The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-04
COURT ITS OWN MASTER
1T NEED NOT WAIT FOR ORDERS TO
RETURN TO HAVANA
Secretary Long Denies Absolutely
That a Partial Report Has Been
Received by the Navy Depart.n ent
A Quiet Day at Washington.
With No News From Havana.

WASHINGTON, March 3.-Secretary
Long said at the close Of his day at
the navy department, that no word had
been received from the court of in
quiry, and that no orders had been, or
would be given as to the movements
of the court from Key West, as the
court was fully authorized to shape its
own movements.
The original orders to the court were
issued by Admiral Sicard, as COM
mander of the fleet to which the Maine
belonged, and it has the technical
status of an admiral's court, reporting
directly to him, both as to it's move
ments and as to it's final report on the
cause of the disaster.
The understanding here is that the
court has not concluded it's work, but
will return to Havana to take testi-
mony which has been delayed by the
difficulties in the way Of the divers.
That Admiral Sicard expects this
move back to Havana was shown by a
dispatch from him a few days ago sug-
gesting that arrangements be made
for vessel to take the court back. AS
the lighthouse tender Mangrove had
been doing this service, the treasury
department was asked to assign the
Mangrove for the return of the court
to Key West, and this was done.
1t is said at the navy department that
the court will proceed without consult
ing officials here.
Cuban Relief.
Arrangements are being made for the
trip of the cruiser Montgomery and
gunboat Nashville to Cuban ports with
relief supplies The navy department
was advised today that the Mallory
line steamer leaving New York next
Saturday would carry, free of charge,
seventy-five tons Of supplies, to be
transferred to the Montgomery and
Nashville at Key West. The Mallory
steamer is expected to take about four
days in the run down the coast, so that
the transfer to the warships and their
start to Cuba cannot be made before
next Thursday.
The two warships are poorly adapted
for carrying supplies, having scant
quarters for their own sup
plies Of cordage, provisions,
canvas and ships equipment.
1t is only because they can make the
run in daylight that any attempt is
made to carry the seventy-five tons
Of supplies. These will be stored on
the spar deck, and, with good weather
and daylight run, will not subject them
to any damage.
The only telegram relating to the
Maine disaster that came to the navy
department during the day was the
following from Commander Forsyth, at
Key West:
Brought one body unidentified, and Paul
LOTUS, private marine; jeremiah Shea
coal passer; John Heffner, ordinary seaman:
Thomas ]. Waters, ordinary seaman, wound
ed from Tortugas. The wounded will be
sent to the army hospital. The funeral of
the body has started for the cemetery.
In the course of the inquiry into the
naval resources of the United States
an order has been issued to make a test
Of the machinery Of the old war mon
itors at the League island navy yard.
These are single-turreted craft that
are armed with big smooth-bo guns
in turrets that could likely be pierced
by the modern high-powered rifles on
the battleships, but they would still be
Of service in an emergency.
Secretary Long today authorized an
absolute denial Of report asserting
that partial or preliminary report
had been received by the government
from the Maine inquiry board indicat-