The record-union., 1898-03-20
NAVAL COURTS REPORT.
Expected to Reach Washington
Early This Week.

WASHINGTON, March 10 - The
keenest expectancy was apparent in
all official quarters to-day in antici-
patton of the early receipt of the re-
port from the Court of Inquiry on the
Maine disaster. Warlike preparations
continue with unabated vigor at the
War and Navy Departments but the
main interest of officials centered in
the forthcoming report The interest
was so. intense that many reports
gained current to the effect that the
official document would be in the hands
OF the President within the next twen-
ty-four hours, but these conjectures.
on inquiry in authoritative sources,
were found to be inaccurate. A Cabi-
net officer said that it would be here
early next week Beyond this he could
not go. 1t was stated definitely that
no advance intimation as to the char
acter of the report had been received
here.
One report said that Lieutenant Blow
had brought to Washington an alb
/ stract Of the conclusions, but this was
dismissed after Lieutenant Blow had
/ been in conference with Secretary
Long and other navy officers. Secre-
tary Long in the morning did not deny
specifically that Lieutenant Blow was
the bearer Of the report. but he as
serted that the Lieutenant had con-
veyed to him some information in the
conference, and added that the report
would be here next week. The re-
VIVal OF the rumor was called to the
Secretary's attention during the af-
ternoon. with a request for an answer
i TO the concrete question whether Lieu
tenant Blow had brought with him the
report of the Board Of Inquiry. In re-
reply to this the Secretary sent word
that he would say nothing more than
! he had already said. that the report
/ would be here next week"
! senator Chandler, after a conference
with several naval officers to-day. ex-
pressed the opinion that the ranort of
+ tiie NaNal Beard of Inquiry would not
oe received until next week. He said
l. "ouid probably come on Monday or
i uesday' and was quite confident that
! ule PRESIDENT would send it to Con-
i siess as soon as received if Of a ma
tuIe 10 permit it being sent.
IS barely possible" said the SEN
ator that the character Of the docn-
iiieht may be such as to render If in
! eAi'edlent to give it out until Congress
es'ii DC made aware gradually of it's
/ contents. Fer instance. If it indicates
I beyond doubt the culpability Of the
{ 9parlards in connection with the
j malne disaster, it would not be wise 70
place Congress in Immediate noseoso -
SION OF the facts officially. for fear that
war would be declared instantIv and md
without due regard to all the condi-
He asserted his conviction that tho
Navy Department and the Presidsnt s,,t :
We're as yet ignorant of the contents Of
the boards findings. : =
SURVIVORS or THE MAINE
I The chief development Of the morn
ing was the arrival of the four suryiv-
crs IF the Maine disaster. who held a
long conference with Secretary Long.
and later We're taken by the Secre-
taTy to the White House for tall,
with The President These survivors
are Lieutenant Holman navigator of
the Maine; Lieutenant. George 2. Blow
Lieutenant A. B. Catlin. in command
Of the marines on the Maine. and Boats
vain Iarkin. one of the non- -eominis-
sione1 officers of the wrecked battle