Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-16

for an accumulation of wounded men, be-
cause, of their construction. In his opinion
a fleet of vessels engaged in war should
be accompanied by an ambulance ship
with adequate accommodations for treating
the sick and wounded with the least pos
sfbie jar and movement, and which flying
the flag of the Geneva convention would
be exempt from the fire of any of the ships
When flied with the wounded they would
be taken to the nearest port practicable
for treatment. General Van Reypen has
the plans of a ship of this kind fully pre-
pared, a description of which was read at
the recent international medical congress
at Moscow.
Needs of the Engineers' Bureau
The officials Of the engineers office of
the War Department have indicated TO
Secretary Alger their desne that they be
allotted s5,cO0,000 of the emergency appro-
pr.ation of s50.Oo0OO0 appropriated by Con-
gress. In the absence of a specific allot-
ment, they are disposed to refrain from
making definite arrangements for the ex-
peEditure of large amounts for fertilization
purposes which come under this bureau of
the War Department.
Under the recommendations of the En-
dicott board, which some years ago made
an exhaustive investigation of the condi-
ton of the seacoast defenses. the depart
ment has been conducting operations at
twenty-five of the twenty-seven places at
which the board suggested work should be
pl csecuted. The board at the same time
expressed its opinion that S55.0 1000 could
be Well spent on these works and I'D to
this time but 5000, 900 has been expended
1t is suggested therefore that the money
vii in ol,a, hc
spent in the further hasty prosecution
on the work already under way. although
there are isolated cases where new work
may be begun and pushed with all due
diligence.
Gen. Grcely's Trip.
General "A. w. Greedy, chief signal officer
OF the army. has gone to New York city
for visit of some days. While there it is
probable he will make arrangements for
the work of connecting by means of tele-
graph and telephone lines the various for
t.fcations in the harbor of New York
There are now no means of communica-
ton except by means of ordinary CONNER
cial usage, {. source of very serious embar-
rassment in time of war. A similar condi-
ton of affairs exists at other fortified
points, both along the Atlantic and Pacific;
but arrangements are under way to remedy
this state of affairs.
The New York Dry Dock.
An encouraging telegram came to the
department Hcm Admiral Bunce, COM
mandant Of the New York navy yard 1t
was: Naval constructor reports dock No
3 pumped dry last night. Test of the
structure satisfactory Caisson joint leaks,
but easily remedied."
The department places the date of the
final completion of the dock at April 80 in
view Of this report. 1t is much needed, as
there is no accessible dock on the Atlantic
coast of the United States capable of dock
ing the battle ships, some of which have
been more than a year without paint or
cleaning.
The Helena at FunchaI.
A telegram received at the Navy Depart
ment this afternoon announced the arrival
OF the gunboat Helena at Funchal, Ma
deira, on her way from Lisbon to Key
West. The arrival of the gunboat Ban
croft at the same port is expected later
in the day.