The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-27

trial but i'm the present case it would
not of course, extend to opinions on
the government pollcy applicable to the
findings of facts. The circumstances
of the present case are so unsual, in
volving the relations of two governments,
that the report may be confined to find
ings of fact, without the usual opinion
of the court.
When the inquiry is concluded the re-
port, accompanied by all the evidence
and exhibits, must be authenticated by
Captain Sampson and Judge Advocate
Mark. Ii is then forwarded to Admiral
Sicard. the regulations requiring that 1T
be submitted for the consideration or
the officer convening the court which
in this case was the Admiral of the
fleet. There is no specific provision as
to the revision or approval which he
is to give it, and the endorsement of
Admiral Sicard will depend upon the
circumstances of the case. probably be-
ing formal with view TO its early trans
mission to- the Navy Department The
Admiral then forwards it to the office
of the Judge Advocate General, where
it becomes a permanent record. The
Secretary of the -,avy, and ultimately
the President, passes on the opinions of
the court, but as rule the findings of
fact stand without approval.
The officials of the War Department
have completed all the preliminary ar
rangements for the immediate execu-
ton of the bill which is expected to be-
come law within the next few days.
providing for two additional regiments of
artillery There will be no difficulty
whatever in securing the men as appli-
cations for enlistment have been re-
ceived far in excess of the number re-
quired viz, 1910 men. Great care win
he taken in the recruiting and only the
best men will be accepted. Under the
law all the new men must be citizens
of the United States. 1t is probable
that the ranks will be recruited TO a
large extent from men who have al
ready served one or more terms in the
army.
With the two new regiments there will
be seven regiments of artillery and the
total strength of the army, including the
hospital corps, ordnance and engineer,
battahonS and the West Point detach-
ment, will be increased to nearly $1,000
men.
The new organization will result in
the promotion of two lieutenant colOnels,
four majors, ten captains, thirty-four
first lieutenants, three second lieutenants
and viii absorb the eighteen additional
second lieutenants OF infantry. No va
cancies will be created however, and no
appointments will have to be made.
SECRETARY LONG SLEEPS.
Washington. ID. c., Feb. 26.-Secreta-
ry Long enjoyed sound sleep last night,
the first he has had for some time. and
in consequence he felt so much refreshed
this morning that he decided to aban-
don his proposed absence from the Navy
Department and continue at his duties,
so he was early ut his desk. and III
consultation with Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt and Captain Crowninshield,
Chief of the Navigation Bureau. As
TO the outlook he said he thought things
were looking much better He said
the public ought not to he under an
misapprehenGion with regard to Naval
movements; that so far they had mostly
been ordinary disposition which are
made from time to time.
The attention of Naval officers has
been strongly attracted TO the statement
made by representatives of the Spanish
government to the effect that there
were no mines or torpedOes of any kind
in Havana harbor. 1t can be said that
this statement exactly agrees with the
in0uiries that have been under way for
many months by agents of our govern
ment. for. so far it is said. they have
been unable TO find the slightest evil
tiencc of the existence OF any plan of de-
fenee in the harbOr by means OF mines
or torpedoeS, much less to locate them,
as has been reported in some quarters.
Officials of the Navy Department say
that the effect of this statement, if it is
10 be accepted as conclusive on that
point, is almost certain TO negative the
snpposition that the disaster resulted
from other than accidental causes. as the
almost unanimous testimony of experts
here. based ON the history of torpedo
work, is to the effect that no single tor
pedo of any type could have caused the
terrific wreck of the Maine
THE ACCIDENTAL THEORY.
In the pursuit of details, some of the
ordnance officers, acting upon the theory
that the large ten-inch magazine for
ward was not exploded. have been look
ing into the contents of the smaller and
adjoining six-inch magazines. They find
that allowing for the amount of powder
that was probably consumed in practice
drills by the Maine before she arrived
in Havana harbor, there was certainly
no less than 5000 pounds of powder in
this magazine, an amount sufficient to
have caused enormous destruction had