The record-union., 1898-03-03
WAR NEWS NOT OF
ALARMING CHARACTER.

orders. Secretary Long says that the
Miantonomah, with the ram Katahdin,
will remain in the Delaware for the
present at least. With the commission
ing Ct these two vessels there remain
apolis on the Atlantic coast for imme-
date service in case the department
should decide to commission more
ships. The Atlanta. at New York, could
! be made ready in the course of three or
| four months, and the Chicago In SIX
I months, in case emergency orders FOR
their repairs were issued. There are
number of good ships on the Pacific
Coast. however. whose repair is under
way. such as the Charleston, the Phil
adelphia, the Yorktown and others, and
| the payrolls Of the Construction Bureau
at the Mare Island navy yard have now
amounted to the large total of $4,000
per month for wages alone.
The Navigation Bureau is still busy
with the preparation of the death Ger,
tificates for the families of the victims
of the Maine disaster Captain Haw-
ley, who has the matter Immediately
in charge. says that, owing to the
necessary formalities, these certificates
cannot be issued before March 10Th,
and this answer is returned to numer-
Gus letters received at the department
daily.
1t is said in the Navigation Bureau
that there is a pressing need of able
machinists for the navy, caused by the
heretofore unnoted fact that every one
of the machinists on the Maine lost his
life in the explosion. Moreover, all the
fremen but one were killed. The bu
reau has invited enlistments from men
| who have had naval service before in
the angine-rooms. c. is said that
number of these lnen af ow enjoy
ing three months To- time be-
tween enlistments durins mich they
may come again into the naval service
without loss of service record, it is
hoped that some of the will come for
ward to fill the places saos ed by the
Maine disaster.
Sir Julian Pauncefote ne to the
State Department bearing one of the
formal expressions of deep sympathy
with the Government over the loss of
the Maine that have come now from
every one of the British colonies. This
latest message was as follows:
Washington. Feb. u. 1898.
Sir: At the request Of Sir Alfred
| Malnney Governor of the WindwaTd
Islands. I have the honor to convey TO
you he heartfelt sympathy Of that col
ony with the Government and people
of the United States in the loss sustain
| ed through the explosion on board the
Maine. / have the honor, etc.
JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE."
There is no unusual stir or activity
about the bureaus of the Quartermas-
ter General or the Commissafy-Ce General
of the army. where more than any
where else the preparations for a war
like emergency would be apparent. The
| Offices Of these bureaus say no extra
! Ordinary accumulation OF supplies IL
| taking place, and that no contracts FOR
extra supplies are in contemplation. In
/ the Ordnance Bureau the placing Of
! large order for projectiles is the result
! of a ralk between Secretary Alger. SEN
ator Fawley of the Senate Committee
/ on Military Affairs and representatives
/ of the House Military Committee. 1t
vas made clear To the Secretary that
il was a certainty appropriations would
be forthcoming, and it was deemed the
part Of wisdom TO make the contract
now. as the supplies would not be in
| hand for some months.
There has been considerable CORE
spondence between Secretary Alger and
the projectile manufacturers. the Secre-
! tary expressing the opinion in these let
| ters that he was not getting the terms
that the Government was entitled to at
this time. Senator Hawley suggested
that they be asked to come to Wash
ington. and as result of their visit,
satisfactory terms We're made and the
! contract closed