The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-21

disguised bomb in the coal. low wate,
or faulty construction they d0 nor pn,,
undertake to saw
secretary Long said this afternoon.
after looking over his telegraphic and
mail correspondence that il contained
nothing of Importance beyond tha u,s-
patches given above. The sacretar.s
reierreu with satisfaction to the dis
patch stating that the court of INQUIRY
would assemble at Havana tomorrow.
Inc plan has been for the court to
gather at Key West and then proceed
To Havana. But Mr. Long thought II
was desirable to have the court pro-
ceed at once to Havana, where the in
curry could begin on the actual scene
OF the disaster, and where personal in
spection would aid in an Intelligent
judgment. On this account the secre-
| lafy sent orders yesterday for the court
10 proceed direct to Havana and the re-
sponse OF Admiral Sicard is in accord
| ance with these orders. When AIR
Longs attention was called to the re-
ports that he had taken official reeog-
hIzance or captain Sobrals criticisms
oI the American navy, the secretary
SAID he had called the subject to the
attention of the state department witt
the view of having an inquiry made by
the branch. The particular expression
10 which the secretary had directed the
attention of the state department was
the following, attributed to Captain
plosion inside the ship, which took
place IN one of the forward magazines
The fact of the matter is that the dis |
clpllne and watch observed on the shin |
was very lax. This, one English
newspaper the other day declarai IL ,
the case on American warships gen |
orally. This sort of thing has oec urred /
on previous occasions on American
war vessels"
The secretary said he had not called
attention t1 tba tbn,. So,
Sobrals alleged interview, in which he
refers TO the possibilities of war and to
the information he had gained while
naval attache of the Spanish legation
As whole, Mr.. Long did not treat the
Sobral matter as profoundly serious.
Assistant Secretary Day received no
dispatches from Havana during the
carry part or the day. He would not
discuss the Sobral matter. 1t is under
stood, however, the state department
does not attach deep significance to the
reported remarks of S0bral, owing to his
minor position. At the same time, ii is
felt that he should not be making such
remarks as are attributed to him. As
secretary Long has called official atten-
lon TO them. the department would
doubtless take steps to learn whether
The interview was accurate by making
4 request on the Spanish legation 1t
can be stated positively, however. that !
'eports that the state department made :
'uch a request OF the Spanish legation :
are incorrect Nothing has !
)een done thus far and an unexepcted !
development of to-day so changes the ,
lspeet of the Sobral case that the state !,
department. may not feel that it is neces- !
ary to proceed further.
This development was that Captain )
'obraPs services as naval attache at .
Washington We're officially terminated .
" Spain about four weeks ago. 1t came 9
rom Senor Dubosc, charge d d'affaires of
he Spanish legation, who, when his at !
entlon was called to the Sobral case, q
ave to the associated press the follow =
lg authorized statement:
AS regards this reported interview, I =
now nothing about 1t beyond what / !.
ave seen in the papers. / should imag- !,
1e Mr.. Sobral far too prudent to saw u
nything calculated to offend brothers
arms AT the same time, / should y
tate that on the oath of January last q
aptaln sobral ceased to be a member " -
TINS legation, according to royal de- J,
,ees, which gazetted as his successor !.
leut. Ramon CarraZay Guerrae" 81
Owing to the royal decree relieving "
aptain Sobral, it is said he at present &C
,cuples the position merely of a pri- 9
ate citizen. He is at present in New .
ork meeting his old naval friends on =
e Nlzcaya, but his official status as p.
oaln naval attaehe TO the legation is ~ ~
Id TO have terminated when the decree ie *
as gazetted last month. 1t is a usual VI
to notify the department of =
ch change, but owing TO the excit- pa M
z events of recent days. this notifica- ~, ".
IN OF the Spanish decree was not con- ~
wed tn the authorities la,a :. -,
ne 1t occurred, although the fact has 81
w been known with the information a. a.
at Captain SobraFs services with the ~ ~
cation ended Jan. "a last pc pc
Mr. Dubosc received no advices of i'm III III
ftance from Havana to-day. He ex- =,
eSSGd Satisfaction ba
llch the divers were operating and .e!
Id there was no justification for talk "a "a
out friction. Perfect harmony exists. ol
said, and on both sides. so far as he ~ ~
ampIest facilities fo, tr,,a-t;st 80 - prt
Dubosc feels that tb .as,,,, !, 7s, : :. .loai: Sh
, court Of inouirv at t,a1'.,, ? - val
Y Is quite desirable. owing to the 1ia .
lid rate at which the hull OF the II
ine Is sinking in the soft bottom of -,
la.aa.h her.