The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-25

for the last week their work forward. in
the vicinity OF the large magazine has
been In progress only four days which
presumably began on Monday and in
cludcd to-day.
The statement in the Sigsbee dispatch
that friends OF the dead should under
stand we are In the tropics" ia under
stood at the Navy Department 20 refer
TO the urgent pleas OF relatives OF the
dead that they be brought to the United
States. These appeals continue TO be re-
ceived here and while they excite the
deepest sympathy OF officials. no hope
can be held out that the dead can be
brought back.
THE DEAD.
one OF these appeals makes a pitful
plea against the burying OF the dead by
allen hands In an alien country" There
are circumstances which II they could
be made known would end such appeals
and show that the department has not
been wanting in desire 10 bring tho re-
mains to this country. These circum-
stances, however, have been withheld
mainly through a desire 20 save friends
and relatives from the pain which would
he caused by fun disclosure OF the ef-
feet of the explosion. Tho press repre-
sentatives have given in part the terrible
mutilstion OF the bodies. bat u IS feared
this has not been fully realized by friends
and relatives.
The men were sleeping on the berth
deck with metal floors and ceilings.
which. by the force or the explosion We're
ground together into a confused mass.
knowing t>rs. there is little hope that
many Of the bodies still missing will be
FOUND or. n found. that they will be In a
condition to be brought TO the United
states.
The Navy Department to-day gave on;
the figures showing the strength OF the
naval militia up TO date. This shows a
total force Of as officers and enlisted
men. which IS a gratifying increase from
the 1903 shown by the last report The
number OF officers and men by states Is
as follows:
NAVAL MILITIA.
California, 3s6: Connecticut 100, Flori-
"a. 1856: Georgia, Us, Illinois, 425. Louis
iana. 262: Maryland, 30; Massachusetts.
al: Michigan. 1913; New Jersey 36i; New
York, AZ; North Carolina, 230. Ohio. PIG;
Pennsylvania. 2I6: Rhode Island. 1870:
south Carolina, l52; Virginia, a. Total,
4fi5.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt says I'm
with forty-three commissioned officers
and i23 petty officers and enlisted men.
Aside from the forces shown in the
above list new brigades are in process OF
formation which promises 90 swell the
total to much larger figures at an early
day.
The organization OF this auxiliary SER
vice IS under the direction Of Lieutenant
Gibbons. United States Navy, whose
energy has accomplished much in secur-
ing state organization and In the har-
monizing OF the bodies into one compact
force. capable I'm an emergency OF CO.
operating with the regular navy.
In his last report Mr.. Roosevelt said
that the state naval militia In the event
OF a sudden emergency could be utilized
at once for manning the smaller nation-
al cruisers. II could be depended upon
mainly, he said. as a second line Of de-
fence and also be used In placing mines
and the establishment ot signal stations
for coast defence. The appropriation
Of $4,000 made by Congress 10 aid the
work Of the naval militia would be APP
portioned among the states In a few
days.
WASHINGTON SAFE.
Thanks 10 the promptness and efiici-
ency Of the chief Of engineers and the
chief OF ordnance Of the army, the city
OF Washington is now regarded as being
we'll night safe and secure from attack
by water The fortfcations at Fort
Washington and Sheridan. point on the
opposite side OF the Potomac are suri-
ciently advanced 10 be able TO repel an
ordinary fleet Of invaders. and In case
of necessity they could be vastly
strengthened I'm a comparatively short
time. These defences are considered
sufficient to keep all hostile vessels be-
yond the range Of gunshOt Of the national
capital
Moreover. the river has been blocked
of and prepared for mines and t0rpedOes
at point below the fortincations already
mentioned so that IL Is probable that
some OF the ships of an enemy would be
blown out OF the water before 10 would
be necessary To use the guns az the forts.
The officers OF the British warshp
Hood to-day cabled from the island OF
Crete expressing deep sympathy over
the disaster 10 the Maine
MORE BODIES FOUND.
Late tonight the Navy Department re-
ceiyed two brief kilograms from Captain
Sigsbeo at Havana one related TO some
routine matter Of expenditures IN con-
nection with the work on the Maine. The
other is as follows
divers report more bodies IN wreck
some In hammocks. involved IN debris,
probably not recognizable
This dispatch indicates that the divers
have finally secured az least partial en-
trance to the quarters IN the forward part
of the vessel where the crew were asleep
when the explosion occurred, and under
which were the magazines.
The fact that the divers were unable
10 ertricate the bodies shows the fearful
obstacle against which they are laboring,
and bears ont the belief that the work
OF submarine investigation will necessa-
rily proceed slowly