The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-13

the placing Of orders for enormous guam
Titles Of war supplies, the institution OF
negotiations for the purchase Oh sh'pS
abroad. the enlistment of men for the
navy. the creation of two additional regi-
ments OF artillery. the commissioning or
finally the encouragement OF the great
monitors cruisers and rams. the manning
Of new posts along the seacoasts, and
finally the re-arrangement OF the great
military departments TO meet mouern con-
ditions In military practice
The sending Of the oregon. now al
Mare Island. away from san Francisco,
IS an exhibition Of the farsiehteduess
with which the Secretary or the Navy
is observing the situation of to-day. The
vessels orders are to cruise down the
Pacific coast touching in from time to
time at various ports where cable con-
nections exist 10 receive any orders that
the department may have 10 give. In
this way IL IS said that she will work as
far South as Valparaiso, chill, where
she will await orders. Valparaiso Il very
much nearer to Cuba and TO Admiral
Slcard's fleet than Mare Island. while, II
IN should be desired 10 send the snip 10
the Asiatlc station this could be done
almost as conveniently from Valparaiso
as from San Francisco. Ar Valparaiso.
therefore. the Oregon will be where she
can be most usofuliy manipulated in case
Of an emergency.
THE FINANCES
The President held a long conference AZ
the White House about noon to-day with
Secretaries Alger. Long and Gage. II is
presumed that the subject Of the fin-
ances Of the situation-a subject which
could not be fully treated al the Cabinet
meeting owing TO the short session.
After the conference was over the state
u. Q
that has characterized every utterance
on the subject by the Presidents ex-
ccutive advisers. that up 10 date abso-
utely no knowledge Of the cause Of the
destruction of the Maine and no COM
municati0n OF any kind had been received
from the Court OF Inquiry.
rho Bureau of Navigation Chiefs find
Fl impossible to pass judgment in Wash
ington upon the fitness for naval service
for vessels that may be offered for the
auxiliary branch of the Navy al the
various scaports. SO they have iecn aid
ed i'm their work by The creation Of
special board which will undertake 10 Wis
IL ports where ships may bee offered and
make a careful personal inspection Of
the various craft. The board viii con-
sist of Captain Rodgers, Lieutenant
Commander Kelly. Passed Assistant
4ht'IAt'hfAANH
structor Tawresy. and Lieutenant-Sar-
geant.
The Nashville arrived ~ Key West
to-day while the Marblehead arrived NJ
Tampa The naval officials will not state
the purpose of the Marbehead's visit TO
TAMPA
The war talk has had the usual result
Of bringing before the War and Navy
Departments a perfect floor Of sueges-
tions and inventions
LARGE ORDERS.
The War Department on Monday will
open bids for one of the largest orders
of shot and shell for heavy calibre guns
ever given. including armOr-pierclng pro-
jectiles and deck piercing and torpedo
shells. The number and character OF
these are as follows: Nine hundred and
thlrty-fve twelye-inch deck piercing
shells. Weighing 1000 pounds each; l,2n
twelve-inch deck piercing shells weigh
ing 500 pounds each: 4sl ten-nch arm0r
piercing shells: 4S2 ten-inch armor pierre
ing shot. capper; 149 eight-inch armor
piercing shells; $50 elght-inch armor
piercing shot. capped. These propectles
are for the heavy fertilization guns now
mounted along the sea coast
The purchase is not TO be made under
the fifty million defence bill but is I'm an
tcipation Of the fertilization bill which
grants $4,000 for a reserve supply Of
proiectiles will take considerable time,
the contract will be let ahead Of the pas
sage OF the bill, assurance having been
given from men in Congress that no
question would be raised as 10 the regu-
larity OF this proceedings The entire
amount Is designated 10 give all the
heavy guns now installed and those TO
b. put in place during the coming year.
full quota Of proiectiles and powder
The Pinch shot are among the largest
made The cost Of "a single round OF
this class Of projcctile is $5ll
Aside from the large orders 10 he
placed Monday, the emergency bill Will
permit additional orders 20 meet the re-
Quirements OF such fertilization guns as
may be mounted for emergency. The
present order IS for the actual needs or
the guns now mounted without reference
TO any existing emergency although II
has been made all the more imperative
by the Spanish crisis.
The Spanish Minister Senior Polo re-
caived n dispatch to-day from Captain
General Blanco stating that the condition
Of the Cuban reconcentradOes was great
w improved General BlancO stated also
that he had prepared fun data on TINS
subject to be forwarded 20 Washingt on
Senior Polo has not yet opened business
negotiations with the state Departm mt
except in the formalities Of presenting
his credentials. lie is first attending TO
the social duties incumbent on new
minister and after calling on the Pres
ident to-day he spent the rest OF the
day calling on ambassadors and minis