Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-08
THE SPANISH CRISIS.
Continued from page ~
the bargain counters of European |
builders are likely to be disappointed |

get possession of several of the larger
class of torpedo boat destroyers such as
the Sokul, of the Russian navy, vessels of
800 tons able to keep the sea in bad
weather. weak point with our own
boats, and capable of enormous speed.
such as 30 knots. But such craft are not
TOR sale at all times, they are built to or
der generally and could not be procured
in this manner in less than six months
from the date of contract unless special
prices We're paid.
ment are now assuming definite and for
NAL shape. Secretary Long received a
call, today, from A. +. Lane, representing
the Maxim Nordenfeldt Co and the agent
for several war vessels now nearing com
plction in large foreign shipyards. These
include two cruisers of the type of the
cincinnati, which are designed to be -,
knots which would be called third class
battleships under our rating.
These are now open to purchase ana II
rs understood that Mr.. Lanes visit was
i'll this connection. The two cruisers are
go feet long, 43 feet beam, IL feet drduSht-
They carry six 6-inch and four 3.nch
guns and an auxiliary battery. me IRON,
.lads have a 1873. inch belt of harveyized
steel. Their armament is two lo-inch
gums four o-inch. two finch, six 6-pound-
crS and four l-pounders.
Mr. Lane regards these ships as first
class in every respect as they Wer" de-
signed on modern principles ana are pc
ing built by one of the leading shipbulid-
ing firms of Europe. They are well along
toward completion ana all four. 1t Is SAID
could be IN commission within a few
months. They We're originally designed
for one of the South American republics
but there is said to be no obligation Whlch
would prevent their acquisition by the
Mr.. Lane recently sold the navy de-
partment 50 of the Maxim Nordenfeldt
rapid fire guns and his standing with Of
ficais is such az to give his representa-
tons as to ships much weight.
There are things that are wanted much
more than warships IN case OF troupe
and the army shares these needs. so that
II fair proportion of the $3o.000,WO would
have to go to the war department There
are abundant supplies of shot and shell
and powder. The army IS as snort as me
navy of these essential stores.
1t has been found that there VIII not De
nearly as much difficulty in securing
modern arms for the navy. even on a war
footing as was anticipated. THIS Is be-
cause certain private gun makers have
Just brought out a type of repeating rlhe
very similar in general features 70 the
army rifle using the same car1tiu ,!5',iG 81
80 gauge and with about as great rapid
ity of fire. The plants of these compan-
les are so extensive that they coulu tutn
the arms out very rapidly so that the
Springfield in the hands of the mllitla
could be replaced in short order
II Is said that no contracts for the puf-
chase of naval ammunition have been
closed but the department has informed
itself fully as to how speedily it could
secure every kind of ammunltion ana
supplies in case of emergency. rms m
u,liry has shown that the facllltleS OF lhlS
country are ample to meet any demand
for powder, proJectlieS, car lIiu6I go
primers fuses. cue heae ouP I ~ 80
not KEEP III st ttaH n,'Id have 10 he made
VI ciii9 M 80 Sso;d that the capacity of
,' ~, trra for turning out the Brown pris-
matte powder required by the naval Dc
partment is 100000 pounds moilin'
40 -
,nands Of :. conflict
While no exact estimate has been made
of the share of the $50,0 600 to he allotted
to ammunition it is roughly estimated
that mt least $l0, 900 900 would be assigned
owing to the enormous cost of retilinG
the ammunition chests of the warshps
now in service AT present there Is not
nnough ammunition ON hand for one re-
filling beyond that now on board. single
- retiilinp costs 81 600 900 Each of the first
,Iass G1ttIcshiDS carries 400 tons of am
nunitinn With the amounts on hand
,,ud the rctjlls which are being calculated
an the navy would have an ample supply
az .n,mInjtinn oven if the ships were
,,l,,d intn fremont action.
Tho annropriltion of $50 0D0 900 for the
nntinnal defence will not involve the is
Una nf hands This announcement was
,,,.,, la, Tho traasurv officials. who stated
th,t ~, treasury was amply prepared to
,,aot INV, Iomands that will likely be
,,',,o ,,nn,, /, on Fob / the cash in the
,r,'.,S,,rr "mounted to $S56 671 766 of which
600, Mo- t-1 u.e ,,nIL s51l SlSS3l silver $1D7.-
"a az n,unr cilrrcnrv and $50 0St ,D02 dis
hnrei,g ntfirrrs' balanccS etc. The net
,,aiI,Ll, r.sh an hand above all Iiabili-
tio. ,mnmts to S226 ga 2OS.
mont
1t is not 1oit III tnt w ,,,,i,,, -,
thtt the people Oh 'h' M""' 1'i',' ~
taxing any pa 'tisui'i ~ 81 j." "a that
havana "t az w, go, :, j., -
even Snou'o hpS,li'llVS c -. p' NOV. hc
rune III ii'"oi'p va. so" ,n .,,,r. az
given Stle CONVOY GUY W ~, ,,,..,.,i
-thc h"Stl'' country, " ,,t tr in.
Lee ana th' nl''iln'ii - ~, ~. n,,nnt
Tui.N ~ ,,'ti',, NV, commander of the
, VIZ, ri,n, nmmanIrr Converse.
.I,' ID, ,,,.n,, az ,pS mon of AN
ne sup '''''''
cldSScS. o.,. ~ ,,,.. .1i,,-
49,. Without decay 'h' "hiVci9 W .'!' "n!" ,
tdnt general dcpaftineht' r"l'E, 80" go
orders for recruiting Inc wv" ne" al ~
lery regiments authorized by congress-
The purpose is to enlist such men as nave
had cXucrirnrc in the artillery wherever
nnssihlr and no doubt is entertained that
,lcniy r ,n,tn,ia1 of th, right kind will
re .rh ui,.,,,'. ,r I'M, now r...itn, mt
u, "' .,,,..,,d II ie In, i,j;,u tu
az ii'" ",'''t, c ,,,i..ti,,. o., RI ilT,ry
''HiEI ~ '"''l,t" ia ~ .,,.b n.,y
regiments a. ga" ~ -" ',,,d L,,,.,l. in th4
company |" Lake ii'i,' "a ~ ~ s a., +,
men VINO are ehlIs'c". ne ;,' ''. =,
:, OF one OF the new regiments VIII ne $50
liShcd at Fort Slocum, IN LONG lSlihu
g. sound, commanding New York. Inc deS-