The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-04
DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE
SECRETARY LONG SAYS THE NAVAL
COURT HAS FULL POWER.

COURT HAS FULL POWER.
1t Can Shape Its Own Movements and
Consequently No Orders Have Been
1t is Technically an Admiraps Court and
Will Report Directly to Admiral SIcard.
Washington, March 3.-Secretary
Long said at the close of his day at
the navy department that no word had
been received from the court of inquiry
and that no orders had been or would
be given as to the movements OF the
court from Key West, as the court was
fully authorized to shape its own
movements. The original orders to the
court We're issued by Admiral Sicard
as commander of the fleet to which the
Maine belonged, and it has the technl-
cal status Of an admiraPs court report
ing directly to him both as to it's move
ments and as to it's final report on the
cause of the disaster. The understand
ing here is that the court has not con-
cluded it's work. but will return TO Ha-
vana to take testimony which has been
delayed by the difficulties in the way
of the divers. That Admiral Sicard ex-
poets this move back to Havana was
shown by dispatch from him few
days ago suggesting that arrangements
be made for a vessel to take the court.
AS the Mangrove had been doing this
service the treasury department was
nc1y0 to nre,f<r tl,a No,
return of the court to Key West, and
this was done. With these arrange
ments concluded, 1t Is said at the navy
department that the court will proceed
without consulting officials here.
Arrangements are being made for the
trip of the cruiser Montgomery and the
gunboat Nashville to Cuban ports with
relief supplies. The navy department
was advised to-day that the Mallory
line steamer leaving New York next
Saturday would carry free of charge
seventy-five tons of supplies to be
transferred to the Montgomery and
Nashville at Key West. The Mallory
steamer is expected to take about four
days in the run down the coast, so that
the transfer to the warships and their
start to Cuba cannot be made before
next Thursday. The two warships are
poorly adapted for carrying supplies,
having scant quarters for their own
supplies Of cordage, provisions, canvas
and the ships equipment. 1t is only
because they can make the run in day.
light that any attempt is made to carry
the seventy-fve tons Of supplies. These
will be stored on the deck and with
good weather the daylight run will not
subject them to any damage. The re-
lief measures are proving unexpectedly
successful, the supplies running into
the carloads and hundreds of tons.
The state department has had notice
from the Cuban relief committee at
New York that there was shipped on
100000 pounds of relief supplies; on
the second, to Havana, $4,000 pounds;
to-day to Matanzas, 1000 pounds, and
to La Sagua Grande $4,000 pounds. In
these shipments are 100000 grains Of
quinine consigned to each of the ports
except Havana. Chairman Barton of
, the central Cuban committee has ad-
vised the state department that dona-
tions are coming forward in great
abundance, not only in money, but
more particularly in the form of pro-
visions from all divisions. The western
communities are responding gracefully.
The central committee had to-day up
on the pier Of the Munson line at New
York nearly 100 tons ready for the
steamer sailing Friday, which the line
offered to take to Matanzas and Sagua.
The Maine relief fund under Mrs.
Longs management to-day reached a
total of $3,133. The only telegram re-
lating to the Maine disaster that came
to the navy department during the
day was the following from Comman-
der Forsythe at Key. West: "Bache
arrived. Brought one body unidenti-
fed, and Paul LOTUS. private marine;
jeremiah Shea, coal passer; John Heff-
ner, ordinary seaman Thomas J. Wa
ters, ordinary seaman. wounded, from
Tortugas. The wounded will be sent to
the army hospital. The funeral Of the
body has started for the cemetery"
In the course Of the inquiry into the
naval resources of the United tSates
an order has been issued to make a
test of the machinery of the old war
monitors at the League Island navy
yard. These are single turreted craft
that are armed with big smooth bore
guns in turrets that could likely be
pierced by the modern rifle used on bat
tleships but they would still be of SER
vice In an emergency. There are eight
of these monitors at League Island an6
the government owns several others
The intention is to turn over the old
engines and work the machinery that
is made to turn the turrets, if it can be
made to work at all. During the course
of the day similar inquiries to that
made by the Japanese legation as to
the number of Japanese aboard the
Maine came to the navy department
from the German and Swedish lega-
tions and it is expected that others will
follow. Nearly every nationality was
represented in the Names big crew.
LONG.BOUTELLE CONFERENCE,
Naval Bill Under Advisement, Also Matte
of Additional Men,
WASHINGTON March "A conferenc,