The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-25

used in placing mines and the establish
ment of signal stations for coast defense
The appropriation sof $4,000 made by
Congress 10 aid the work of the naval
militia Will be apportioned among the
states in a few days.
Thanks to the promptness and efficiency
OF the chief of engineers and chief Of
ordnance of the army, the city of Wash
ington is now regarded as being well nigh
safe and secure from attack by water.
The fortifcations at Fort Washington
and Sheridan Point on the opposite side
OF the Potomac are sufficiently advanced
TO be able to repel any ordinary fleet of
invaders, and in case of necessity they
could be strengthened in a comparatively
short time. These defenses are consider
ed sufficient to keep all hostile vessels
out OF range of gunshot of the national
capital.
Late tonight the navy department re-
ceFved two brief kilograms from Capt.
Sigsbee at Havana One related to some
routine matter of expenditures in connec-
ton with the work on the Maine and the
other is as follows:
Divers report more bodies in wreck
some in hammocks involved in debris
Probably not recognizable"
This dispatch indicates that the divers
nave finally secured at least a partial en-
trance to the quarters in the forward part
OF the vessel where the crew was as,eep
when the explosion occurred, and under
which were the magazines. One fact that
the divers were unable to extricate the
bodies shows the fearful obstacles against
which they are laboring, and bears out the
Dellet that the work of submarine investi-
cation will necessarily proceed slowly.
Representative Boutelle, chairman of the
House committee on naval affairs, con-
ferred with Secretary Long again to-day.
He said that his visit was confined wholly
to the question of relief for the sufferers
of the Maine. The bill which he has PIE
pared will carry about $l67, 900 If passed in
its present form.
Mr.. Boutelle stated positively that his
call had nothing to do with the question
OF new ships and naval equipment to be
provided by the naval appropriation bill
now in course of preparation under his
chairmanship. Referring to the rumors
of treachery in connection with the Maine
disaster, Mr.. Boutele said: Il feel that
any man who, by spoken or written ut
teranecs, adds a spark to inflame public
sentiment at this juncture is as guilty as
the man who would touch a match to the
powder magazine of a vessel. This is a
time for the calmest judgment instead of
unguarded talk, wholly without basis of
established fact, of war which would en-
tail a loss of hundreds and thousands of
our people,.
This was diplomatic day at the state
department and brought the usual num-
Der of callers upon the Secretary and
Assistant Secretary of State.
Mr.. Dubosc, the Spanish charge daft
flares, called early, but did not remain
long and it is believed that the purpose
OF his visit, aside from such matters of
routine business as USUALLY bring the III
plomats to the state department on
Thursday, was to ascertain if the officials
had any news from the wreck on the
Maine further than had been printed that
could properly be communicated to him.
In this request he was disappointed, be-
cause there has been no telegraph ad-
vices from Consul General Lee of recent
date while the naval dispatches all have
been made public from time to time.