The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-03-03

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
is QUIETLY WAITING
me r Government Awaits The Con-
clusiOn of The Inquiry
Washington, Feb. Pin spite Of the
stories that come from unofficial
sources in Havana as to the sensation
al developments in connection with
the work of divers in the Names hull
the administration remains firm in it's
statement that there is no credible ey-
ldence one way or the other as to the
cause of the disaster and holds to it's
purpose to await the conclusion of the
investigation now being made by the
court of inquiry. This position was
emphasized at the cabinet meeting.
People who looked for some startling
announcement were disappointed. as
the members, without reservation.
frankly admitted that the subject Of
the loss of the Maine had been dis
cussed but the government had re-
ce1ved no information from Havana
since Thursday and had no intention
or 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 message
from Capt. Gen. Blanco.
Secretary Long has been under a
heavy and almost constant strain ever
since ne 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 are, at least for
a time, in
A Quicter State,
he has withdrawn from the navy de-
partment and gone away for q few
days rest, leaving Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt to manage the department.
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 orders, so that the date
of her departure for Havana, if she
is to go at all, is conjectural.
The Castine, the second of the Unit
ed States warships on the South At
lantic station, has arrived at Barba-
does, where she joined the Cincinnati.
It may be that the Castine will go to
Martinique to be decked as she is in
need of cleaning after her tropical
service.
Since so much depends upon the re-
port of the court of inquiry it may be
interesting to note that so far as Sec
rotary Long himself does not know
when to expect this important docu-
ment, up to this time having 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 re-
turn trip. One member Of the cabinet
had
More Definite Opinion
on the subject, expecting the receipt
of the report from the court about the
middle of next week. There is reason
to prepare, too, for the reception of
report, that would show, the: disaster to.
be other than the result of an acct
dent, some of the officials of the adj
ministration had been looking up the
subject of indemnities, so as to lay
the foundation of a case in the event
it should be decided to resort to that
method Of settlement.
There are large number Of Drece-
dents which will aid the authorities in
shaping their action in this direction
if the facts are fully established.
While none Of the cases show the fear
full loss of life sustained by the Maine
explosion, yet they include many in
stances in which the United States has
adopted energetic measures to redress
tie killing Of American citizens in for
eign countries. In general way these
methods Of redress have included de-
mands for indemnity, proclamations
excluding the warships of the Offend
ing nation from our harbors, display of
forces, non-intercourse, withdrawal Of
our minister, reprisal and blockade.
some of these steps border very close
ly on war, although they are regarded
as the movements just preliminary to
actual hOStilities, and as amounting to
threats that force will follow if repair
alton is not made.
st. Paul. March 1.-New York Her
AIDS special cable to the Pioneer Press
says:
Eager as is the waiting public for a
definite announcement of the con-,
illusions reached by the naval court of
inquiry into the Maine disaster, it may
as we'll be stated now that the sus-
pense which pervades the entire coun-
try, and, indeed, the whole civilized
world, must be endured probably for
several weeks longer. . b. ~
The president and cabinet may, per-
haps, be made cogniZant of the courts
conclusions at somewhat earlier date,
but it's findings may not be made pub
lie before the latter part Of March, and
announcement may be delayed even
later. To-day marks the end of the
first weeks sessions of the court. New
er in the history of similar proceedings
have such precautions been taken to
guard the facts from public scrutiny.
Never have officers remained more
consistently reticent under the orders
Of their chief. Nevertheless, your cor
respondent has passed many hours
aboard the Mangrove during the week
and is in a. position to give an accurate
synopsis of the situation os it is to-:
day. The first and most obvious con.
clusion is that already stated, namely,
that the courts report must not be eX-
pected soon. The second and most i'm
portant conclusion, one which many
conservative observers have reached,
is that with the end of the first weeks
work tho 11i1ifv is 1as p siS.r