The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-26
ALL QUIET IN WASHINGTON
NO NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE
 MAINE DISASTER.

NO NEW DETELOPMENTs IN THE
 MAINE DISASTER.
 Secretary Long Leaves for Short yaca- tion-Court of Inquiry's Report May Possibly Arrive Next Week, Says Mem- ber of the Cabinet-Precedents to Aid Authorities in Shaping Claim for In- demnity Should One be Made-Firing on the Chesapeake.
 Washington, Feb. 25.-In spite of the stories that come from unofficial sources in Havana as to sensational developments in connection with the work of the divers in the Maine's hull the administration remains firm in it's statement that there Is no credible ev- idence as to the cause of the disaster and will await the conclusion of the in- vestigation now making by the court of inquiry. This position was empha sized at to-day's cabinet meeting. Peo- pie who look for some startling an- nouncement were disappointed, as the members, without reservation, admit ted that the subject of the Maine had been discussed, but that the govern ment had received no information from Havana since yesterday, and had no intention of changing it's policy until there was something of substance to warrant it. The Spanish legation was equally in the dark as to any of the discoveries reported from sources that are not cited as was shown by the mes sage from Captain General Blanco.
 Long On Vacation.
 Secretary Long has been under a heavy and almost constant strain ever since he was awakened in the middle of the night week ago last Tuesday by the news of the loss of the Maine, and now that matters that are, at least for the time being,in quieter state, he has withdrawn from the navy depart ment and gone away for a few days rest, leaving Assistant Secretary Roose- welt to manage the department. The latter has been thoroughly advised at every step of the secretary's policy of treatment of the Maine affair so that there is not likely to be any change in that respect caused by the tempo rary assumption of the duties of secre- tary by MT. Roosevelt. Just before the department closed he had word of the sailing of the cruiser Montgomery from Tampa for Key West. Up to that time the vessel had been given no or ders, so that the date of her departure for Havana, if she is to go at all, is conjecturaL The Castine the second of the United States Warships on the South Atlantic station, arrived to-day at Barbadoes, where she joined the Cincinnati It may be that the Cas- tine will go to Martinique to be, docked as she is in need of cleaning after her tropical service.
 Court of InquirY's Report.
 Since so much depends upon the re- port of the court of inquiry it may be interesting to note that so far Secre- tary Long himself does not know when to expect this important document, having up to this time heard nothing from any of the members on this point. He rather expected that the court, which has complete power to work on it's own lines, would wind up it's work at Havana before leaving, so as to avoid the necessity for a return trip. One member of the cabinet had a more definite opinion of the subject, expect ing the report about the middle of next week. There are large number of precedents which will aid the authori- ties in shaping their action for indem- nity when the facts are fully establish ed While none of the cases show the fearful loss of life sustained by the Maine explosion, yet they include many instances in which the United States has adopted energetic measures to re- dress American citizens for loss in for eign countries.
 Precedents
 The case of the Water Witch is con sidered to be the most analogous to that of the Maine should 1t be estab- lished that the Maine disaster was not the result of the accident. The Water Witch was United States vessel en- gagged in 1855 in surveying the entrance to river of Paraguay. Without warn- ing, and by orders of President Lopez troops opened fire on the Water Witch killing the man at the helm and wound ing others Intense feeling was arous- ed in the United States when the facts became known. The president reported the facts to congress and asked au- thority to make a demonstration of force which would insure suitable re- dress. Congress authorized him to use as much force as was necessary to se- cure ample reparation. Accordingly an armed fleet was hastily assembled The expedition included nineteen arm ed ships, twenty-five guns, 2,500 sail ors and marines. It made formida- ble showing in South American waters and President Lopez's government was subdued. The naval officers were re. oeived at Ascension with much honor and every reparation within the power of the republic was given. This in cluded an abject apology, a sweeping disavowal and s10,000 for the sufferers from the outrage. When the facts oi the expedition were reported to con- gress the president stated that the dis patch of this fleet had had salutary influence throughout the world and hac convinced foreign nations that the United States would protect the lives of it's citizens with all the force at its command.
 Firing On the Chesapeake.
 The case of the firing on the United States ship Chesapeake by the British ship Leonard is another case affordine