The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1898-03-25

President Mckinley has called In one
of the ablest international lawyers In
congress to aid him in preparing his
messages on the Cuban situation, and
on the Maine incident. The lawyer is
Cushman X. Davis, of Minnesota, chair
man of the foreign relations commit
tee of the senate. This unusual
course on the part of the President
was due TO his desire TO cover every
possible point of international custom,
and to avoid all chance of giving other
nations reason for protesting against
American Intervention. Senator Davis
is recognized as one of the foremost in
ternational lawyers in the country. 1t
is safe to assert, therefore, that the
briefs which he is preparing for the
President will make the President's
position impregnable and one which
he can hold against the world.
The government has made no further
purchases of warships, but its negotiar
tions in that line have been productive
of at least one important result,
namely, in establishing that unless the
battleship Gen. O'Iiggins becomes the
property of the Unit d States it will
not be sold at all. Practically the same
conditions prevails as to the Argentine
armored cruiser San MARITIME.
high officer of the navy who has
intimate knowledge of its affairs, said:
THE greatest difficulty is being eXper-
fenced by the government in procuring
ships from abroad. but it is hard at
work. Spain is rushing work on her
war vessels. The Pelayo, its largest
and best battleship. is practically ready
for sea, and its second biggest snip, the
Carlos v, will be ready in fortnight
or three weeks. The officials of the
navy department are doing everything
in their power to prepare for any pos
sible conflict.
Court of Inquiry Report Completed.
After months investigation the
causes responsible for the destruction
of the American warship Maine in the
harbor of Havana on the night of Tues
day, Feb. Is. the court of inquiry con-
vened by Rear-Admiral Sicard TO ascer-
tain the facts, has finished its work.
The full report was brought ashore at
Key West, from the Iowa. on the tor
pcdo boat Dupont, in custody of Judge
Advocate Mark, accompanied by an
orderly from the Iowa and formally
turned over, in accordance with naval
regulations. To the officer who had con-
vencd the court Lieut.. tom. Mark
went to Admiral Sicard room with
his orderly. who carried canvas bag
20 inches long, 3 inches wide and s
inches deep. 1t weighed not less than
40 pounds. Rear Admiral Sicard,
Lieut.. Com. Mark and Commander
West spent over three hours behind
guarded doors and then the report was
taken to the gunboat Nashville for safe
keeping until it should be conveyed to
Washington the next day.
VIII Not nc Made Public This Week.
Secretary Long received telegram
from Admiral Sicard in which he says
that the report of the board of inquiry
reached Key West, and that it would
be forwarded at once TO Washington. 1t
is expected TO reach there by Thursday.
The President desires to have reason
able time to consider the facts set forth
in the report, which is a voluminous
document. containing a transcript of
all the evidence secured by the board
To enable him TO fully digest for him
self the testimony he wants at least
three days
The President is extremely anxious
that every phase OF the findings and
the evidence shall be carefully consid-
cred before he submits TO congress any
of the information contained within it.
TO this end he consulted some of the
leaders of the Senate and asked their
aid in an unusual way. He pointed
out that If both houses of congress were
in session when the report reached him
it would be difficult to explain any de-
lay in sending it to congress. If, on
the other hand. there was no session
of the Senate on Friday or Saturday,
it would comparatively easy matter
TO withhold any information concern
ing it's contents until Monday. Sena-
tors consulted by the President prom
Used to bring about an adjournment
from Thursday to Monday in order
that he might not be embarrassed by
having his hand forced before he was
ready.
The war department is greatly dis
appointed and annoyed ut the dilatori-
ness shown by the contractors who
have undertaken to construct the new