The record-union., 1898-03-10
SIPS to Be First Choice IN tie StsDS for
GefenSeS.
The Sum That Can Be Proftably
Spent for Them Cannot Be
Guessed at With Approx;ma-
ton. to Accuracy Just Tow-It
VIII Be More Easy TO Obtain
Supplies Of Ammunition and
Arms.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-The feat
ureS of the days events was the
promptitude with which the Senate
passed the House bill authorizing an
appropriation of $50, 0Q0OJ0 for the ma
tional defense, and the haste with
which it was put through the formal
proceedings, engrossed and signed by
the President While the matter has
been considered, it can be stated that
the fund has not yet been allotted
among the various branches of the
Government services Each of these
had prepared roughly and tentatively
an estimate of the funds it could dis
pose of to advantage. but upon LOOK
ing over the ground the President corr
cluded that it would be we'll. perhaps
to avoid making the allotment until
the necessity became apparent. The
reason back of this is that the sum
that can be proftably spent for warships
cannot even be guessed at with APP
Proclamation to accuracy just now.
AS the ships are to be first choice in
the steps for defense, until their cost
is ascertained, it is not possible to di-
vide the remainder of the appropriation
among the other branches Of the mill
tary and naval services.
The Secretary of the Navy is max
ing every effort to secure from our ma
val attaches and by diplomatic officers
abroad all information obtainable re-
specting the number of ships building
their price and other data This not
necessarily interferes with the execu-
ton of the plans confided to Captain
Brownsor, who sailed for Southampton
to-day. but rather promises to assist
him materially in making speed with
his inquiries. Up to this moment no.
only has the Government bought 40
warehips, but it has not even secured
an option on one.
There is less difficulty experienced
in securing tenders of war material
such as shot and shell and powder and
the Navy Department has almost as
sured itself of an abundant supply OF
certain kinds of smokeless powder
abroad at short notice The officials
of the department are in daily CORE
spondence by mail and telegraph with
agents Of ammunition houses. and be-
sides are now fully acquainted with
the plans of domestic powder makers
for charging their plants to meet ar
emergency. The representatives of the
| arnor-making firms are in consulta-
ton with the department steadily. gen
orally relative to the supply of gun
foreiHas and such material for use
the gun shops here and at Waterville
but the armor is receiving but little
attention. as the arnlor-makers report
that they cannot undertake by any
i-nnVrn q to ,,,+
IS would be required for modern BAT
tleship in less than seven months, for
the reason that tempering. and face
hardening cannot be hastened without
destroying the value of the armor
The statement was made by the Navy
Department to-day that the report of
the Maine court of inquiry would
probably come to the department some
| time next week 1t did not appear
however, that this statement was
founded on any direct report from the
court, but was rather an estimate
based upon the progress so far made
as revealed by the change of methods
or the part of the court.
Admiral Sicard has been authorized
to enlist suitable men for the navy at
Key West If he can find the material
He reported that he had received some
applications from machinists and sea-
men. and was Immediately given the
power to take the men The deparf-
ment is still striving vigorously to Sc
cure machinists, especially men who
know how to run stationary engines
These men can be quickly taught how
to run marine engines and how to ac-
quire little other training to make them
valuable aboard ship.
Official reports indicate that the au-
tonomy scheme projected for Porto Rico
has been put into successful operation.
This is interesting. mainly because of
the resemblance between the project and
the plan which it is now sought TO put
i'll force in Cuba.
The War Department is arranging to
secure a large supply OF the most mod
ern rifles, sufficient in time of emergen-
cy to arm a force of 100000 men, The
need Of these modern guns has long been
apparent. but Congress has not shown a
disposition to supply any reserve of ri
fies for use by a volunteer force in time
of war. Now, however, an adequate
supply of the most effective rifles will
be among the uses to which the War
DtpdI VII put lis snare Oh the ue-
fense fund.
1t was stated by high officials of the
Department to-day that no board was
necessary to inquire into the merits of
the various guns on the market, but
that the Department would turn to the
best sources of supply. These, it is said,
are ample within the United States to
turn out rifles of the most approved pat
tern as fast as the Government wants
them. 1t is not unlikely. however. that
the demand VIII require the army to turn
from the Krag-Jorgenson rifle now in
use and adopt in part, at least, one Of The.
American-made guns
Like attention is being given to sun
plies of powder, cartridge. etc. for the
army. Those in authority say orders
can be filed without delay, and that
about the only branch of ordnance on
which the facilities are not fully UP to
an emergency demand are those FOR
heavy fortification guns.
Senior Mendonca, the Brazilian Min
lister, said to-day that he had received
no information as TO the reported nego-
tiations toward the purchase of Brazil
ian warships now in course Of construc-