The record-union., 1898-03-13
While Sea Coast F0rtifiGatIons Have
Been Greatly Strengthened
Administration Absolutely Has No KncWl'
EDGE Of the Cause Of the Maine Dis
astar, No Report Of Any Kind
Having Been Received From
the Boar Of Inquiry.

WASHINGTON, March 12.-While
to-day was not marked by particularly
important events, the history of the
week just closed viii form splendid
record Of what can be accomplished by
the Nation in a short space of time un-
der the necessity to provide for the
National defense.
Beginning with the appropriation OF
Sl0.,90,00o TO be expended by the Pres
ident without limitation. there followed
rapidly the placing Of orders for enor-
nous quantities of war supplies, the
institution of negotiations for the pur-
chase of ships abroad, the enlistment
Of men fer the navy, the creation of
two regiments of artillery. the commits
sioning of monitors. cruisers and rams.
the manning of new posts along tno
sea ccasts. and finally the re-arrange-
ment of the great military departments
20 meet modern conditions in military
y. actice.
NO POINTS LEFT UNGUARDED.
The sending of the Oregon, now at
Mare Island. away from San Francis
co is an exhibition of the far-sighted-
ness with which the Secretary of the
Navy is observing the situation of to-
day. The vessels orders are 10 cruise
down the Pacific Coast. touching in
from time To time at various ports
whore cable connections exist. TO re-
o..+t, e.r,f
may have TO give. In this way it is
expected that she viii work as far
south as Valparaiso, Chile. where she
VIII await orders Valparaiso is very
mach nearer to Cuba and to Admiral
Slcard's fleet than Mare Island. while
if il should be desired to send the ship
to the Asiatic station this can be done
almost as conveniently from Valparai-
so As from San Francisco. At Valpa-
raise the Oregon viii he where she can
be most useful to be manipulated in
case cf an emergency
NO KNOWLEDGE OF CAUSE OF
MAINE DISASTER.
The President held conference at
the White House about noon to-day
with Secretaries Alger Long and Gage.
It is presumed the subject OF discus
sion vas the finances of the situation.
subject which could nos b fully treat
ea az the Cabinet meeting yesterday
owing TO the short session.
After the conference the statement
was again made. with the emphasis
that has characterized every utterance
on the subject by the Presidents con-
stitutional advisers, that up TO date
the Administration has absolutely no
knowledge of the cause of the disaster
Of the Maine. and that ii has no report
Of any kind from the Court of Inquiry.
or any enc connected with it,
AUXILIARY BRANCH OF NAVY.
TIE Board of Naval Bureau Chief,
find il impossible to pass Judgment in
Washington upon the fitness for naval
service Of vessels that may be offered
for ire auxiliary branch Of the navy
al the various seaports. so they have
been aided in their work by the crea-
tion e. a special hoard which viii an.
derJa,,e 10 visit each of the ports where
ships may be offered and make a care
fal personal inspection Of the various
craft. The board viii consist OF Cap
tain Rodgers. Lieutenant-Commana q
Kelley, Passed Assistant Engineer Dix
on. Assistant Naval Constructor Taw-
resey and Lieutenant Sargent. I.isu-
tenant Kelley. having been specially
charged with the inspection OF the lner-
chant vessels for naval service. viii be
Of great service as. member or the
beard
n MOVEMENTS OF wARsHIps.
+ The Nashville arrived at Key West
to-day. while the Marblehead arrived
Il TAMPA. The naval officials will not
state The purpose Of the aIagbIehead's
visit 10 Tampa.
a FLOOD OF SUGGESTIONS.
The war talk has had he usual re-
suit Of bringing before the Var and
Navy Departments perseo, feed OF