New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-26
CASHMERE BOUQUET
WORKS.
NAVY DEPARTMENT QUIET
OFFICIALS PATIENTLY WAITING FOh
THE MAINE COURTS REPORT.

| CAPTAIN CROwNINSffrELD RETURNs-No of9pEi'"
TO THE TERRoR-vIsrT FROM A DELEGATION
OF NAVAL MILITIA OFFICERS.
Washington Feb. 25.-A quieter feeling is mani
tested at the Navy Department over the Maine ar
| fair as time passes This is the tenth day since
| the noble warshp destroyed. but the officers
| are willing 10 wait In patience at the admonltion
O, the President and Secretary Long until the facts
relating to the explosion are fully developed They
are fully on their guard against the expression OF
unauthorized statements as to the conditions at
Havana and the daily Developments. being aware
OF the efficiency OF the precautions adopted by the
Court o. Inquiry to prevent premature disclosure
Of the proceedings Therefore. the published state
ment that tho explosion had been demonstrated
to be OF exterior origin by the discovery OF the
upheaved double bottom OF the Maine did not cause
much OF a STIR because the officials could not con-
ceve that the alert members OF the Court Of In
qu!ry and their assistants In Havana had over
looked a fact important as this.
Captain Crowninshied returned 10 the Navy De-
partment to-day and took charge OF the Bureau
OF Navigation, relieving Commander Dickins who
has distinguished himself and earned tho thanks
OF the Secretary for the untirlng vigilance with
which he has managed all the many details o, the
Maine affair that have fallen upon the Navigation
Bureau. and OF the newspaper men for the patience
and frankncss with which he has answered their
many Inquiries.
Captain Crownnshelds absence has been made
the basis for the conjecture that he has been on
secret service for the Navy Department in Cuba
He was not communicative as TO the details OF his
trip but he said that he had been In San Domingo
fic had gone there the Brooklyn with his son
when the ship started for ST. Thomas. While In
san Domingo he received news OF the disaster TO
the Maine and took advantage OF the appearance
at San Domingo OF the cruiser Montgomery to re-
turn TO Washington.
The monitor Terror is lying In Hampton Roads.
nd 4, ic aid thc Nav ri m
no orders as yet The impression is that she will
remain in that place which is one of great strategic
value in Of need. at least until the monitor
Puritan is ready to take her place. The Puritan
is almost twice big the Terror. being a six
thousardton vessel. little less than the Maine in
size She carries twelve-inch guns in her turrets.
against tennch guns for the Terror and is the most
formidable double-turreted monitor In the world In
smooth water. This qualification does not mean
that she is unable to keep the sea. but only that
from her great breadth and light draught she is
susceptible 10 the motion that II is difficult
to do good work with her guns IN seaway. She
is now having furnaces fitted to her boilers
at the Norfolk Navy Yard the crowns Of the fur
naces having come down some time ago. owing 10
the fact that the boilers are the same that were
built for her when she was originally laid down
many years ago. 1t is said at the Navy Depart
ment that she will be ready FOR service about
March 4.
A delegation from the Naval Militia Association
OF the United States was at the Navy Department
to-day. The visit of the members. however. was
not in response TO any request sent out by the De-
partment. as has been represented, but simply
preliminary to visit to the Capitol. where hear
| Ing given by the Naval Committee the
Barber bill to increase the naval establishment by
the construction of twenty torpedo boats. designed
principally for the of the militia. The delega-
| ton included Lieutenant Samuel NJ. Bount. of
| BALTIMORE Commander F. G.. auckland. OF the
| Connecticut Militia; Commander Isaac +. Emerson.
| OF the Maryland Militia Captain j. W. Miller.
| commanding the New-Y York Militia. and president
OF the association: Lieutenant Ralph Fuller, OF
| Cleveland. Ohio. and Captain H. L. Satterlee, on
stan of the Governor Of Newly ork. While at
the Navy Department the delegation had pleas
interview with Assistant Secretary Roosevelt,
who has general supervision OF the Naval Militia
OF the country. and with whom the provisions Of
| the bill were briefly discussed The measure how
ever. has been formally referred TO the Navy
Department by Congress. and the oiiclals consc-
Qucntly have not given their opinion regarding Its
| provisions
The boats provided for in the bill are to be about
one hundred and fifty tons displacement. TO have n
speed of not less than twenty-five knots, and are
10 cost. including armament not exceeding 5000
90. Six of the boats to be built on the Pacific
! Coast. When completed they are TO be stationed
ganigat!ons exist, and TO be manned by skeleton
crews from the Regular Navy. and be ready Tor
the full complement of officers and men 10 be hIied
out from the militia when drill or other occasion
| arises The association also desires TO urge on
Congress greater liberaty in the appropriation Tor
| the Naval Militia. so that uniform camp equip
| Commander auckland of the Connecticut Militia
asked that denial be made OF the published state
| ment that he had been summoned here for confer
| ence with the officials of the Navy department,
| and added that his visit was simply FOR the pur-
| pose of appearing before the Naval Committee for
| the purpose stated