The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-27
CROPPING FOR A THEORY
The Department Thinks It Was
Neither Mine Nor Boiler.
NO NEWS FROM THE MAINE
Bodies of the Victims Will Be Sent to
Key West-The Court of Inquiry
Has Wide Scope-The Ter
ror Goes to New York.

/ Washington, Feb 26-In the absence
of news from Havana on any subject
other than the disposition of the dead
bodies, the official mind turned to-day
| TO an analysis of the Spanish statement
| made with more or less degree Of official
sanction, respecting the total absence
OF submarine mines from. Havana har-
Dor, and 1t was regarded by the navy
! department as negativing the mine
/ theory of an external cause of the ex-
/ piosion, just as recent letters put an end
| to the exploding boiler theory as an in
ternal cause for the disaster.
Nothing was heard to-day from the
court of inquiry and the department is
| still ignorant of its plans. In fact, the
only news coming direct from Havana
| to the navy department during the day
was contained in the following dispatch
from Captain Sigsbee, dated Havana,
Feb. 26:
Have succeeded in making arrange
ments by which bodies may be sent TO
Key West in hemetically sealed zinc
| cases Refer to Forsythe for burial in
Key West. Probable that bodies here
after cannot be recognized. Probable
| that bodies will not remain intact. Con-
/ d1tlon of bodies requires immediate ac-
| ton. Jenkins and Merritt may be rec
ognized by uniform. Can secure health
| permit at Key West to land bodies
there. Divers cannot get down aft after
| bodies this morning. Much debris. Will
clear 1t away. Wainwright placed in
charge of wrecking Natter
The following reply was sent by Sec
retary Long:
Referring to your telegram of this
date. Send bodies that may hereafter
be recovered to Key West for burial.
Send by Bache.''
To Key West dispatch was for
warded, as follows: ..Sigsbee ordered to
send bodies that may hereafter be re-
covered to Key West for Temporary
burial Will arrive in hermetically seal
cd zinc cases. Make necessary arrange
ments Bodies will arrive by Baehe"
1t Is believed at the department that
there are probably in the neighborhood
OF % bodies remaining TO be discovered
and extricated from the wreck.
The double-turreted monitor Terror
started for New York this evening from
hampton Roads under orders received
to-day. She will be a powerful rein
forcement to the defenses of the COM
mercial metropolis in case of need and
stationed in the narrows it would be
difficult for any hostile ship to pass her.
With the exception of the training ship
ESSEX, which arrived at Hampton
ROADS to-day, and the Brooklyn, which
arrived at st. Lucia, probably to coal
d,
miles, this was the only naval move
ment to-day
Ihere were number of alarming sto-
ries as to heavy shipments of ordnance
from the Washington navy yard
for the arming of the auxiliary
OF the new navy. 1t is said at the de
partment so far none of these guns
have been shipped to-day but that
few for the Chicago, probably IA five
men rapid fire guns Will be dispatched
monday or Tuesday. With these guns
in place, the Chicago would be pretty
we'll modernized in the matter of arna
ment. She will carry still her four big
elght-inch guns in sponsors. on the
spardeck, while on the gundeck these
"a nVe-lnch rapid-fire guns will replace
eignt sIx-inch guns of old pattern.
Inc Dolphin is to go into commission
IN New York the 24th of March. AL
though rated as the presidents Yacht.
the vessel which has been thoroughly
oVerhauled and furnished with new
boilers and decks, carries even now, a
suffeient battery to make her, when
speed IS taken into account. a very
eneetive gunboat. Her personnel will
remain the same as before she went to
the yard for repairs last fall
with the proceedings of the court of
inquiry drawing to a close, attention is
now being directed to the form and
nature of this report The court has
the widest latitude for inquiry and yet
certain general features will have to be
observed under the naval regulations
governing inquiries of this character.
Inese were explained to-day by cMp-
tain Lemley. judge advocate general of
the navy, and Lieutenant Lauchheim-
er, veteran in the legal arm of the
naval service, and author of the stand
ara work on courts of inquiry, court
inartlafs. etc. As a general rule, it
was explained a court of inquiry sub
nltg NOT only the talr
also gives US conclusions drawn from
the evidence, Under rule 1925 when
courts are required to find facts. there
Is to be reported not only a recital of
evidence, but also the results and con-
c'usions of the court from hearing the
evidence"
In this respect the findings are much
more exact and conclusive on all issues
of facts than the civil findings of a
jury or of an inquest. Usually there is
a precept which specifies the exact
charges on which the court is to make
a nndlng. In the present case how
ever. the preeept sent by Admiral Sic
ard was general in terms. simply di-
recting the court to inquire into and
report on the circumstances attending
the wreck of the Maine. This gives the
court wide scope in prosecuting its in
quiry. In form. the report will be in
Two parts, first, the findings of fact
ana, second. the opinion of the court
the findings take up each material
question Of fact involved. and give the
conclusion of the court upon it.
The officials of the war department
have completed all the preliminary ar
ranEements for the immediate execu-
tion of the bill. which is expected to be-
come law within the next few days
providing for two additional regiments
of artillery. There will be no difficulty
whatever in securing men, applications
for enlistments having been received
far in excess of the number required,
viz, 1.610 men.
Great care will be taken in recruit
ing, and only the best men will be ac-
cepted. Under that law all the new men
must be citizens OF the United States.
II is probable that the ranks will be re-
eruited to large extent from men who /
have already served one or more terms I
in the army As fast as recruited they |