The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27


President, who realizes this fully, viii b pre
pared 10 carry out tho wishes OF the peoples
representatives promptly and effectively.
Secretary Long returned to his Official duties
at the Navy Department to-day. TO the surprise
of all his subordinatcs. When he left the
department yesterday morning to attend
the Cabinet meeting IL was with the In
tention of not returning TO his desk for
three or four days. He was tired out.
needed q good rest, and hoped to recuperate
sufficiently within that period to give attention
to his duties with renewed vigor on his return.
The explanation given Of tho abandonment of
his intention TO take n rest was that tho Secre-
tary felt so much better this morning that he do
cided not to avail himself OF the opportunity AZ.
forded BY tho present quiet conditions to absent
himself from tho department. The Secretary1s
change OF mind was not due In any way TO tho
Maine affair. Like tho President, he Is satisfied
that nothing will occur to put q new phase on
the situation until the record and findings Of the
Board Of Inquiry are delivered In Washington.
The officials OF the Administration are not
being influenced by the reports sent out from
Havana. They have not decided that the Maine
was blown up by foul means because newspaper
correspondents at tho Cuban capital have said
90. Statements telcgraphed from Washing
Ton that tho Administration has abandoned
she accident theory are not true. because
the Administration has never been positively
committed to the accident theory or to any other
theory. Whatever Its decision as to tho
cause Of the disaster may DO will be
determined only on the facts and views
presented by Capt. Sampson and the three
other naval officers associated with him IN the
momentous investigation. President Mckinley
is in direct communication with AdmiralS icard
at Key West. but he hos learned nothing from
that source bearing on tho disaster not reported
in the published dispatches from Capt. Sigsbee.
1t was told in THE sun several times that the
President and Secretary Long. while not COM
mitted to any positive belief. are inclined to the
opinion that the Names destruction came from
ar accident on board. To some people this may
appear conclusive that the Administrations
thinks that Capt. Sigsbeo or some of his officers
did not exercise due care in their supervision of
the battleship. Such Is not the case. PRESIDENT
Mckinley and Secretary Long have only the
highest praise for the Names commander and
his subordinates. Tho President has been very
emphatic In expressing to friends the great con-
ndence he has In Capt. Sigsbee.
Little additional has become known to-day
about the preparations for vindfcating tho ma
tional honor which arc being made by tho
War and Navy. departments. Commander
Bradford. Chief of tho Naval Bureau of
Equipment, went before members of the
House Committee on Naval Affairs this
afternoon TO urge that an appropriation Of $780,
600, to be made available Immediately. be au-
thorized By Congress-. His recommendation had
the approval of the Navy Department. which
fully realizes tho position in which the North
Atlantic squadron will be placed in the event
of war with Spain II a large supply
of fuel is not at hand at Key West or
the Dry Tortugas. Already the coal sup
ply OF the squadron Is perilousiy low. 10
quote q naval officer. the navy has boon living
from hand to mouth in securing It's coal. De-
spite the departments approval OF his mission
Commander Bradford met with no encourage
ment from Chairman Boutelle. who is blind to
the gravity OF the present situation, and will not
believe that there is the slightest danger of
resort to hostilities.
Unless the recommendation OF Commander
Bradford is carried out, Mr.. Boutclle may have
much to answer for. The President, who
knows better than anybody else whether war
preparations should be made. fully approves of
everything that is being done. and yet finds
opposition from a source supposed to be in full
accord with The Administration. This anome-
lous condition of things will probably be ended
at once. even IL Speaker Reed. who has control
OF the appointment OF the House committees.
IS obliged to adopt radical measures. II the
coal needed is secured. n largo supply will be
sent to Key West and Port Royal, S. c.. both of
which would be important naval stations in n
war with Spain. and the remainder stored at the
Brooklyn and Norfolk navy yards, whence 1t can
be shipped promptly to any place where it may
be needed.
The letter fr om tho Navy Department which
has caused Senator Hale and Mr.. Boutelle 30
much perturbation not only urged that author
lily be given for the immediate enlistment OF
1900 additional men for naval vessels, but also
authority to cali on steamships of the mer-
chant marine available for use as auxiliary
cruisers for service Whenever needed. Thirty
two rapid.hre breech- loading rifles of the most
improved pattern will compose the first con-
Segment from the Washington ordnance factory
to the Brooklyn Navy Yard under the orders
issued by the Navy Department yesterday.
The calibrcs of these guns arc slx-inch and five
inch. Twenty of them will probably be placed
on the Chicago and the Atlanta. and the rest on
vessels of the American line. If they are called
into service. Other shipments will follow as
rapidly as possible.