The Red Cloud chief., 1898-03-25
REPORT NOT IN SIGHT
is NOT EXPECTED BEFORE
THURSDAY.
stTn Negotiating for the O'~HiGrlns-Thc
spanish Minister Calls mt the state De-
partment with Number of Autonomist
Leaders.

wAsurSaroS, March 90. 1T can DO
stated positively and authoritntivcly
that the report OF the board OF inquiry
on the Maine disaster had not been
received up to noon to-day. From this
source il can DO stated that the pres
cnt official Information is that the re-
port liz not likely to bc here before
Thursday or Friday. This Is II ma
tcrial change from the expectation
prior 10 this tins. The cause OF Tho
helay Is not known, but 1t is assumed
that the conclusions OF the court arc
not vet in such exact form rs to war
rant their earlier presentation here.
The government has made no fur
cher purchases of wal ships, but its
negotiations in that Inc have been
productive of Mt least one important
result, namely in establishing that
unless the battlcship General O'Ilig.
gins becomes the property of tho
United States 1t will not be sold at
NIL. Spain. it is confidently asserted.
will not be able to secure this war
vessel, nor are her chances any better
or as good ~ those OF the United
States. Practically tho same con
dition prevails as to the Argentine
armored cruiser, San MARITIME, which
will be the property of this govern.
ment II it passes out OF the hands OF
Argentine.
Secretary Longs Office at the Navy
department vas again the center OF
conferences to-day. senator Hale.
chairman OF the Senate comm ittce on
naval affairs, was one OF the carly
callers and spent half an hour with
MIR. Long. Senator Pritchard also had
n talk with Mr.. Long. Mr.. Halo went
from the s~ecretary's office to the
White house and had q talk with
the President. Within a short
time he was followed by Secretary
Long. who spent som. time with tho
President. The secretary carried with
him n bundle OF documents which,
however. has become his usual Gus.
tom. Senator Hanna came TO the Sec
rctary's Office during his absence and,
learning that no vas with the Pres..
dent, spent some time in conference
with Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
The Spanish minister called ut the
State department to-day and presented
Mcssrs. Angu,o, Valera and Cadenas,
who are the direct repre- ,en:atives OF
the autonomous cabinet at Cuba
With this presentation negotiations
toward "a commercial treaty will be
open d.
A high officer of the navy who has
intimate knowledge OF its affairs, said
to-day: 1.-The greatest difficulty l., be.
ing experienced 10y the government in
procuring ships from abroad, but it is
hard at work and is making rs much
progress us could reasonably DO OK.
pected under the circumstances.
SPAN is pushing work on their war
vessels. The Pclayo, the largest and
best battlcship is practically ready for
sea, and its second biggest ship, the
Carlos V, will DO ready /, u fortnight
or three weeks The officials of the
navy dcpartmentare doing everything
in their power to prepare for any pos
siblc conflict. Anything, however,
which is gotten in the way of tug
boats and yachts will be for n make
shift, and our people would do vel
TO learn that the only way TO prepare
for an emergency is 10 see that the
navy is put in first rate shape Ions
before the emergency arises, nnC
this can DO done only by building
battlcships and torpedo dcstroyers
adding permanently to our naval list
of officers and men and by immediate
~ passing through Congress the pend
ing personnel bill, which is nbsolutei,
necessary TO the handling O
the new navy. Tho results, how
ever, of the preparations so fl
as made with the materials n
hand are cmincntly satisfactory
The greatest preparation that ha
been made was the drilling of tn,
battleshipps and torpedo boats las
summer, and, as u result, the navy /
now doubly as efficient as one yea
ago. The people of the United state
may trust to the navy with absolute
confidence that it will respond to on
call with the highest credit to hersel
and the nation. The question of tn
purchase Of the Olliggins is still Il
the air. spain will not get her, an,
II she is sold it will be To tho Uni,c c,
States"
Unable to Reach this Gold Folds.
N.y1pa Mn,h a. ~.