Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-21


ciates.
1t is said that Lieut.. sobral has been a
hard worker since he came to this country,
and has devoted himself constantly to the
task imposed upon Him. 1t will be remem-
bered that last summer a report was cur
rent that spies we're endeavoring to obtain
information of a secret. character relating
to Notifications on tho South Atlantic sea-
board. and Lieut.. SobmPs name was men
toned in connection with HAT incident He
denied at the time th1t hs was doing the
work of a spy, and cIafrned to have been
In Charleston only on legitimate business.
TO IGNORE SOBRsAL INTERVIEW,
Decision Of the Stase Department in
the MAtaeR.
The State Department, In view of the
published denial by CAPTAIN Sobral of the
authenticity of the snts rxiews accredited
to him in the newspapers and the further
fact that he had beaidss previously ter
minated his official connection with the
Spanish legation here. las decided to ig-
more the matter.
1t may be that this goyernment does nos
care what the Spanish OF any other people
HI ow of our defepses. but 1t Is likely that
the Spanish know all they care to, and
Hovo is~~s~sA IL th~-S~>e,f~ Y s.
hral, who acquired 1t through officials at
Washington and by local inspections.
This phase of the question does not seem
to be regarded as Of most consequence.
The thing that seems to be peculiar is the
action OF Spain in not notifying this gov
eInment of the recall of Sobral on the GATH
Of Januery.
This proceeding was extraordinary on the
part of Spain, and must have been based
on some particular reason. The construc-
tion put upon it is that the recall was
gazetted' in advance In order to forestall
anything that might develop in respect to
Sohral's Investigations"
Though 1t is now announced that Sobrai
was "gazetted" on the Path of January as
recalled, a message OF coincidence was re-
ceived at the department from the Spanish
legation last Wednesday signed Sobral,
naval attache." There Is an air of SUBJ
terfuge in this.
AS to the possession of knowledge by the
Spanish legation Of our military charts,
etc, 1t is said that during the last months
Of the Cleveland ADMINISTRATION Mr.. De
LONE was given access 10 such as he asked
for, which were in the possession of the
Navy Department. This statement is made
on the authority which at the time re-
ferred to was as good sas could be. The
statement was then made without reserve
and without the thought of being apparent
that there was anything improper In facili-
ties being given De Lone to make such
study of unpublished charts as he desired.
Conferring With President.
There was nothing new at the White
House to give out regarding affairs in Ha-
vana Secretary Long paid a short visit
to the President before the iatter's depar-
ture for Philadelphia. The Secretary of
the Navy stated that he had nothing new
from Havana. Judge Day, assistant secre-
tary CT state, was also a visitor He talked
with the President about the difficulty of
obtaining expert divers for the work of ex-
amining the hull Of fith& Maine He said
that arrangements weresb being made to OBJ
lain ihe desired WORKINGS.
The Name disastersis still the absorbing
topic in the minds Of callers at the Execu-
tive. Mansion. Many republican members
Of the House who casaed today expressed
some impatience1 at the progress being
made at Havana. rhAvs ssy that to walt
even few hours In eaulpieting an exami-
nation means that the afanination will be
unsatisfactory from TIE position Of the
slip In the mud. Thessame men say that
II the fnve1tgatiOn reveals crooked work
nothing can prevent the House from taxi
ing quick action. Thsee sentiments come
from republicans who have acted with the
majority in suppressinE action by that
body.
Fiiling the Naoneies.
Steps have been talsslr b. the Navy De-
partment to NIL the vaeaeies in the en-
listed branch Of the 1ayyl caused by the
loss OF most OF the crew Of the Maine. The
legal quota is now about three hundred
short, and arrangements haye been made
for the immediate enlistment of about that
number OF men. Teiegraphic orders have
been sent to the recruiting officers in
charge OF the receiving ships at New York.
Philadelphia and Norfolk authorizing them
to make the following enlistments i'm
mediakely:a
Receiving ship ver1ndAi, at New York
40 apprentices. - landsI1en. shipwrishts,
machinistz second etaSs, and % coai pass
ers. 4
Receiving ship Franklin. at Norfolk-l0
iandsmen, 2@sshipwTfgkts, machinists.
second class and 10 GOAL passers.
Receivinx sh1b Richnond. AZ League Is
land. Pa--16 landsmen, shtpwrtghts
machinists, second class, and 10 coal pass
ers.
These eniissments are In addition to those
1resioaaly authorised to compaete tho