The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-03-22
mandant of the New York Navy Yard.

~ department pidceS Inc udt' OF the
hnal completion Of the dock at April
ooth IN view of this report.
Surgeon General Van Reypen. Of the
Navy returned today from Newport
News. where he went 10 examine into
the practica bility Of converting the Plant
Line steamer Grand Duchess into an
ambulance or hospital ship for use of
the Navy in the event of hostilities iwth
Spain. This steamer. which General
Van Reypen says, is large, roomy and
airy. formerly piled between New York
and Savannah, Ga. but waS laid up
because Of the "disarrangement of her
boilers. So far as the accommodations
are concerned the vessel. after some
necessary work would make an admira-
bic ambulance ship. but the lack of boil
els, which it would take several months
to replace, limits her adaptability for
use Ut the present time. The Surgeon
General has in view several other ships,
which, with but Il limited expenditure of
money. could be changed into ambulance
ships. but he will be compelled to await
the report of the special board which is
examining into the question of auxiliary
cruisers before taking any action.
The War Department is making ready
for another big contract looking to the
procurement Of Il lot of shot and shell.
An advertisement has just been issued
for "cast-iron projectiles for sea-coast
cannon
The bids are made ~returnable mex
Monday at : o'clock at the Ordnance
Ottlcc, War Department. The shot and
shell are of the heaviest description, ISL
ten inch solid shot. 80 twelve inch
mortar shells, weighing 800 pounds each,
and 800 twelve men mortar shells, weigh
ing 1000 pounds each being wanted.
These projectiles are entirely different
from the million dollars worth ordered
yesterday. Those were wrought steel
Shot and shell known as armor pierccrs
and Intended for attack upon battle
ships, monitors and such armored yes
sels. Those called for now are for use
either against lightly armored or lunar
mored ships or else for deck piercers.'
being fired from mortars with a plung-
ing fire into the deck Of vessels lying out
1T sea. Being Of cast metal these pro-
jectiles, it is expected. will be much
cheaper than the armor piercers already
ordered.
The Equipment Bureau of the Navy
Department has prepared itself for the
equipment at very short notice of any
vessels Of the auxiliary Navy that may
be acquired with the most approved
signalling devices now employed.
Considering the competition offered by
the Navy and Marine corps in the en-
lIstmcnt Of recruits, the War Depart
ment feels that it is doing very we'll in
securing men for the artillery regiments.
The adjutant generals report to-day was
that DO men had been secured. This is
at the rate of 800 per month and about
as fast as the men can be properly taken
care of.
NAMES OFFICERS RESTLESS.
havana. March 16. The Offices of
the Maine who remain here are disap-
pointed at not being ordered north. and
believe they will not be sent back to
the United States until it is certain the
Court of Inquiry into the loss Of The
hattlcship Maine will not return to Ha-
yana.
With the arrival of the big derrick.
Chicf and other machinery the ~wreckinc
work already shows signs of progress.
The Naval divers are still working
abent the wreck. under the direction
Of Captain SigShcc and Lieutenant Com
mand@r Wainwright. with Ensign Pow
olson, to make any changes in the draw
lngS which may be called for by new
discoveries.
According to Il Spanish report a col
llnnn Of government troops, under Col.
Ialanca, was engaged on Friday and
Saturday last with the insurgcnt forces
under General Maxine Gomez and
B~rigadicr General Jose Maria Gomez.
1T the MajaGua farm i'll the district of
Sancti SpirituS. province Of Santa Clara.
The insurgcnt loss is said to have been
considerable while the Spanish force
IS alleged to have lost only three men
killed and Il captain. q lieutenant and
thirteen soldiers wounded.
Ia Lucha. in its leading editorial this
afternoon. says it is nab to explain
the bellicose attitude Of the United States
and i~nclincs to the belief that this is the
fault Of business SyndicatcS. like the
sugar trust. or due to some new desire
10 annex Cuba. which has changed the
I~'hysiognomy of the American people
II claims that Spain has done nothing
to hurt the pride Of the United States,
and refers to the friendlinCsS Of Spain
for the American colonies when they
were fighting England. and also to the
strict neutrality maintained during the
civil war.'
La Lucha says it can only explain the
help given the insurgents from American
sources during the present insurrcction
in Cuba hy 'dcfcctiye law. varying in
the different States of the American
| union"
The editorial concludes:
The end of the journey will show
which nation has the more to lose III 4
contest that MAY come now. No doubt
f, Spain does not fear war. Public opinion,
if not demanding. doe 10 repel hoStili-
ties. 1t is believed by many that this
way is the only means OF reaching an
end Of the present kAotty state of
affairs"
PREFER WAR TO INDEMNITY.
An Alleged Interview With an Alleged