The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-24
SICARD TOO ILL TO GO TotSEA.
CAPT. TAYLOR WOULD COMMAND IF
SQUADRON SAILED.

The Admiral to Direct Matters From
His Hotel at Key West as Long as
the ships Remain in That Harbor.
Vessels That Have Been on on
Side Trips Returning 10 Key West.
No New Developments at the Span
ish Legation.
Washington, Feb. 2S-The noon mail
brought to Secretary Long a letter from
Admiral Sicard at Key West. The Ad-
miral wrote he has not yet recovered his
health and would be unable to go TO sea
with the squadron. He will remain on
shore at his hotel in Key West and re-
tain command of the squadron from that
place so long as it remains in harbor
there, relinquishlng it only when It be-
comes necessary for the vessels to go to
sea as a squadron.
1t will be remembered the Admiral had
suffered an attack Of malarial fever and
had secured leave of absence of two weeks
from the department just before the ex-
plosion of the Maine. He got as far as
Tampa, but returned Immediately to his
command, which for only a day he had
left in the hands of Capt. Sampson. Should
the squadron be obliged to so to sea with
the Admiral i'll at Key West and the senior
officer of the fleet, Capt, Sampson, en-
gagged in the investigation at Havana,
probably the command of the squadron
would devolve upon Capt Taylor, now
commanding the battleship Massachusetts
and commonly regarded as one of the
brightest and brainiest officers in the nav
al service.
simultaneously with the departure OF
the Texas and Nashville from Galveston
for Key West, the Marblehead has left
New Orleans and the Detroit will leave
Mobile for Key West. These movements
are a part of the orders issued early this
month before the Maine disaster.
The Montgomery is also due at Key
West, having left San Domingo for Key
West on Lhe 18th. The result will be TO
bring together again the large number of
vessels under Admiral Sicard at Key
West, and the immediate vicinity. These
will be the New York, now at Tortugas,
the Indiana, Massachusetts, Texas, Iowa,
Marblehead, Detroit, Nashville, Montgom-
cry, Ericsson and Cushing.
The torpedo boats Porter and Dupont are
in dry dock at Mobile and are not expect
ed to be ready to go to Key West for sew
eral days. The Brooklyn is also cruising
In the West Indies, at present en- route
from st. Thomas to Vera Cruz
The Spanish legation affairs have re-
sumed their normal aspect. Mr.. Dubosc
has received no reports of any character
concerning the Maine or the progress be-
ing made by the Spanish authorities at
Havana investigating the occurrence. When
the Spanish inquiry is completed It doubt
less Will be sent to Madrid and IL Is not
likely to reach the Spanish officers here.
Mr.. Dubosc continued to speak of the
satisfactory relations which exist between
the American and Spanish authorities at
Havana concerning the work on the wreck
and the investigation of its cause.
1t is not known here how far the Ameri-
can court will avail itself of the evidence
of the Spanish officers, or whether the
Spanish inquiry will include the evidence
of the American officers, but at the lega-
tion it Is said all the indications reaching
the officials here Is that there will be such
cooperation as will be helpful to the two
branches of inquiry. and as the courts
may desire.
Mr. Dubosc has received no word in re-
gard to the reported capture OF the Daunt-
less with a flibustering expedition which
Is said to have gotten away from point
between Maimi and Palm Beach, Fla, re-
Gently. A capture Of this importance would
be speedily reported to the Spanish au-
thorities here and in the absence OF ad-
vices little credit is given to the report.
Capt. Sobral did not come to the Span
ish legation last night as had been stated.
He has been expected for several days,
however, and probably will be here to-day,
although his visit is said to be without
significance, as the incident with which his
name was recently connected is considered
closed.