The record-union., 1898-03-05
When 1t Returns to Havana to In
vestigate Progress Of Divers.
Secretary Long Telegraphs Admira! Slcard
Relative to When the Findings Will
Be Submitted, and Received a
Very Indefinite Reply.

WASHINGTON, March Al last
there is a prospect of learning when
the report of the Court Of Inquiry IN
the case of the Maine disaster is TO be
made. that is, if the court itself is COM
petent to pass an opinion on that point.
\ telegram has been sent to Captain
Sampson asking when il is expected
that the report can be made. So far
there has been no response, and it may
be that the President OF the court
wishes to consult first with his col
leagues before delivering a response.
The fact that this inquiry has been ad-
dressed to the court by Secretary Long
at the instance of the Cabinet is re-
garded as propitious of the correctness
Of the statement that has been made
almost daily for several days past by
members of the administration that it
had no control over the court, and did
not know when the report would come
IT was said at the Navy Department
at the close of office hours to-day that
no word had come from Key West or
Havana save the brief dispatches of
the past two days relative to the dis
position Of wounded men and dead
bodies.
1t is probable that the Olympia, flag
ship of the Asistic squadron, and the
peerless queen of cruisers, will come
home TO San Francisco. The Navi-
gation Bureau has this movement under
consideration and in view Of the fact
that the ship has been three years
away from navy yard engaged in haro
cruising service, even if there We're NJ
other reason, 1t is likely that the order
Will be given. The Olympia is pro-
tected cruiser of extraordinary speed
and endurance, with a battery strong
enough to overpower almost anything
short of a battleship, and speed enough
to run away from that or anything else
that she does not care to fight.
The torp do boat W.nslow, at Norfolk.
has completed repairs, and will JOIN
the fotilla at Key West as soon as the
gale on the coast blows itself out and
makes the run down safe.
Naval officials are deeply interested
in the reports OF the purchase of war
ships by Spain. and make the reports
Of these transactions the text for com
plants OF the Inability of our Navy
Department to do likewise. However,
as TO the report from London to-day OF
the purchase OF the Amazonas by
Spain, il is said al the Department that
this vessel sailed for Brazil several
months ago and has been delivered 10
the Brazilian Government Her sister
ship Is near completion in the Arm
strong yards. They are useful cruis-
els, copies Of the Barossa. now Of the
Brazilian navy, and their strong point
is their great radius OF action-S,0oo
miles, which would enable them to
cross the Atlantic and recross without
renewing their coal supply The other
two ships building for Brazil in France
which are also reported to be about to
pass into SPANS possession are pre-
surned to be the Dead0ro and the Flori-
ano which are building at La Sienne.
Toulon. These are small but powerful
little battieships. Their tonnage is
only 8. l62. but they carry four 10-inch
rifles In turrets in addition to two e.
inch and four 4l0-inch guns and
good secondary battery. Their coal
endurance. however. is small and their
forts would seem 20 be coast defense
operations or cruising near the base OF
supplies.
The London reports also caused COM
ment at the State Department. In
some quarters the feeling was express
ed that pending the finding of a court
of inquiry in a case having the inter-
national phase of the Maine explosion,
the obligations of neutrality were as
strongly imposed on Great Britain and
Brazil as in time OF war. The prece-
dents apply only TO a condition of war.
and not to conditions which may even
tually lead 20 war. In the Geneva
award, however. unfriendly acts by
Great Britain prior to the breaking out
Of the rebellion constituted part of the