The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-22


They will, in part at least take the place
left vacant by the departure of the bat
lie ship Oregon.
The cruiser Cincinnati arrived this morn
ing at Port Antonio, Jamaica. from Barba-
does. and the United States gunboats Will
mington and Castine reached the same port
shortly afterwards from St. Lucias. The
three war ships are coalng.
The enlistment branch of the navy to-day
issued large poster advertising for men
for the United States navy. The recent
putting into commission Of the cruisers CO.
lumbia and Minneapolis and the prospective
demands that viii be necessary as a result
of the acquisition of the Brazilian ship
Amazonas and the American yacht May
flower requires the enlistment of additional
men. Eplistments will be made at the fol-
lowing places The navy yards at Boston,
Brooklyn, League Island, Philadelphia
Washington. Norfolk, Mare Island No. Sc
South street, New York city United States
ship Michigan at Erie, Pa, custom house at
New Orleans. and the custom house at
Gloucester. Mass. The following classes of
men are wanted: Seamen. eighteen to thir-
ty-iive years Of age, at $24 per month; ordi
nary seamen, eighteen TO thirty-dve years
old, at $40 per month; machinists, first-class,
eighteen to thirty-five years of age, at $50
per month, and machinists second-class,
eighteen TO thirty-fve years of age, at $40
per month. The requirements for enlistment
provide that all candidates must pass a
physical examination. showing them to be
free from disqualifying ailments. Seamen
and ordinary seamen must pass examina-
ton in seamanship and must have had ex-
perience at sea. Machinists are required be-
fore enlistment to pass examination
showing that they are machinists by trade.
SPAIN CANNOT GET THEM
While the Navy Department has not sue
ceeded in purchasing any more war ships,
Its negotiations in that line have been pro-
ductive of at least one important result,
namely. in establishing that unless the bat
tie ship General O'Higgins becomes the
property of the United States it will not be
sold at all. Spain, it is confidently asserted,
viii not be able to secure this war vessel.
nor are her chances any better or as good
as those of the United States. Practically
the same condition prevails as to the Ar
gentine armored cruiser San MARITIME, which
will become the property of this government
II it passes out Of the hands of Argentine.
A high officer of the navy, who has in
innate knowledge of it's affairs, said to-
day: THE greatest difficulty is being ex-
perienced by the government in procur-
ing ships from abroad, but it is hard at
work and is making as much progress
as could reasonably be expected under the
circumstances. Spain is rushing work on
her war vessels. The Pelayo, her largest
and best battle ship. is practically ready for
sea. and its second biggest ship, the Carlos
v, will be ready in fortnight or three
weeks. The officials of the Navy Depart
ment are doing everything in their power
to prepare for any possible conflict. Any
thing, however, which is got in the way of
tugboats and yachts will be for makeshift
and our people would do we'll to learn that
the only way to prepare for an emergency
is to see that the navy is put in first-rate
shape long before the emergency arises,
and this can be done only by building bat
tie ships and torpedo destroyers; by adding
permanently to our naval lists officials and
men, and by Immediately passing through
Congress the pending personnel bill. which
IS absolutely necessary to the handling of
the new navy.
The results however of the prepara-
tons so far made with the materials at
hand are eminently satisfactory. The great
est preparation that has been made was
the drilling of battle ships and torpedo boats
last summer and, as a result, the navy is
now doubly as efficient as one year ago.
The people OF thu United States may trust
10 the navy with absolute confidence that
= viii respond to every call with the high
est credit to itself and the Nation. The
question of the purchase of the O,Jipgine
Is still in the air. Spain will not get her
and If she is sold it will be TO the Tinted
States"
M. T. ENDICOTT PPONEOTu7r
The vacancy which has existed in the of-
nee of the chief of the Bureau of Yards and
locks, Navy Department, since last Tues
Gay, When the term of Rear Admiral e. O.
matthew's expired, was filled by the I'resi-
ueht To-day by the appointment of Civil En-
siheer Mordecai T. Endicott for a term of
-FOUR years. In view of the probability of the
carry construction of four or five new dry
JOCKS this bureau becomes one of the most
important in the Navy Department. Mr.
tnolcott is an engineer officer of high re-
pute and is thoroughly informed in regard
TO the matters which come directly under
the bureau of which ne will be the head
Aside from this, his position as bureau CHIEF
will make him d member of the general
board which determines questions of gem
eral policy relating to the navy He was a
member of the Nicaragua canal commission.
OF which Colonel Ludlow was president
several years ago, since which time he has
been on duty in the Bureau of Yards and
Docks. The appointment of a civil engineer
TO this position is distinct innovation in
the naval service.
secretary Longs Office at the Navy De-
partment was again the center Of confer
ence to-day. Senator Hale, chairman of the
Senate committee on naval affairs, was one
Of the early callers, and spent half an hour
with Mr.. Long. Senator Pritchard, of North
Carolina, also had talk with Mr. Long
Senator Hanna came to the secretary's Of
flee during his absence at the White House,
and. learning that he was with the Presi-
dent, spent some time in conference with
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
The House committee on naval affairs
completed the naval appropriation bill this
afternoon and it WIFI be reported to the
House tomorrow. While the footings of the
various items were not completed when the
committee adjourned, the bill is roughly
calculated as carrying between $50, 700 900
and So, 0OO,0 600, of which about s., 900 600 win
be expended on this years work on the
three big battle ships, six torpedo boats and
six torpedo boat destroyers. The committee
had long session to-day giving the final
touches to the bill, but there was no signifi-
cant change made, the important items
standing as heretofore announced. The bill
may be brought up in the House Wednes-
day.
n.or-nsov Vusuoatso.- W.. S1..