The record-union., 1898-02-24

this time.
The battleship Texas and the gun
boat Nashville will leave Galveston to-
day for Key West, where they will re-
join the other vessels of Admiral
Sicard's squadron at that point No
orders for this movement were sent
by the Navy Department, it being in
accordance with orders given severai
weeks ago, by which the two ships were
directed to remain at Galveston from
the 18th to the 23d inst to participate
in the Mardi GraS celebration there,
and return to Key West on the latter
day. This was before the Maine dis.
aster, so that the present movement
is said to have no possible significance
on the recent occurrence. The Nash
Vile has been thought of in connection
with the determination to send another
ship when the present excitement is
calmed. the choice lying between the
Nashville and Montgomery No deter
mination however, has yet been reach
ed on that point
The noon mail brought to Secretary
Long a letter from Admiral Sicard. al
Key West The Admiral wrote that
he had not yet recovered his health
the squadron. He will remain on shore
at his hotel in Key West, and retain
command of the squadron from that
place so long as it remains in the
haf bor there, relinquishing it only when
1t becomes necessary for the vessels to
go to sea. 1t will be remembered tha.
the Admiral has suffered an attack OF
malarial fever and had secured a leave
of absence of two weeks just before the
explosion on the Maine. He got as fan
as Tampa. but returned immediately
to his command, which for only one
day he had left in the hands of Captain
Sampson. Should the squadron bt
obliged to go to sea with the Admiral
i'll at Key West, and the senior officer
of his fleet, Captain Sampson. engaged
in the investigation at Havana, prob
ably the command of the squadron
would devolve upon Captain Taylor
now commanding the battleshp Massa
chusetts, and commonly regarded as
one of the brightest and brainiest off,
GERS in the naval service.
telegram from Key West received
to-day announced the sailing of the Mer.
rit & Chapman wrecking tug Right
Arm from Key West for Havana last
evening. Without doubt the vessel is
now IN Havana. and brought to Cap
tain Sigsbee the reinforcements in the
matter of professional divers that he
has so urgently required. With this as
sistance it is believed the work of re-
covering bodies in the forward portion
OF the Maine will be greatly facilitated
Simultaneous with the departure OF
the Texas and Nashville from Galveston
Tor Key West. the Marblehead will
leave New Orleans and the Detroit will
leave Mobile for Key West These
movements are also a part of the orders
given early this month, before the
Maine disaster The Navy Department
has received no notification of the
ctual sailing of the four ships UP to
noon, but this is expected to come dur
ing The day, in view of the definite or.
der heretofore given for their sailing or
the I'D The Montgomery is also due
at Key West, having left San Domingo
for Key West on the 10Th. The result
VIII be TO bring together again a large
number of vessels under Admiral Sicaro
at Key West and the immediate vicin-
lty. They Will be the New York now
at Dry Tortugas; the Indiana, Massa-
chusetts, Texas, Iowa, Marblehead. De-
troit, Nashville, Montgomery, Ericsson
and Gushing. The torpedo boats Porter
and Dupont are in dry dock at Mobile
ana are not expected to be ready to &c
TO Key West for several days. The
Brooklyn is also cruising in the West
Indies, at present en- route from ST
Thomas to Vera Cruz.
17a
resumed their normal aspect. Mr..
Dubosie has received no reports of anv
character concerning the Maine or the
progress being made by the Spanish
authorities at Havana in Investigating
the occurrence. When the Spanish in
quiry is completed it doubtless will be
sent TO Madrid. and it is not likely to
come to the Spanish authorities here.
Mr.. Dubosie continues to speak of
the satisfactory relations which exist
between the American and Spanish au-
thorities at Havana concerning the
work on the wreck and the investiga-
ton of its cause It is not known here
how far the American court Will avail
itself OF the evidence Of Spanish Off
GERS, or whether the Spanish inuuirv
will include the evidence Of American
officers, but at the legation it is said
that all the indications reaching the
officials here is that there will be such
cooperation as Will be helpful to the
two branches of inquiry and as the
courts desire.
Mr.. Dubosie has received no word as
to the reported capture of the Daunt
less with the filibusterlng expedition.
which is said 10 have got away from q
point between Miami and Palm Beach.
Florida, recently. A capture of this
Importance would be speedily reported
to the Spanish authorities here. and in
the absence of advices no credit is
given to the report
Secretary Long this afternoon re-
ceived the following telegram from Ad-
miral Sicard:
KEY WEST. Feb. 23.-Long. Secre-
tary Navy: Right Arm arrived at Ha-
vana this morning. Captain Magee
seems to be an experienced man who
viii be able to give good advice. Cap
tain Sampson wires me condition Of
wreck is such as to require most DOW
erful appliances the Government can
secure. The court recommends con-
tract with the best equipped wrecking
company to remove material and lift
ship without delay Forward half
completely destroyed: aft half appar-
entity intact, except in minor matters.
"SICARD."
Assistant Secretary of State Day de-
MED an interview attributed to him. in
which he was reported to have said
that the Americans in Havana were in
great danger, and that General Lee
was quite right if he had advised them
TO leave the city.
j. l.. u :.