The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-05
COURT is IN IGNORANCE
UNABLE TO GIVE ANY CAUSE FOR
THE MAINE DISASTER
All Depends Upon the Testimony
That May BE offered at Havana
by the Dfvers-NO Date Can He
Fixed, Even Approximately, When
Finding Will be Made.

WASHINGTON, March At was de-
Veloped this afternoon, through tele-
graphic correspondence between Secre-
tary Long and Admiral Sicard that the
court of inquiry is unable to fix even
an approximate date for the conclusion
or Its investigation into the disaster
to the Maine.
Sharing the general anxiety for some
information on this point, Secretary
Long today, at the instance of the
cabinet, sent telegram to Admiral ST.
card, asking him when it was prob
able that the report Of the court would
be made, and tonight the following re-
ply was received:
Have talked with the president of the
court of inquiry and agree with him that
II nnl;, Is not yet possible to fix date for the
progress of the divers and wreckers and
the results they obtain. Every effort is
g oeing made to advance the inquiry. The
court returns to Havana this evening hay-
West. Wsicard
Admiral Sicard's message is regard
ed officially as disposing of the reports
that the court has as yet obtained pos
itiVe or conclusive information bearing
upon the object of their investigation.
1t is taken to mean that upon the tes-
timony or discoveries Of the divers will
depend the finding, the examination of
the officers and crew Of the ship having
been insufficient to enable the court
to even form an idea as to what lines
may be opened from the investigate
of the wreck itself.
While the telegram was naturally
somewhat Of disappointment in leav-
Ing the termination of the inquiry as
much in doubt as ever, it was Welcom-
ed as practically setting at rest the re-
ports as to the results of the investi-
cation up to date.
1t is stated that the board in all
probability will not return to Key
West, the department having intimat-
ed that it was it's desire that the ex-
animation Of the officers and men
should be concluded at this sitting, as
they are needed for reassignment to
ships.
1t is proboble that the Olympia flag
ship Of the Asiatic squadron, and the
peerless queen of the cruisers will come
home to San Francisco. The naviga-
ton bureau has this movement under
consideration, and in view of the fact
that the ship has been three years
away from a navy yard, engaged in
hard cruising service, even If there
were no other reason, it is probable
that the order will be given.
Olympia Coming Home.
The Olympia is a protected cruiser
of extraordinary speed and endurance,
with battery strong enought to over
power almost anything short of a bat
tleship and speed enough to run away
from that or anything else she does
not care to fight.
The torpedo boat Winslow, at Nor
folk. has completed her repairs and
will join the f1otilla at Key West as
soon as the gale on the cost blows it
self 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 today Of
the purchase of two cruisers by Spain,
it is said at the department, that one of
the vessels, named in the dispatches,
sailed for Brazil several months ago,
and has been delivered to the Brazilian
government. The sister ship is near
completion in the Armstrong yards