The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-26
r.IIsE NOT YET MADE CLEAR.
-.-,,pX,,ENT HAS NOT LEARNED
v.TURE OF EXPLOSION.

f., ofIicfaI CircIes-NO Informal
n Sent in by BOARD of Inquiry
,,-...jents in Demanding Indem-
n,ty as Found in the Early History
of the Nation.
r,,-binqton. Feb. 25.-In spite of the
.-ios that come from unofficial sources
l5,,.ora as to sensational developments
.o,roc+ion with the work of the divers
the Names hull, the administration re-
u.to. firm in it's statement that there is
orodible evidence one way or the other
~ tba cause of the disaster, and holds
+s n1rpose to await the conclusion of
,ho ;oves-ication now making by the court
Of inquiry,
r,:s nosition was emphasized at to-day's
,,,inet meeting People who looked for
came startling announcement were dlsap-
,o3,tel as the members without reserva-
,i,o frankly admitted that the subject of
~. lass Of the Maine had been discussed,
,s- said the government had received no
,rf,rmation from Havana since yesterday,
snd hod no intention of changing its policy
until there was something of substance to
warrant it.
The Spanish legation was equally in the
dark as 10 any of the discoveries reported
r from sources that are not cited, as was
shown by the message from Capt. Gen
E BIarco.
d Secretary Long has been under a heavy
and almost constant strain ever since he
& was awakened in the middle of the night
4 week ago last Tuesday by the news of
the loss OF the Maine, and now that mat
ters are at least for the time being in a
oueter state, he has Withdrawn from the
navy department and gone away for
few days rest, leaving Assistant Secretary
81 Roosevelt to manage the department. The
latter has been thoroughly advised of the
Sscretary's policy in the treatment of the
Maine affair." so that there is not likely
10 be any change in that respect caused
by the temporary assumption of the du-
ties Of secretary by Mr.. Roosevelt.
Just when the department closed he
had word of the sailing of the cruiser
Montgomery from Tampa for Key West.
p 10 tidL liIlIe ltlS vessel 1ldu DSCh given
no orders so that the date of her depar-
mre for Havana. if she is to go at ALL
is coniectural The ship went to Tampa
& instead Of Key West on her return from
& San Domingo, in order to facilitate the
a speedy return to his duties in Washington
Of Capt Crownlnshield, the chief of the
navigation bureau, who saved a full day
by the movement
The Castne, the second of the United
States warships on the South Atlantic sta
ton arrived to-day at Barbados, where
She joined the Cincinnati. 1t may be that
the Castine will go to Martinique to be
docked, as she is in need of clearing af-
Ter her tropical cruise.
Since so much depends on the report of
the court Of inquiry it may be interesting
10 note that SO far Secretary Long himself
ooes not know when to expect this impor-
taht ltem' up to this time having heard
nothing from any of the members on this
point He rather expected that the court,
"tlich has complete power to work on its
own lines, would wind up it's work at Ha-
'aha before leaving, so as to avoid the
necessity for a return trip.
One member of the cabinet had more
ueuhIle information on the subject ex-
PFVuAs the receipt of the report from the
court about the middle of next week.
IAeIe Is reason to believe that meantime,
"''N 10 prepare for the reception of a re-
port lhat would show the disaster to be
que TO other cause than that of an accl-
uent' other officials have been looking in
" 'ue subject of indemnities so as to lay
se foundation of case in case it should
tlement
mere are large number of precedents
"%l,yh Wlll aid the authorities in shaping
"" acion in this direction when the
.'-'S are fully established. While none of
"e uses show the fearful loss of life sus-
,'e1 oy the Maine explosion, yet they
luue many instances in which the Unit
o''les had adopted energetic measures
~ 'eoieSs the killing of American citizens
~ lo'eisn countries. In a general way
s-ese means of redress have included de-
i5lS Ior indemnity, proclamations eX-
,'1u'ls the warshlps of the offending ma
r rom our harbors, display of force,
,a1 Intercourse, withdrawal of our minis
en-, 'epilsal and blockade. Some of these
tL-..., .'0A very clOSeIy on war, al
to"sh they are regarded as movements
49, preliminary to actual hostiities, and
I'ouI ung to a threat that force will fol-
WV il reparation is not made.
. 'I' case of the Water Witch is consid-
A.. 10 De most analogous to that of the
S,q'"e should it be established that the
s disaster was not the result of IN
IVY. The Water Witch was a United
~ snip engaged in 1866 in surveying
er Iahee to one Of the rivers of Para
D. Without warning, and by orders of
'ent Lopez of Paraguay a force of
l11l opened fire on the Water Witch,
oh Ine man at the helm and wounding
III. intense feeling was aroused in the
l5i states when the facts became
10 "' The President reported the facts
r isress, and in his message asked au-
Nt.'y TO make a demonstration of force
~" would insure suitable redress. In
to onSe to this, Congress authorized him
cn. use such force as is necessary" to Sc
ample reparation.
esso, phgly, an armed fleet was hastily
AZ 'lDIea on scale which was regarded
dt.1, 'I'rkable for those days. The expe-
ty.a.. Ntluded nineteen armed ships, TWEEN
M. HeaVy guns and $500 sailors and
,t'"es' Accompanying this formidable
me-. mere were civilian plenipotentiarles
pa'ed lrnl to make the demands of this gov
m "t and then enforce them by calling
n N' armed ships. The expedition made