The record-union., 1898-02-18
STILL YELLED IN
DARK MYSTERY.


departmental matters. Assistant Sec
rotary Day saw the President for a few
minutes, but he had nothing of inn
portance to communicate until after 4
o'clock, when he carried to the White
House official infor "a of the clos
ing of the De Lone incident.
So far as could be learned the only
information as to the situation in Ha-
vana that reached the President direct
came through the Associated Press.
On the streets there was noticeable less
excitement than yesterday, when the
people were loath to believe that under
the circumstances the loss of the Maine
would be traced to other than Spanish
sources.
All the flags throughout the city, in
Guiding those on the Capitol and the
department buildings, are flying at half
mast to-day, and among the others is
conspicuous that of Cuban Libre."
which flies from the staff of the Hotel
Raleigh, the headquarters Of the Cuban
Junta.
Yesterday Captain Sigsbee suggested
to the Nevy Department, through the
Commander at Key West, that it would
be we'll to detail lighthouse tender or
wreck of the Maine. AS the upper works
are above water in places, much valu-
able property is thus exposed and the
department has acted upon the sugges-
sells at Havana, the Mangrove, to be
used for the purpose.
1t is said at the department that the
naval court of inquiry which is to in
semble for the work at Havana before
next Monday. Lieutenant Commander
Mark, who left Washington this morn
ing, can hardly reach Key West before
the end of the week and as the board
must prepare itself for the work Def
leaving Key West, a day is little til
enough for that and the transportation
to Havana. 1t is not yet knows " h re
vana. as this detail has been left for
Admiral Sicard to fix. 1t may be held
al one of the hotels, or perhaps on board
the Ward line steamer, the tender Fern
or the coast survey steamer Bache.
The Navy Department authorizes a
denial of the statement attributed to
Captain Sigsbee that he recommended
to the department before he sailed for
Havana that no other ship than the
Maine be sent to Havana, because the
harbor was too dangerous, owing to the
number of torpedoes planted in the bot
tom. AS a matter of fact, Captain Sigs-
bee had not the slightest hint given him
that his ship was to be selected for the
visit twelve hours before his departure.
He was then at Key West doing patrol
work, and had gone to join the squadron
at Tortugas before the telegraph orders
from the department for his ship
reached Key West. There was no cor
respondence with the department be-
yond his acknowledgment Of the orders.
AS to the statement relative to the
number of torpedoes planted in Havana
Harbor, it IS said at the Navy Depart
ment that nobody aside from the Span
ish officers in Havana knows what has
been done to protect the harbor in that
manner 1t is customary to divide all
of coast defense to assign places for
torpedoes on the bottom at certain in
tervals. The location of these torpe-
does il kept a profound secret, only
few officers of the army being intrusted
with the knowledge. If their location
were known it would be easy for an
attacking enemy to remove or explode
them without causing harm to their
vessels.
Il is not usual 10 keep the torpedoes
actually in their berths in the water
in times of peace; they are placed in the
positions assigned to them only as a
war measure There are some excep-
tons to this rule, for instance, at Hong
kong, where the torpedoes are at all
times kept in position, and 1t may be
presumed that the same precaution has
against an unexpected raid by a swift
steamer that might fall into the hands
Of the insurgents
These torpedoes are not of the con-
tact type, as are called the torpedoes
that are set TO go off upon the touch
of the hull Of a vessel passing over
them. but are arranged 10 be exploded
only by means OF electric currents sent
from shore by buried wires. These fixed
torpedoes are really mines. and carry
much larger charges than the small
torpedoes discharged from the torpedo
tubes OF warships.
In view of the near approach to New
York of the Spanish man-of-war. which
has caused so much comment. although
It has been explained semi Officially
that she is merely returning the court
esy exhibited In the sending of the
Maine to Havana, it may be proper to
state that the naval regulations pro-
vide for a proper reception to the ship.
The commandment at the navy yard,
Admiral Bunce, will look after the nee
essary formalities A salute will be
exchanged with the ship by the shore
forts and a naval officer will be sent
from the navy yard to board the vessel
and extend the courtesies of the port
An anchorage will be pointed out and
all proper precautions will be taken to