New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-04
MAINE COURT STILL SILENT.
IT HAS NOT INDICATED THAT THE EH-
PLOsION WAS EXTERNAL.
SECRETARY LONG AGAIN DENIES RuMoh-
PLANS FOR SENDING SUPPLIES TO CUBA
LOOKING INTO THE couNTRY's

Washington March 3.-Secretary Lohs sa'u
at the close OF his day at the Navy Department
that no word had been received from the Maine
Court OF Inquiry and that no orders nau peeh
or would be given to its movements from hey
West. as the Court had full power to shape It's
own movements.
/ He authorized an absolute and positive denial
q, q rumor that a partial or preliminary report
{ had been received indicating or declaring that
/ the loss OF the Maine was due to an external
EXPLOSION He said that report Of any kind
had been received and that the public had all
! the information in possession Of the Admins
tration
The original orders to rhe Court were issueo
by Admiral Sicard. commander OF the meet
to which the Maine belonged. and IL mas 'he
techaical status Of an admirars court. reporting
directly to him both to its movements ana aS
to its final report on the cause OF the disaster
The understanding here is that the Court has
not finished it's work. but will return to havana
to take testimony which has been delayed oy
the difficulties In the way OF the divers. lha'
Admiral Sicard expects this move back 10 ha-
yana was shown by a dispatch from MIN le"
DAYS ago suggesting that arrangements be maoe
for a vessel to take the Court back. AS the
lighthouse tender Mangrove had been DONG
this service the Treasury Department was asked
Court to Havana. and this was done with
these arrangements concluded. 1t is said at the
Navy Department that the Court VIII proceed
without consulting officials here
ARRANGEMENTS FOR SENDING RELIEF.
Arrangements being made for the trip OF
the cruiser Montgomery and the gunboat Nash
VILE TO Cuban ports with relief suppliss The
Navy Department was advised to-day that the
1eac
Saturday would carry free Of charge seventy
Ave tons Of SUI plies to be transferred to the
MONTGOMERY and tie Nashville ut Key West
The Mallory steamer is expected to take about
four days in the run down the coast, so mat
the transfer to the warships and their start 10
Cuba canno. be made before next THURSDAY
The two warshps are poorly adapted Tor carry
ing supplies. having scant quarters Tor their
own cordage provisions canvas and equipmen-'
X is only because they can make the run !"
daylight that any attempt Is made to carry 'he
seventy five tons Of supplies THESE VIII pe
stored on the spar deck, and with good weather
the daylight will not sublec, them 10 any
damage
The relief measures are proving UNEXPECTEDLY
succescful. the supplies running into the car
loads and hundreds Of tons. The state Depart
ment has had notice from the Cuban Relief
on March from New-York 20 Santiago 1Ooooo
pounds Of relief supplies; on the "a to Havana
5000 pounds to-day, to Mantanzas looooo
mounds and to Sagua La Grande 100000 pounds
In these shipments are 100000 grains Of qui-
nine consigned to each of the ports except Ha-
vana.
DONATIONS IN GREAT QUANTITIES.
Chairman Barton. Of the Central Cuban Re-
tha ctofa Don
ment that donations are coming forward in
great abundance, not only in money, but more
particularly in the form of provisions from all
directions The oregon committee promises ten
carloads. and possibly twenty. and Omaha, Min
neapos and other Western committees are or
fering shipments by the carload.
The Maine Relief Fund. under Mrs. Longs
management. to-day reached total OF S3.133
The only telegram relating to the Maine dis
aster that came to the Navy Department dur
Ing the day was the following from Commander
Forsythe at Key West:
and Paul Leoftus; private marine; Jeremiah Shea
f Thomds ) wsters ordinary wcnnded
from The % he se b6s TO b s
started for the cemetery
TO TEST THE OLD MONITORS
IN the course OF the inquiry into the naval
resources Of the United States an order has been
issued 10 make test OF the machinery Of the
old monitors at the League Island Navy Yard
These are single-turreted craft, armed with big
smooth bore guns in turrets that could probably
be pierced by shots from the modern rifles used
on battle-shps but they would still be Of service
in an emergency. There are eight Of these mon
itors at League Island. and the Government.
owns several others now loaned to the Naval
Militia organizations Of some OF the States
Those at League Island are the Canonicus the
Mahopac. the Manhattan. the Catskl the ia
son. the Lehgh. the Montauk. and the Nahant
They are all between 800 and 2 100 tons dis
placement and draw little water that they
can take up advantageous positions shoals
commanding channel approaches. The intention
is to turn the old engines and work the
turret-turning machinery. II 1t can be made to
work at all.
CONFERENCE on THE NAVAL BILL
Secretary Long and Representative Bouteile.
chairman OF the House Naval Affairs Committee
held a conference to-day in reference 10 the reg
ular Naval Appropriation bill Mr.. Long said that
they had gone over the question Of docks equip
ment etc. as provided in the regular BIZ. Cap
tain Crownnshield had been called in 10 discuss
the matter Of additional men and apprentices
which had been recommended In no sense. the
Secretary said. had emergency questions arisen.
There need Of considering them now,
as no doubt existed that Congress would act
promptly should any emergency arise requiring
supplies beyond those OF the regular appropria-
ton bill.
The coal mining companies throughout the
country especially those the seaboard,
have been prompt In their offers 10 the Navy
Department TO furnish coal in the event Of
trouble with Spain. and the Department has
akpn
and It's location available In the case of an
emergency demand This branch OF the naval
supply comes under the Bureau Of Equipment
and, aside from the steps above noted the off,
cials will not admit that anything unusual has
been done Captain Bradford. the chief Of the
Bureau. did say however to-day that ex-