New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-21
SOBRAL Not An Alta CHE.
HIS SERVICE TERMINATED ON JANU-
AIRY "a
THE SPANISH 1IEUTENANT's CRITICISM or The
AMERICAN NAVY NOT REGARDED AS
SERIOUS MATTER Ely OFFICIALS
N WASHINGTON

N WASHINGTON.
Washington. Feb. 2o-When Secretary Longs at
tention was called to-day 20 reports that ne haa
,ste, oescial cornizance OF Lieutenant sobrars
criticisms OF the American Navy, the Secretary saa
tbs. he had called the subject 10 the attention OF
-, S-a-A Department with view 70 having an n
ou,-v made The expression 70 which the score
.arv directed the attention OF the State Department
was as follows:
1T was the result % an explosion inside OF the
ship which took place n one Of the forward maya
lines The fact OF the matter is that the discipline
and he watch observed on the ship were very lax.
This as one English newspaper the other day de-
clared is the case on American warships generally
This sort OF thing has occurred on previous coca
sions on American war vessels.
Mr. Long said that he had not called attention. 70
the other features o, Lieutenant Soorals inter
view in which he referred to the possibilities Of
v-s- and 20 the information he had gained While
naval a,tache Of the Spanish Legation. Mr Long
d.d not treat the matter as serious.
Assistan, Secretary Day would not discuss ne
sobral AFFAIR. II IS understood however. that the
State Department does not attach much siSnlhcance
70 the remarks. owing 70 his minor position AZ
the same time (; IS felt that he should not be MAX
,-r such remarks. As Secretary Long has called
oacisl attention 10 them. the Department will prob
sh', AXE steps 70 learn whether the interview vas
accurate by making 4 request on the Spanish L@sa-
ton II can be sad positively. however that re-
that such request A44 ptei maui srS'r'--af
are incorrect Nothing has been done thus far. and
an unexpected development to-day 50 changes tAe
asne,t % the case that the State Department may
m. feel that Il Is necessary 20 proceed further.
This was that Lieutenant SobraIs services as
naval attache AZ Washington were officially ter
minated by SPAN about four weeks ago Il came
from Sesor Du Bose Charge AraiTes OF me
soanlsh legation who. when his attention was
called 20 the case made the following statement;
AS regards this reported interview. kno" no'n-
,nr about Il beyond what have seen In the pa
ners. should imagine Mr.. sobral far too prudent
- sa, ANYTHING calculated 10 offend brothers IN
sr,s - the same time. I should state thdt on
Tarra-,- .. last Nr Sobral ceased 20 De inehlneF
- +Sis CREATION according 70 royal decree. Wal.h
gazetted as his successor Lieutenant Ramon Gar
raza RegUera- - .,,...,,- tar.s7art
SOL u is said. he Is now merely a prVate GU
- ne < al present IN Nev-forh. meeting i-4s
<rfa,ds an the Vlzcaya. but his oihcla. status -
E-ai~'s naval attache 70 the Legation is sag 80
,errrinatei when the decree was gazet-el Iast
S "a II is usual TO inform the state DePaLt-
-. ~ such change. but owing - ne eAcl'.l l
,srs ~ the last few days this notlhcatlo OF t;e
soenish decree was not conveyed 70 tle s t-."I.
- be-A when IL was made. although tAe iacl lss
-. go made known with the inforrna tlon ,adt
rter.ensr. SobraIs connection WIN me I--sa-'u-
ended on January -