Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-15
FROM WASHING TON.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gaxet Q.
WASHINGTON, March Is.

Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gaxet' Q. !
WASHINGTON, March Is
The meeting of the Cabinet at an
II hour than usual to-day had the
effect to suspend most of the active OPP
e-ations in the War and Navy Depart.
ments during the forenoon. 1t was not
long. however, after the meeting began
before soma of the bureau officers Of
the Navy Department were called up
on by telephone and messenger to
supply infor nation on technical points,
showing that the Cabinet was more or
less concerned in the situation. Moth
ing OF special importance was develop
ed at to-day's Cabinet meeting. A large
part Of the time was consumed in the
general discussion of the measures be-
ing taken to place the navy on proper
footing for defense in case Of trouble.
The question of the purchase of war
vessels was talked over but without
coming to any definite conclusion.
Information in possession of the gov
eminent is to the effect that Spain has
not consummated the purchase of the
Gillian warship O'Higgins. The in
dications, it is stated, seem to be that
this ship will Ee added ultimately to
the United States navy.
Not much concern is expressed by Of
ficers of the administration over tie re-
ported intention of European govern.
ments, at the instigation of Austria, to
intervene between the United States
and Spain in the settlement of the
questions pending between them. So
far it can be stated that this has taken
no official shape, or, at least no indlca-
tons of such design las reached the
that State Department. The suggestion
the Spanish government has protest
et, against the sale by Brazil of the two
cruisers to the United States likewise
fails to cause any feeling of concern, the
naval officers holding that there can be
no question of the right Of the United
States to increase its navy at any time.
A good deal of encouragement was
created at the Navy Department to-day
by report from the Capitol that ma
iority of the naval affairs committee is
disposed to substitute six battleships
for the three provided for in the pend.
ing naval appropriation bill. This
number is supposed to represent about
the normal working capacity of the
three bodybuilding concerns in this
country that are able at present to un-
dertake the construction of battleships.
The Senste committee on naval af-
fairs had under consideration to-day
the resolution instructing it to make an
investigation of the Maine disaster and
decided by vote Of to to postpone
action for the present. This action
was preceded by a sharp exchange of
words between the advocates Of i'm
mediate action and those who think
the active Investigation should be de-
ferred in order to permit the admins
ton full opportunity to press its own
investigation through the naval board
of inquiry. After the decision was
reached it was suggested that steps
should be taken by the committee to
secure from the Navy Department ali
the information in its possession and
this suggestions was adopted.
a representative of the Winchester
Arms Company was in conference to-
dav with General Miles and General
Flsgler at the Office Of the Bureau OF
Ordnance of the army, with view to
examining various patterns of rifles
made by this concern. and of ascer.
tanning how speedily these could be
furnished in large quantities in case of
emergency. Samples of two OF the
latest patterns of thirty csliber rifles,
one Winchester and the other Lee
straight pull gun, were examined. No
contracts were made but the confer
ence led to full understanding.
Lieutenant Very, the representative
of the Howell Torpedo Company, has
submitted to the War Department
proposition to supplement the defenses
of the larger coast ports, such as New
York and Boston, by equipping num-
Der of light Draft and steam launches
with torpedo outfits. he urges that by
the full use of this means of defense the
hsrbors may be kept open for commerce
up to the last moment, which would