The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

NEW YORK, Feb. 26.-A Washing ton special to the Herald says: Be- sides providing for the naval defense of the port of New York, the Navy Department inaugurated measures to- day for replenishing the magazines of men-of-war attached to the North At lantic station, and for securing a large supply of coal. Secretary Long issued orders soon after his arrival at the Navy Department this morning to Captain Nicol Ludlow, commanding the Terror. directing him to take his yes sel from Hampton Roads to New York, and to remain there until further or ders. Captain Ludlow appreciates the reason for the orders is the desire of the administration to protect New York. It is believed by the Navy De- partment that the only contingency to be feared in the event of hostilities would be the sending of an armored cruiser to an undefended port to do as much damage as possible and then get away. It is proposed by the authori- ties to keep the North Atlantic squad ron in Florida waters, and it is, there fore, considered advisable to have Charleston and Port Royal defended
 
 ton and Norfolk by the Puritan, which will drop down to Hampton Roads within the next two weeks; Philadel phia by the Miantonomoh, which will shortly be placed in commission, and New York by the Terror.
 These monitors, the department be- lieves, can take care of any cruisers which might be sent against the ports named. The departments scheme for the defense of ports along the New England coast has not yet developed but it is expected within the next week that precautionary measures will be adopted It was admitted at the de- partment to-day that the movement of the the Terror was the result of the departure of the Spanish cruiser Viz caya from New York yesterday.
 The department proposed" said an official to me, ito send the Terror to New York. and would have done so several days ago had it not been that it did not care to menace the Spanish visitor. Had the Vizcaya's captain an- nounced that he intended to remain an indefinite period in New York harbor, the department would at once have sent the Terror"
 I understand that orders to fill the magazines of the vessels of the North Atlantic squadron are in accordance with the departments desire to be pre- pared. It was said to-day that many of the ships had thus been engaged in target practice and had thus shot away many rounds of ammunition. The department proposes to assemble all additional supplies of powder and shell at the New York and Norfolk navy yards and at the Key West sta tion, where ships will take them on board.
 Although it is generally believed that the navy has not sufficient ammuni- tion to fight a battle, I was informed to-day there was enough on hand to fill up all of the ships of the navy, with little to spare as reserve.
 Commander R. B. Bradford, chief of the Bureau of Equipment, appeared before the House Naval Committte to- day and urged that the committee ap- propriate S10O,OOO to be immediately z liable for the purchase of coal for the naval ships. Commander Bradford explained that the appropriation made for the present fiscal year would soon be exhausted and that additional money would soon be needed.
 In case the committee should author ize an appropriation and 1t should pass there Is reason to believe the depart ment would immediately purchase large quantities of coal to be shipped to Key West and other points picked out by Commander Bradford on his re- cent trip along the Florida coast. understand Commander Bradford has urged upon Secretary Long the neces- sity of securing coaling stations as the most important necessity in case of naval war
 Shipments of guns from the Wash ington gun foundry to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, orders for which were is- sued yesterday by the Navy Depart ment, as told in the Herald this morn ing, will begin next week. me foun- dry will equip guns with sights and generally put them in condition for inn mediate service before shipping them. The first lot to go will consist of twen- ty-two 5-inch guns and mounts and ten 6-inch guns and mounts. Four teen of the 5-inch guns were manufac- tured for the cruiser Chicago and six of the 6-inch guns for the cruiser At lanta. In case of immediate emergen- cy it is recognized by department of ficials that it would be impossible in the present stage of repairs to the Chi cago and Atlanta to arm them and the weapons intended for them would con- sequently be placed on auxiliary