Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-25
RUMORS MANY.
All Shades of Opinion on the
Maine Disaster,
OFFICIAL REPORTS MEAGRe.
Mr.. Pepper Claims Evidence
Points to Design.
Condition Of Havana Harbor Makes Work
of Divers Very Difficult-At Washington
Conservative Views Prevail.


Washington, Feb. 24--Rumors of start
ling discoveries in the wreck of the
Maine were less frequent, but there
were enough of them still af1oat today to
warrant Secretary Long in making this
statement to the newspaper men, as he
left his office:
Summing up the situation. I should
say that the navy department knows to-
day nothing more about the cause of the
disaster than it did five minutes after
the receipt of the first dispatch from
Capt. Sigsbee"
The secretary's attention was drawn
to the published statement that Capt
Crowninshield, chief of the, bureau Of
navigation, had just arrived at Tampa,
Fla, on the Montgomery from a trip to
Cuba, where he had been inspecting
coaling stations near Matanzas The
secretary's comment was simply this:
Capt. Crowninshield has not been to
Cuba. He has been off with his boy on
matters not in any wise connected with
business Of the navy"
Secretary Long further said that he
rather expected to see Capt. CroWnin-
shield tomorrow. Until the conclusion of
the investigation of the court of inquiry
at Havana, the principal business Of the
navy department in connection with the
Maine will relate to the conduct of the
wrecking operations.
Capt. Lemly, the judge advocate gen.
eral, who has this branch of the work
in charge, today received kilograms
from the Merritt & Chapman Wrecking
Company, at New York, stating that the
steamer Merritt, and wrecking lighter
Share, had sailed for Havana, and that
the tug Underwater with the chief
would leave New York Saturday for the
same place. The assistant wrecking
master is going to Havana on the Ward
line steamer Saturday, and it was sug
gested to the department that it's inspec-
tor should take the same steamer. Inas-
much as Lieut. Commander Kimball,
who is now in Havana, has been as
signed to the duty of inspecting the
wrecking operations, it will not be nee
essary to observe this suggestion
The only exact information received
by the navy department from Havana
during the day was conveyed in tele-
gram from Capt. Sigsbee relating to ar
rival of wrecEing tug, and disposal Of
articles from the Maine.
Secretary Long Immediately an
swered Capt. Sigsbee, approving all his
recommendations He was directed to
have Lieut. Wainwright, the executive
officer of the Maine. make arrangements
with the wreckers for the disinfection Of
everything sent to the United States.
The recommendation that all bedding
and clothing be abandoned, and, if need
be, given to the acclimated poor was
approved without comment. The same
approval was given to the suggestion
that useless fittings and equipments be
towed to sea and thrown overheard, it
being left to Capt. Sigsbee's judgment to
determine how far this destruction
should be carried.
The navy department today gave out
the figures showing the strength of the
naval militia up to day.
This shows a total force of 4445 off,
GERS and enlisted men. which Is a gTati-
flying increase from S703, shown by the
last report The number of officers and
men in Connecticut is 1865; in Massachu-
setts AL; in Rhode Island, 130.
New br:gades are in process of forma-
ton, which promises to swell the total
to much larger figures at an early day.
The organization of this auxiliary arm
of the naval service is under the direc-
ton of Lieut.. Gibbons, U. S. N. In his
last report Mr.. Roosevelt said that the
state naval militia in event Of sudden
manning the smaller national cruisers.
It could be depended upon mainly, he
said, as a second line of defense, and
also be used in placing mines and the
establishment of signal stations for
coast defense.
The appropriation Of $4,000 made by
congress to aid the work of the naval
militia, will be apportioned among the
states in few days.
The city of Washington is now regard
ed as being we'll nigh secure from at
tack from water The fortifications at
Fort Washington and Sheridan Point,
on the opposite side of the Potomac, are
sufficiently advanced to be able to repel
an ordinary fleet of invaders and in
case Of necessity, they could be
strengthened in a comparatively short
time. These defenses are considered
sufficient to keep all hostile vessels be-
yond the range of gun shot of the ma
tional capital.
Moreover, the river has been blocked
off and prepared for mines and tor
pedoes at a point below the fortihcations
mentioned, so that it is probable some
of the ships of an enemy would be blown
out of water before it would be nee
essary to use the guns at the forts.
The officers Of the British battleship
Hood today cabled from tine Island of
Crete, expressing deep sympathy over
the disaster to the Maine