The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-12
RAPID-FIRERS FOR THE COAST
Contractors Instructed to Increase
Force For Speedy Delivery.

Force For speedy Delivery.
Washington, March u.-Secretary Alger
has authorized General Flagler, the chief
Of ordnance, to make arrangements at
once for procuring a large number Of
rapd-fire guns for seacoast defenses. This
action is taken without waiting for the
allotment among the various bureaus of
the war and navy departments Of the $780,,
900, 900 voted for the national defense. The
secretary felt that there was no reason
for further delaying the necessary steps
for the procurement of these guns, as it
was felt there would be no trouble in ar
irving at an equitable adjustment of Hhe
money available. Ever since the battle
ship Maine was wrecked in Havana har-
Dor the ordnance department has been
Fastening the delivery of guns already
finished and making arrangements for the
supply of such a number of additional
ones as the officials felt warranted in
ordering without the additional funds
which have since been put at their dis
posal The ordnance bureau will take all
these rapid-fre guns that can be pro-
cured within a reasonable time and they
will be shipped to the seacoast fortifica-
tons as rapidly as possible. They con-
stitute what is known as the auxiliary
defense for the Notifications and are a
material assistance to the big guns
which necessarily are slower of move
ment and firing. They also would be of
invaluable assistance in keeping the enc
mys ships from the vicinity of submarine
mines and other obscured works of de-
ferse by maintaining a constant fire over
F@v- \ 81,
of carriages for these rapid-fire guns have
also been authorized and these will be
shipped to the Notifications as soon as
completed. The carriages can be made
and delivered much quicker that the guns,
so that expedition in the manufacture of
the latter is what the officials of the ord
nance bureau are urging. Quite num-
Der of establishments throughout the
United States have responded to the de-
partment inquiries as TO whether they
can assist in making these guns. They
include the army gun factory, the Beth
lehem Iron works. the briggs Ordnance
company and the American Ordnance
company. The guns are mounted with
much trouble so that haste in their man
ufacture is the essential in the present
nance officials that directions have been
given TO the various arsenals and armo-
ries controlled by the government to in
crease the working force 70 the fullest
practicable extent with a view to hurry
ing the npIetion of existing projects.
Likewise all firms having contracts TO
supply the government with ordnance
have ben requested to work their men
night and day in order to finish the work
in hand, and to arrange their business
with . view to increased orders
As to small arms. extra ammunition
orders have already been placed with the
Union Metallic Cartridge company of
Bridgeport. Conn, and the Winchester
Arms company Of New York. The nego-
tiations for the supply of large numbers
of small arms. army equipments and ac>
Coutrements are now in progress The
bureau officials nave not yet indicated the
exact number which viii be ordered but
that the aggregate will be large is shown
by the fact that manufacturers have been
given the cue TO make all they can.