The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-28
ARMY AND NAVY.
to Increase Their Efficiency.


Preparations to Increase Their Efficiency.
Washington, February &c. I'm the alb
sence of news from Havana on any sub
ject other than the disposition of dead
bodies, the official mind turned today to
an analysis of the Spanish statement,
made with more or less degree of official
sanction, respecting the total absence
of submarine mines from Havana harbor,
and it was regarded by the navy depart
ment as negativing the theory of an ex-
ternal cause of the explosion. just as re-
cent letters put an end to the exploding
boiler theory as an internal cause.
Nothing was heard today from the
court of inquiry and the department is
ignorant of it's findings. In fact, the
only news coming direct from Havana
to the Navy Department during the
day was contained in the following de-
spatch from Capt. Sigsbee:
"Have succeeded in making arrange
ments by which bodies may be sent to
Key West in Theoretically sealed zinc
caskets. Refer to Forsyth for burial in
Key West. Probable that bodies here
after cannot be recognized. Probably
bodies will not remain intact. Condit-
ion of bodies requires immediate action.
Jenkins and Merritt may be recognized
by uniform. Can secure health permit
at Key West to land bodies there. Divers
cannot get down after bodies this morn
ing Much debris. Will cut it away.
Wainwright placed in charge of wreck
ing ma ster.
(Signed)
"SIGSBEE.
The following reply was sent:
"To Sigsbee, MISUNDERSTANDING to
your telegram of this date, send bodies
that may hereafter be recovered to. Key
West for burial. Send by Bache.
(Signed)
"LONG."
To Key West despatch was forwarded
as follows:
ITO Naval station, Key West-Sigsbes
ordered to send bodies that may here
after be recovered to Key West for tom
porary burial. Will arrive in herInetical-
ly sealed zinc caskets. Make necessary
Bodies will arrive by
Bache.
(Signed)
"LONG."
1t is thought at the department. that
there are probably about 30 bodies re-
manning to be discovered and extricated
from the wreck.
THE TERROR AND CHICAGO.
The double turreted monitor Terror
Hampton Roads under orders issued to-
day. She will be most powerful rein
forcement to the defense of the CONNER
ciaI metropolis in case of need and sta
toned in the Narrows, it would be diff
cult for any hostile ship to pass her. With
the exception OF the arrival Of the train
ing ship Essex at Hampton Roads today
and the Brooklyn's arrival at st. Lucia,
probably to coal on her way to La
Guayra, distant 500 miles, this was the
only naval movement today.
There were number of alarming
stories today as to the shipments of or
dnances from the Washington navy yard
to New York, for the arming of the aux
Hilary navy. It is said at the department
that SO far none of the small guns have
been shipped today. but that few from
the Chicago, probably IA five-inch rapid
10 tab
or Tuesday.
With these guns in place, the Chicago
would be pretty well modernized in the
matter of armament. She will carry
still her four big eight inch guns in
Sponsors on the spar deck, while on the
gun deck these IA fve-inch rapid firing
guns will replace eight six-inch guns
of old pattern. The Dolphin is to go
into commission in New York on the oath
of March. Although rated as the Presi-
dents yacht the vessel, which has been
thoroughly overhauled and furnished
with new boilers and decks, carries even
now a sufficient battery to make her,
when speed is taken into account, very
effective gun boat Her personnel will
remain the same as before she went to
the yard for repairs last fall.
THE COURTS REPORT.
With the proceedings of the court of in
quiry drawing to close, attention is
now being directed to the form and
nature OF this report. The court has the
widest latitude for inquiry and yet GER
tain general features will have to be OBJ
served under the navy regulations gov
erning inquiries of this kind. These
were explained today by Capt. Lemley.
Judge advocate general of the navy, and
Lieut.. Lauchheimmer, veteran in the
legal arm of the naval service and author
of standard works on oorrts of inquiry,
court martial, etc. AS general rule, it
was explained, q court of inquiry sub
nits not only the evidence taken, but
also gives its conclusions drawn from
the evidence. Under rule 726, when