The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1898-03-04
MATTERS ARE QUIET.
No Unusual Activity Reported In Naval
Circles.

Circles.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 90 Secretary
Long has decided to abandon his pro-
posed absence from the navy depart
ment and continue at his duties. AS
to the outlook he said he thought
things were looking much better. He
said the public ought not to be under
and misapprehension with regard to
naval movements; that so far they had
mostly been the ordinary dispositions
which are made from time to time; for
instance, the shipping of guns to New
York is to supply the Chicago and
other vessels which are under recon-
struction there and they would go in
any event. The gun factory at Wash
ington is where they are made and
they are sent to various points as the
occasion requires. So, too, the call for
more men, he said, is simply the re-
vival of the recommendation in his
annual report.
This statement by the secretary evi-
IDENTIFY was made to allay the impress
sion caused by the reports of heavy
ohiphiOhto vi @uIo ioii thC w
ton navy yard and other war-like
measures. The movements of some of
the war ships, such as the Detroit and
Marblehead toward Key West had al
ready been shown to have been in ac-
cOrdance with orders not only made,
but published in the newspapers as
well before the Maine disaster. so that
the secretary's explanation on this
point is only confirmatory of the state
ments of the subordinate officials of
the navy department.
The telegraph brought news of the
arrival at Key West of the two vessels
named, the Detroit coming from Mobile,
where it was sent to participate IN the
Mardi GraS festivities, and the Marble
head from New Orleans, where it went
for a similar purpose. The Detroit is
going uD to the naval station to take
on coal, and both vessels will remain
attached to the North Atlantic squad
ron. 1t is again stated at the navy de-
partment that the Montgomery, which
has been ordered to drop down TO Key
West from Tampa. where it landed
Captain CrOwninshield, has not as yet
received any orders to proceed to Ha-
Fdhd, anu IL Is llOI utCIupu We WIGu
the orders will issue, if at all
The attention of naval officers has
been strongly attracted to the state
ment made by representatives of the
Spanish government to the effect that
there were no mines or tOrpedoes of
any kind in Havana harbor. 1t can be
said that this statement exactly agrees
with the inquiries that have been un-
der way for many months by agents of
our government, for so far, it is said.
they have been unable to find the
slightest evidence of the existence of
any plan of defense in the harbor by
means Of mines Or tOrpedoes, much
less to locate them, as has been re-
ported in some quarters. Of course
the effect of this statement. if it is to
be accepted as conclusive on that
point, is almost certain to negative the
supposition that the disaster resulted
from other than accidental causes, as
the almost unanimous testimony of
experts here, based on the history of
torpedo work. is TO the effect that no
single torpedo of any known type
could have caused the terrific wreck of
the Maine
LII NhS pui 7ulI VI ttSLdilS SUluS vi Tue
ordance officers acting upon the
theory that the large ten-inch maga-
zine forward was not exploded, have
been looking into the contents Cf the
smaller and adjoining six-inch naga-
zines. They find that allowing for the
amount of nowder that was probably
consumed in practice drills nv the
Maine before it arrived in Havana
harbor there was certainly no less
than 5000 pounds Of powder in this
an amount sufficient to have
caused enormous destruction had it
been exploded at one time.
Colonel Haywood, commandant of
the marines. acting under orders from
the navy department. is prenaring to
send all the marines at Kew West. sur
vivors of the Maine, who are able to
travel to New York. where thev will
be placed on the receiving ship Ver-
mont, there to be held for further as
signment. They will go by steamer
to New York. The sailors at Kew
West will be disposed of in similar
fashion.
The government authorities were
placed in possession of the informa-
ton reaching Senor du Bose. charge
d d'affaires of the Spanish legation that
no mines exist inside or outside of
Havana harbor. This information
reached Senor du Bose and was COM
to the Associated Press in
a brief and explicit statement. 1t can
be stated that this statement was
made. not as a matter of opinion or
conviction on the mart of
Senior du Bose. but as conclusion of
fact. ascertained from those whose Of
hclal position make them familiar
with every circumstance connected
with Havana harbor. Until this in
was in the possession Of the
charge d'affaires be had no personal
of the facts.
Work in the Senate
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Beyond
1OnDt the CDrhnit caco will bo I,oo;,1,1