The Portland daily press., 1898-03-05
COURT GOES TO HAVANA.
lsquiry Board Sailed on hiaRgrOye
Yesterday.
ON TESTIMONY OF THE DIVERS
DEPENDS THE VERDICT.

The Reports That Spain Is Buying New
olympia of Asiattc Squadron to
Return Home.
Washington, March At was devel-
oped this afternoon through the tela-
graphic correspondence betweens Secre-
tary Long and Admiral Sicard that the
court is unable to fix even an approx
mate date for. the conclusion Of IT'S inves
tigation into the disaster TO the Maine.
Sharing the general anxiety for some
information on this point, Secretary
Long today at the instance of the cabinet,
sent aRtelegram to Admiral SicaTd asking
him when it was expected that the report
of the court would be made, and late
tonight the following reply was received: {:
"Key West, March 4.--Iiave talked with
the president of the court of inquiry and
agree with him that it is not yet possible
to fix a date for the finding as much de-
pends upon the progress Of the divers and
wreckers and the results they obtain.
Every effort is being made to advance the
inquiry. The court returns to Havana
by the Mangrove this morning, having
about finished the examination at Key
West
s'Sicard' .
Admiral Sicard's message is regarded
officially as disposing of the reports that
the court hos obtained positive or con-
elusive information bearing on the object
of their investigation. 1t is taken to
mean that upon the testimony or dis.
coyeries of the divers will depend the
finding, the examination of the officers
and crew of the ship having been In
sufficient tn enable the court to even form
an idea as TO what lines may be opened
up from the investigation of the wreck
| itself.
| While the telegram was naturally some
what OF disappointment it was well
| ccmed as practically setting at rest the
| report as to the result of the investiga-
| ton up to date. 1t is said that the board
in all probability will not return to Key
| West, the department having lnt1mated
that it was it's desire that the examina-
tion of officers and men should be con.
cluded at this sitting as they are needed
| for reassignment to ships
| Tt is probable that the Olympia, the
flagship OF the Asiatio squadron, will
come home to San Francisco. The navi-
|
consideration and in view of the facts
that the chip has had three years away
| from navy yard, engaged in hard cruis-
| ing service. even If there We're no other
reason, it is probable thatsthe order will
be given. The Olympia Is q protected
cruiser of extraordinary speed and endu-
rance, with a battery strong enough to
overpower almost everything short OF a
battIeship and speed enough to run away
| from anything else she does not care to
| foht. The torpedo boat Winslow at Nor
| folk has completed her repairs and will
join the feet at Key West as soon as the
gale on the coast blows itself out and
makes the rundown safe.
| Naval officials are deeply interested In
the reports of the purchase Of warships by
| Spain. However,, as to the report from
| London today of the purchase of the
| Amszopas by Spain, it is said at the de-
partment that this vessel sailed for Brazil
several months ago and has been delivered
to the Brazilian government. Her sister
ship Is near completion in the Armstrong
ward. They are useful cruisers. copies OF
fhe Barossa, now of the Brazilian navy,
and the strong point is their great radius
| Of action. 5000 miles, which would enable
them to cross tho Atlantic and recross
without renewing their coal supply lhe
other two ships building for Brazil IN
France were also reported to be ABOUT TO
pass into Spanish possession, aIe pre-
sumed to be the Deora and the Floriona,
which are building at Toulon. They are
small but powerful battleships. Their
tonnage is only 1862, but they carry four
4 ten inch rifles in turrets, In addition TO
two six inch and four Al inch guns and
a good secondary battery. Their coal en-
durance, however, is small and their duty
would seem to be coast defence operations
OF cruising near base Of supplies.
| The London reports also caused COM
ment at the State Department. In some
instances the feeling was expressed that
! during the setting OF court of inquiry
on a case having the international phases
of the Maine explosion, the obligations OF