The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-18

| D''' wiz uSSlre 10 conceal II
pomh therein, something which could
| only be effected with great difficulty
| aiter the coal waS stored in the bunk
| erS. In spite Of the British reflections
upon the discipline on American war
SHIPS the officers here do not hesitate
10 say that III the matter of careful
inspection of the coal bunkcrs. the
| ihigazincs and the like our navy is
second to none in the world.
Captain-General Blanco to-day cabled
| 10 Selior dulSCSc. charge of the Span
| iSh Legation, giving the formal action
| OF the insular government of Cuba,
| expressing 10 the President of the
| United States profound sorrow over the
catastrophe 10 the Maine and the re-
sulting loss of life to Americans. At
the same time the AlCaldc, or Mayor
| or Havana, sent resolutions Of the
municipality expressing to the presi-
dent the grief of the authorities and
the people OF Havana. Senior du Bose
presented the dispatches to Assistant
Secretary Day. who laid them before
President Mckinley.
In eHs scu;inn of the decision iGf the
President last evening to have Il ma
tional observance of mourning, the fol-
lowing order was to-day communicated
by telegraph from the War Department
IN the commanding officers OF the army:
AS appropriate honOrS to the d.
ceased in the recent disaster to the bat
rleShp Maine, the Pre- sident directs that
iia%s at all army headquarters. military
posts and on army buildings be dis
played from sunrise to sunset at half
mast until further orders.
SAMUEL BRECK,
Adjutany General"
Secretary Long to-day directed that
dispatches be sent to the commanders
of naval stations and the chief officers
of United States vessels throughout the
world to display all flags at half mast
unt.l further orders as a mark of respect
to the officers and men drowned from
the battleshp Maine
Admiral Sicard autographed Secretary
Long from key West this afternoon as
follows:
In the opinion Of Leutenam John
Hood. of the Maina, who has just ar
rived from Havana, the Maine can nevcr
again bc utilized as a ship. He de-
scribaS the whole forward body of the
snip as completely collapsed where the
shock of the explosion was heaviest
photographs of tha wreck will he sent
to the department to-day.
DISPATCH FROM GEN. LEE.
The State Department this afternoon
received the folpjwing dispatch from
Consul General Lee:
Havana, Psb. l7-Assistnnt Secre-
| tary Day, Washington: Merritt in Jun
Tor officers mess room, jenkins in ward
room mess room at the time of the ex-
plo&!on. Latter left before an officer who
was saved. Must have gone the wrong
way. Lights out Immediately and water
rushing in. Merritt got 10 hatch with
NaVal cadet Boyd. Ladder gone. Boyd
climb Il through and tried TO pull Mer-
riti up but latter Let 30 his hands, fell
/ pack and was drowned. bodies Of these
oihc2rs not yet found possibly in wreck.
SailorS funeral to-day at . O'Clock W:ll
be an immense procession"
NAc following message has been re-
csiNsd at the Navy Department AT 3:3a5
y. m. from Captain SigsbGe, at Hava-
ma:
Secretary Long, Washington: Gene
raj Eianco called on me personally nj
the notei last night and also the mavor
oi the city. They have requested mo IN
permit The government here to give y
huhilc burial 10 the dead already found
III order that public sympathy nav ha
expressed thereby ana due honor shown
the aead. Ground for the burial has
''tsi secured. Is II assumed THAT ! am
'NpsCiod by the department. to bury
Inc dead here? In fact, would bc i'm
nracu"abia Ia transport remains TO ,ba
| United States. Means and facilities ara
iackinS. | have accepted the ufTp" nr tb..
anthnMties ard there will be a puhlic
funeral at o'clock to-day. All harc
from the Maine will sD. als0>l drleu-,-
ioii from ;hr Fern. Fifteen bodies re-
y-oEsrGu - during opermtions. Operations
prevented by rough wcath+r."
| There was unahatcd interest in ho,1,
%ndS "i the Capitol to-day in the Maine
disaster but expressions gencroIlv ,oi.n
| me Shape of inquiry for new Hghi ,innn
me subject and Of demands for most
! r.Gid Investigation
! me present disposition. cspecia,Iv
anout the Senate, appears TO be TO al
| 10" me matter to rest where it is until
| n'"rH ligh' can be secured than m
! present. ''
Ine disaster 10 The Maine has
| aroused feeling among members If
! TIE House in favor of extreme lihar-
| ailtE in appropriations for tao n,,,I
| ana military establishments. the rrar-
! 'lca' result Of which is likely 10 be IN.
"tc|P''hcc ny the House, with little
! contest. oI the Senate amendments in
| creasing the appropriations for fnrij-
! hchtionS about $i.G00.0OO the authori-
! eaton IN the naval approximation hiII
| oil two battleships instead Of one ana
| possibly the authorization of th,. m
! ire drY-Gock scheme recommends by
| she drE-"nck board appointed ly the
! "tcr%'afE oi the Nuvy. The rncoin-
/ m&hdation OF the Secretary nr irc
| Navy was for only one addition +, Ia
! navy th'S Year. a lirst-class bat;iesl,ip
! nul the loss of the Maine uri,r. /.
| likely that appropriations f,r two
| ships Will be reported by tn. Naynl
| committee. The subject has 10, vet
| been considered by the Nayu COM
'hi'tGe' hut most Of ;hc inLiv.5ual
members Of the committee yrs,ar,;,v
ana to-day expressed thc,ns elycs ne IN
| IaVor of building a ship - replace ma
! Maine and $50 OF AUTHORIZING. IN. ubi,