrafns received
today from Commander Brownson, now in
Europe. made the outlook moro encourag-
ing, Up to the close of office hours an
actual purchase had not been concluded.
hut a high official summed UP the situa-
tion by saying that the negotiations were
getting "very hot"
The San Martino was originally built for
the Italian government and was then
known as the Wares. but since her pur-
chase by Argentina she has been renamed.
nef Dimensions are: Length as. beam 10.
draft "a, displacement 6S4O tons, horse
bower 1900, speed 1898 knots. Her arma-
ment is two s-inch rapid-fire guns. mount
ed in barbettes and protected by hoods;
ten 6-inch quick firing guns. in central
redoubt; six 4.S.inch Quick-1ring guns on
the upper deck and % smaller quick-drine
guns on the lower deck. All the guns on
the upper deck are protected by steel
shields.
The Gen. O'Higgins is battleship Of
$500 tons. built at Elswick. Her dimen-
sions are: Length 400 feet, beam 81. draft
22 feet. Her contract speed is 21.2 knots.
Her armament is four S-inch. ten 6-inch.
four A7-inch Armstrong guns, eight H.
FOUNDERS, ten 6-pounders. and four sub
merged torpedo tubes. Her protective dock
Is of Harveyized steel. seven inches thick.
Her gun houses for the s-inch guns and
the easements Of the 6inch guns are pro,
tected BY six inches Of nickel steel
EVERYBODY BUSY
Both the navy and war departments con-
Hnue their active preparations, and emer-
gency contracts in all branches of arma-
ment are being made daily by the various
bureaus. The naval bureau Of ordnance
has contracted for l,5oo,ooo pounds Of brown
powder, which IL probably the largest sin
gle order ever given.
This was divided between the California
Powder company and the Dupont Powder
company. These concerns, together, are
furnishing the bureau with about 10000
pounds daily, and within a week or so 1t
Is expected the capacity of these two works
will be brought up to 10000 pounds Of pow
der daily. The order IL sufficient. in the
aggregate. to give 200 rounds for every gun
ailoat in the American navy, and. with this
large supply on hand, the navy. for the
first time in years. will be more than am
ply supplied with powder.
An unusually large number of senators
took advantage OF the fact that the sem
ate was not in session today to call upon
the cabinet officers, with the hope of Sc
curing definite information Of the Cuban
situation. They succeeded in learning only
that the report of the court Of inquiry had
not arrived. but it was expected early next
week. and that it would be forwarded to
congress Immediately on it's arrival, unless
of very startling character.
A LINE OF POLICY
Some of them found the high officials of
the state department celebrating upon the
line of policy to be pursued in case the re-
port Of the naval court should have the
effect of entirely eliminating the Maine in
cident from the situation.
So strongly was this incident dwelt upon |
that the inference was drawn by some of |
the senatorial visitors that the department |
had been led to believe Of had Inferred sh |
had been led to believe, or had been in |
formed, that the report would fail to con-
meet the Spanish authorities or the Span
iards with the tragedy. Still, state Depart |
ment officials did not make any positive
declarations that such information was in |
their possession. rather advancing It as a |
tentative suggestion, and, when pressed |
for information on this point, replied that |
they only knew that the report was to |
come next week and that they had no ad- |
vance information as to its contents. They |
seemed to seek information rather than
to give out opinions as to plans, indicating |
upon pending the Maine report.
DIPLOMATIC DOINGS
The diplomatic aspect of the Spanish
question developed no emphasis today. 1t
is stated positively that no concrete propo-
sitions on the enlargement of the present
plan of autonomy or settlement based on
by purchase or otherwise,
or mutual concession Of naval and war
preparations have been under negotiations.
These subjects are continuously coming
up for abstract discussion, more in the line
Of argument. pro and con. as to what might
be done toward solution. But beyond
this none of these propositions have ad-
vanced to the stage where it may be said
to be question Of official negotiations be-
tween the two governments. The Cuban
commissioners now here doubtless would
cooperate with the United States govern
nent towards securing an enlargement of
the present plan of autonomy. But the
Spanish government thus far has, not en-
lertained the suggestion Of enlarging the
plan, as this would necessitate an appeal
TO the Spanish cortes, and also wouldlinject
The question into the Spanish elections now
about to occur in the peninsula.
Messrs, Anguelo, Valeria and Cadenas
The three commissioners named by the Gu
pan cabinet to act with Minister Polo in
framing a commercial treaty, will be pre-
'ented to Secretary Sherman and Judge
Day on Monday next. They expect to take
lp the negotiations with Comuoiectorarl