The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-04
ARE LESS FREQUENT.
Stories of Startling Discoveries In
The Maine Wreck,

washington, Feb. 26.-RumOrS of
startling discoveries in the wreck of
the Maine were less frequent, but there
were enough of them still atioat to
warrant Secretary Long in making this
statement to the newspaper men as lie
left his office: Summing up the situa-
ton, l should say that the navy de-
partment knows nothing more about
the cause Of the disaster than it did
i've minutes after the receipt of the
first dispatch from Capt. Sigsbee.'
The secretary's attention was called
to the published statement that Capt.
Crowninshield, chief of the bureau of
navigation had just arrived ut Tampa,
Fla, on the Montgomery from a trip
to Cuba, where he had been inspecting
prospective coaling stations near Ma
tanzas. The secretary's comment was
simply this: Capt. Crowninshield has
not been to Cuba. He has been off
with his boy on matters not in any
wise connected with the business Of
the navy" =
| Until the conclusion of the investiga-
ton of the court of inquiry at Havana,
the principal business of the navy de-
partment in connection with the Maine
| will relate to the conduct Of the wreck
ing operations.
| Wreeking Operations.
Capt. Lemley, the judge advocate
general who has this branch of the
work Immediately in charge received
kilograms from the Merritt and Chap
| man Wrecking company, at New York
! stating that the steamer Merritt and
| Wrecking Lighter Sharp had sailed
| for Havana and that the tug Under
| writer With the chief would leave New
York Saturday for the same place. The
assistant Wrecking master was going
to Havana OH the Ward Line steamer
/ Saturday and it was suggested to the
! department that it's inspector should
take the same steamer. Inasmuch as
Lieut.. Commander Kimball who is now
! at Havana has been assigned to the
duty Of inspecting the wrecking oper-
ations it will not be necessary to ob-
serve this suggestion.
The navy department gave out the
figures showing the strength of the
naval militia up to date. This shows a
total force of 4,445, officers and en-
listed men, which is gratifying increase
from the 3,703 shown by the last re-
| port. The number of officers and men
| by states is as follows:
California, 1856; Connecticut, 165;
Louisiana, 1852; Maryland, 24O; Massa,
chusetts, AL; Michigan, 1893; New Jer-
sey, 3G4; New York, 472 North Caro-
| Ira, 23O; Ohio, PIG; Pennsylvania, PIG;
Rhode Island, 100; South Carolina, 152;
Virginia, Al. Total, 4,445.
New Brigades Forming.
Aside from the forces shown in the
above list, new brigades are in pro-
| cess of formation, which promises to
| swell the total to much larger figures
at an early day. The organization of
| this auxiliary arm of the naval service
is under the immediate direction of
: Lieut.. Gibbons, U. S. n, whose energy
has accomplished much in securing
i state organization and in the harmonic
| ing of the bodies into one compact
force, capable in emergency of CO.
, operating with the regular navy. Ii
| his last report Mr.. Roosevelt said that
! the state naval militia in the event of
! u sudden emergency could be utilized
at once for manning thesmaller ma
tional cruisers. 1t could be depended
upon mainly, he said as second line
/ OF defense and also be used in placing
mines and the establishment of signal
! stations for coast defense.
Thanks to the promptness and eff
! cheney of the chief of engineers and
the chief Of ordnance of the army, the
city of Washington is now regarded as
| being well nigh safe and secure from
attack by water. The Notifications at
! Fort Washington and Sheridan point,
on the opposite side of the Potomac
are sufficiently advanced to be able to
repeal an ordinary fleet of invaders
i and in case Of necessity they could be
vastly strengthened in comparatively
! short time. These defenses are con-
sidered sufficient to keep all hostile
vessels beyond the range of gunshot
[ of the national capital.
| Moreover the river has been blocked
off and prepared for mines and tor
pedoes at point below the fortifica-
! lions already mentioned so that it is
/! probable some of the ships of an
enemy would be blown out Of the
water before it would be necessary to
use the guns at the forts.
/ lTlErTV.Y