The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-10
MONTGOMERY AT HAVANA
is MOORED NEAR THE WRECK OF
THE MAINE.

Her Position is Also in the Center of a
Circle of Spanish Ships-Doubt Now as
to the Real Cause of the Naval Courts
Stay In Havana-American Correspond
ent Expelled.
Havana, March 9.-The arrival here
of the Montgomery was very quiet, it
being generally understood that she
comes to replace the coast survey
steamer Fern as quarters for Captain
Sigsbee and others. After firing the
usual salutes and being saluted in re-
turn, the Montgomery was moored in
the principal harbor, near the wreck of
the Maine and in the center of a circle
of Spanish ships. Later in the day
Commander Converse received the cor
respondent on board the cruiser and
treated him graciously, though he had
nothing to tell him beyond the facts
already sent. He seemed satisfied to
have a rest in Havana harbor for a
while as the cruiser has been very busy
touching at many West Indian ports
lately. Captain Sigsbee, Lieutenant
Commander Wainwright and Ensign
Powellson will occupy quarters on the
Montgomery, the Fern leaving Havana
this afternoon. The Montgomery is as
trim and neat as possible Nobody is
allowed on board, without permission,
but nobody is excluded if business or
courtesy demands the admission of the
visitor. There is no indication of the
length of the cruisers stay in this har-
Dor any more than there is any news
of the duration of the sessions of the
court of inquiry here. The Fern left
for Key West this afternoon. Ameri-
cans here are greatly pleased at the
prompt action of congress in passing
the defense bill, every one regarding
the appropriation as a wise measure in
time of peace. Henry Lane, the Amer
lean correspondent, has been expelled
from the island. He left on the Oiiv-
ette at noon to-day.
A further examination of the divers
occupied the court of inquiry to-day.
The sessions were not long and it
would be hard for any one not possess
ed of inside information to tell what
keeps the members here, unless 1t be
that they are waiting until the divers
are able to examine and report upon
portions of the hull engulfed in the
harbor mud. The court pursues its
taciturn and even secretive way. The
belief here is that the court is princi-
pally engaged now in killing time and
is not likely to go north until next
week. 1t is certain that the members
are strengthening the testimony
daily by personal observation of the
wreck and the careful plans made by
Ensign Powellson from the almost
hourly reports Of the divers. The
court now has photographs, drawings
and diagrams showing as near as pos
sible the condition of things sub-ma-
rine. What effect the presence of the
Montgomery will have no one will be
able to tell until she has been here sew
eraldays She is so much smaller than
the Vizcaya that it is apparent to ev-
cry one that she was not sent In q war
like mood, but only to replace the Fern
There is no apprehension among naval
officers that the Montgomery will share
the fate of the Maine. With reference
to the secrecy observed as to the
wrecking work and parts of the testi-
mony before the court of inquiry, a
high officer says there is no secrecy as
regards reports and everything is given
out.
A Spanish column under Colonel Te-
ieda, according to Spanish report
has captured several retrenched insur-
gent camps In the Manzanillo district
including the camp of Ell Chine. The
troops, the Spaniards add, killed nine
men, made threee prisoners and cap
tured IAN armory with many tools and
destroyed many huts and hospitals" "
Colonel Tejeda's column, it Is further
announced, will continue pursuing the
insurgents, who are said to be in re-
treat. There was another engagement
between these opposing forces, it ap-
pears, at La Sierra and the insurgents
are reported to have lost over one hun
dred men, while the Spanish colone
only reports two of his men killed and
fifteen wounded. 1t is generally admit
ted that a majority of the conserva-
tives are unwilling to join in the elec-
tions, though the colonial or autono-
mic government will reserve sixteer
places for the conservatives in the col
onial congress If the latter take any
part.