Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-01

|
close of office hours a telegram came
! 70 the Navy Department from Adrnira !
Sicard at Key West in the foliuw1in q
| terms: s
KEY WEST. Feb. %, 1898.
70 the Secretary of the Navy, Wash
| ington:
Court OF inquiry will commence SEES
sions at Key West to-day They must
resume session at Havana to obtain
evidence of divers after further work
upon the wreck.
| "(Signed) SIrAPnr
Inc important feature of this com
nunlcation is the declara ton that the
court Will return to Havana 1t sets
at rest rumors that have been current
tor some days past that the court was
not to return to Havana for the reason
| that 1t had discovered the cause Of the
sinking of the Maine, which was not an
accident, and that they had conse-
quentiy no further business in Havana
one important deduction to be drawn
from the message was that the report
OF the court of inquiry can scarcely be
Expected for several weeks to come The
prevalent belief at the Navy Depart
nent us that up to this moment the
court has not once undertaken to COM
pare notes and endeavor to reach an
agreement.
a letter from Captain Sampson, dated
Havana, February %, was received
during the day. Although it is simply
been reported by telegraph, one fact is
lSigfIflcant viz: the statement that the
Testimony OF certain civilian witnesses
before the court would be of no i'm
portanceL
The reports that came from Key West
ance of unusual preCaution among the
few soldiers quarteVed there We're re-
celved With amusement at Army Head
quarters here. 1t was said that no or
l n h ).jt F<,,-
TO explain the hustle, but there was the
best reason to suspect that the COM
'mandant was simply brushing UP the
post and putting his best foot fore
most against the expected appearance
there on his tour OF inspection OF Gen
eral Merritt. the commanding General
OF the Department of the East.
Secretary Long said at the close of
office hours to-day that no orders had
gone out to send another warship to
havana, reports to the contrary not
understanding.
AT the White House the utmost quie.
prevails Many offers have come from
organizations and individuals of their
services in case of a conflict, Some of
stated to ths president that their States
We're ready to furnish fun quotas OF
men.
Secretaries Long and -Alger and Rep
resentative Dingley We're among the
Presidents visitors to-day but it was
stated that they had nothing OF import
ance on the Maine affair to discuss with
him. MIR. Dlngley spoke afterward in
strong terms a gainst reports that fina,n-
cal circles i'm New York were being
sounded as to the readiness with which
funds could be raised in an emergency
The attentio OF Secretary Gage was
called to the published sta terl1ent that
he was making preparations for bond
issue, and that 1.-THE bureau of EngraV-
,h-a
plates. The Secretary pronounced the
statement unquatitiedly false. No such
action has even been considered, he
said.
Captain Kiclens, Assistao, gone to
che Navigation Bp5esome reports that
~ orfolskeu Circulated. his visit has moth
ing to do with war preparations He
went to inspect the old training ship
Essex, which has just returned from
long cruise With apprentices.
The State Department to-day received
the Following dispatch from Minister
Woodford at Madrid:
Decree dissolving Spanish Cortes
February &C. New Cortes will meet
April IS
been expected, and it may he ended
with important results. The two
parties, liberal and conservative. will
now appeal to the country. and on the
result will depend the poll tical complex
ion of THE ministry. The Sagasta nnin-
istry, now i'm power. is liberal. Its re-
tention in power means much at the
present juncture, for it was on tine ad-
vent of the SaJgasta regime THAT 6eneral
Weyler was recalled. the recommendation
decree was annlnlled and the present
plan of autonomy put in force. The
policy now being pursued by Genera!
Blanco in Cuba is an entire reversal OF
that under the conservative regime OF
Canovas and his successor. and it is felt
that the continuance of this policy is
no less at stake than the ministry its; II
in the outcome of the present elections
Elections Will De held, not only in
Spain, but also in Cuba and Porto 1tico
This. however, should not be confound"
ed with the local elections of Cuba IN
der the plan of autonomy. The present
election will be confined entirely to the
choice of delegates to the imperial par
| lament. and will not be part OF the
autonomous plan for local govern
ment Of Cuba. The latter elections nave
not been fixed and the time for them
will be set by the autonomous Cabinet.
NAVAL BOARD AT KEY WEST.
KEY WEST. FLA, Feb. 2S.-'The
United States court OF inquiry into the
loss of the battleship Maine in the mar
Dor OF Havana on February Is began It's
sessions here this morning. Lieuten-
ant Blandin was the first witness
called Testimony will be taken. ac-
cording to it's relative Importance and
not according to the rank of the wit
| nesSeS.
Lieutenant B!andin was before the
court for about an hour. The naval
officers sat in Judge Locke's private
chambers. off the main court room. M
marines We're on guard but all Ihe
doors were closed.
Those who were called ats witnesses
lbefore the luncheon recess at l O'clock
were Lieutenants Blandin, Hood, Jun.
gen and Blow and Cadets Bronson ane
Boyd.
TIL. court of inquiry reconvened at
lo'clock this afternoon. Lieutenant 'Hol
Imam, who testified at Havana, wa:
again called. Lieutenant OF Marine:
lCatlin gave his evidence quickly, ant
was followed by Boatswain Larkin
Gunner Hill and Carpenter Holmes
The two latter were on shore at tn
time of the explosion, and could tel
little of value.
, AT $40 o'clock the court adjourne.
until tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock