The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-05
Court Of Inquiry CQnnOt Approximate
When They viii Report
RUCH DEPENDS UPON PROGRESS OF DIVERS
The Examination OF Officers ana Men
Orihe Maine Has Be cn Insufficient
to Form " Line of Action-n ard
VIII Not Return to Kcy West
spnin's Newly Acquired Vessels.
Washington, March 4. 1895.

through telegraphic correspondence be-
tween Secretary Long and Admiral
S:card that the court of inquiry is un-
able TO fix even an approximate date
for the conclusion of its investigatio
into the disaster to the Maine
Sharing the general anxiety FOR some
information on this point Secretary
Long to-day, at the instance of the
Cabinet, sent Il telegram to Admiral
Sicard, asking him when it was ex-
Eected that the report OF the court
would be made, and late tonight the
following reply was received:
Key West, March 4, 1898.
Secretary of the Navy:
Have talked with the president of
the court OF inquiry and agree with
him that it is not yet possible to fix Il
date for the finding. as so much de-
pendS upon the progress of the divers
and wrcckes and the results they OBJ
tain. Every effort is being made TO
advance the inquiry. The court returns
to Havana by the Mangrove this even
ing. having about finished the exam
ination al Key West.
''SICARD.''
admiral Sicard's message Is regarded
a disposlng OF the reports that the
court has as yet obtained positive or
conclusive Information bearing upon
the object CT the investigations 1T is
taken 10 mean that upon the testimony
or discoveries Of the divers will depend
the finding, the examination OF the
officers and crew OF the ship having
been insufficient to enable the court to
even form an idea as to what lines
may be opened UP from the investiga
tion of the wreck itself.
While the telegram was naturally
somSwhat OF 4 disappointment in lcav
Ing the termination Of the inquiry as
much in doubt as ever. ii was welcomed
as practically setting at rest any re-
ports as TO the result Of the inves; iga-
ton up Ia date Ii is stated that the
board in I'll probability will not return
to Key West. the Department having
tntimated that ii was lis desire that
the examination of The officers and men
should be concluded at this sitting, as
they are needed for re-assisnment 10
ships.
MOVEMENTS OF THE VESSELS.
1t is probable that the Olympia. flag
ship of the Aslat!c squadron, and the
Peerless, queen Of the cruisers, will
come home To- San Francisco The nav
igat!0n bureau has this movement un-
d,r consideration and. in view of the
fact that the ship has been three years
away f"2n navy yard engaged in hard
cruising service, even II there were no
other reasons, il is probuOla that the
order would be given
. H.. torpedo beat Wnslow at Nor
folk. has completed her repairs and
will join the nOtlla at Key West as
soon rs the gale on the coast blows it
self out and makes the run down safe.
SPANS NEWLY-ACQUlRED YES
Sells.
Naval officials are deeply interested
IN the reports of the purchase of war
ships by Spain and make the reports of
these transactions the text for COM
plants of our navy department to do
likewise. However, as to the report
from London to-day of the purchase of
the AnaZoniuS by Spain, ii is said at
the department that this vessel sailed
DOR Brazil several months ago. and has
be5n delivered to the brazilian govern
ment. Her sister ship IS near compile
tion in the Armstrong yards. They are
useful cruisers, copies of tho Barossa
now of the brazilian navy and their
strong point is their great radius of
action-S000 miieS-which would enable
them to cross the Atlantic and re-cross
without renewing their coal supply. The
olncT TWO SHIPS DullllnS lOr brazil in
France, which are also reported to be
about TO pass into Spanish possession
are presumed 10 b. the Desdorro and
the I'lnriona, which are building at La
Se!nne, Toulon. These are small but
powerful battlcships. Their tonnage Is
only 3,162, but they carry four 10-inch
rifles in turrcts. in addition To two G.
inch and four 4.7-inch guns, and n good
secondary battery. Their coal endur-
ance. however, is small and their forte
would seem to he coast defense opera-
tions. or cruising near n base of sup
plies.
The London reports also caused COM
ment at til State Department. In some
quarters IA, feeling was expressed that
pending the finding of a court of inquiry
on a case having the international
phases or the Maine explosion the obli-
cations of neutrality were as strongly
imposed on Great Britain and Brazil as
In time of war.
l'ut. as general rule, foreign gov
ernmens hre free TO sell warships.
either directly or through their citi:
zens, up to the actual date of hostili-
tics.
QUIET At NAVY DEPARTMENT..
Matters >werc very quiet, at least
externally, In the War Department to-
day. So It was unknown officially that