Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-10

and No Options Have Been
Taken Makers of Armor. G ms,
Ammunition and War Materials
Are Giving Estimates and Pre-
senting Plans Seven Months the
ShOrt est Time in Which Armor
Can Be Made - No Move Yet
Looking to the Allotment Of the
Defense Funds Among the De-
partmentS - Naval Court of In
quiry Expected to Report Some
Time Next Week.
Washington March 9.-The feature
Of the days events was the prompti-
tude with which the Senate passed the
House bill carrying the appropriation
Of $50 .0G0, goo for the national defense
and the haste with which it was put
through the formal proceedings, en-
crossed and signed by the President.
While the matter has been consider
ed it can be stated that the fund has
not yet been allotted among the vari-
GUS branches of the government SER
vice. Each of these had prepared
roughly and tentatively an estimate
OF the funds it could dispose Of to adj
vantage, but upon looking over the
ground the President concluded that
it would be we'll, perhaps, to avoid
making the allotment until the neces-
sity became apparent. The reason
back of this is that the sum that can
be protitably spent for warships can
not even be guessed at with any 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 appropria-
tiOn among the other branches of mil
itaTy and naval services.
The Secretary of the Navy is max
ing every effort to secure from our
naval attaches and diplomatic officers
abroad all information obtainable re-
speeding the number Of ships building,
their price and other data. This does
not necessarily interfere with the ex-
ecution of the plans confided to Cap
tain Brownson, who sailed for South
ampton to-day, but rather promises to
assist him materially in making speed
with his inquiries. Up to this moment
not only has the United States govern
ment bought no warships, but it has
not even secured an. option on one.
4 THERE IS LITTLE DIFFICULTY
experienced in securing tenders of war
material, such as shot and she'll and
powder, and the Navy Department has
almost assured itself Of an abundant
supply of certain kitsss of smokeless
powder abroad at short notice. The
officials Of the department are in daily
correspondence by mail aAd telegraph
with agents Of ammunition houses,
and besides are now fully acquainted
with the plans of domestic powder
makers for charging their plants to
meet the emergency. The representa-
Cives of the armor making firms are
in consultation with the department
steadily, generally relative to the sup
ply of gun forgings and such material
for use in the gunshops here and at
Watervliet, but the question of armor
IS receiving little attention, as the
armor makers report that they cannot
undertake by any known agency to
turn cut such armor as would be re-
quired for a modern battleship in less
than seven months, for the reason that
tempering and face hardening cannot
be FASTENED without destroying the
value of the armor. Thus, it has been
demonstrated to the Navy Department
that it will not be possible to make
the armor for the superb battleships,
three in number, now building at
Newport News and at Cramps and the
Union Iron Works in San Francisco,
in time to render these ships, far bet
ter, it is claimed, than any offered
from abroad for sale, available for any
emergency that may arise this year.
The statement was made at the Navy
Department to-day that the report of
the Maine court of inquiry probably
would come to the department
SOME TINE NEXT WEEK.
Many congratulations are coming
To the White House and the State De-
partment from all parts of the coun
try at the patriotic spirit exhibited in
dealing with the latest phases of the
Cuban question. Most of them are
official in character, but many are
personally directed to the President.
Admiral Sicard has been authorized
to enlist suitable men for the navy at
Kew West ii he can find the material.
He reported that he had received
some applications from machinists and
seamen. and was Immediately given
the mower to take the men. The de-
partment is still striving vigorously to
secure machinists, especially men who
know how to run stationary engines.
These men can be quickly taught how
to run marine engines and require lit
tie other training to make them valua-
bic aboard ship.
The war department is arranging to
secure a large supply of the most modern
rifles. sufficient in time of emergency 70
arn a force Of 100000 men. The need Of
these modern guns has long been appar-
AN but Congress has not shown a dispo-
sition 10 supply any reserve Of rifles for
nse bv q volunteer force in time Of emer-
gency
Nav however. an adequate supply OF
the most effective rifles Will be among
I'M first uses to which the war depart
,rAn+ wIu put Ills share OF the defense
fund
General Miles strongly favors the
straight pun gun II Is OF American
make ana has been adopted by the Brit
.sh government as the standard arm
million now being III the hands Or Brit
ish soldiers
GEN MILES RECOMMENDED
its adoption eighteen years ago. when
member Of a board for the choice Of
riae Hi continues his advocacy Of i'll.
WI view of VII ranking position in the arr