The age-herald., 1898-03-08
Preparations For the Purchase o'
 More Warships.
THE BILL APPRoPRIATINe s5o,ooo, 900


 less than five important events today hav- ing a bearing more or less direct upon the troubled relations between the United States and Spain, viz.:
 The introduction in congress by MT. Cannon of a resolution carrying $50. 900 900 for the public defense, the withdrawal by tho Spanish government of its intimatcd objection to the continuance in office of Consul General Lee, the order to the cruiser Montgomery to proceed to Havana in place of the Fern. the passage through the house of the bill increasing the artillery arm by two regiments and the institution of negotiations looking to the purchase of warships for our navy.
 MT. Cannons resolution probably led all other topics in interest, particularly when it became known that 1t was result Of conference between the author, the presl- dent and other leaders in congress.
 As to the case of Gen. Lee the news Of the satisfactory ending of sstle incident through the withdrawal of the suggestion by Spain was expected as soon as It was noted that loophole had been left open through the failure to make the complaint in anything like an official shape.
 No Official Application
 Late in the afternoon Senor DuBosc, the Spanish charge d'affaires, received cipher cable from the minister of state at Mardid Senor Cullen, saying: "You can dsavow the rumor that any official application has been made for the recall of Gen. Lee" This confirmed MT. DuI3osc's view that a misapprehension had occurred, and that some intimation concerning Gen. Lee had been construed into request or demand for his recall, which MT. DuBosc says with positiveness was never intended.
 As there has been no explanation so Tar of the purpose which prompted the intro- duction of MT. Cannons resolution, 1t may be said the money is wanted primarily as an emergency fund. It is said by officials who will have the disposition of this meas ure that it by no means follows beeause congress places sucn' sum Of money in the control of the president that he will feel bound to spend all of 1t. Those who look for whole sale purchase of warships rom the bargain counters of European build CTS are likely to be disappointed. The navy department at present is inclined to make but one purchase of this kind, at first, at least, in the shape of a substantial iron clad.
 Wants Torpedo Boats
 It does desire to get possession of sev- eral of the larger class of torpedo boat destroyers, such as the Sol<ul of the Rus sian navy, vessels of 300 tons. able to keep the sea in bad weather, weak point with our own boats, and capable of enormous speed such as 32 knots. But such craft are not for sale atGall times They are built to order generally and could not be procured in this manner in less than six months from the date of contract, even in Europe, unless special prices were paid There is no disposition on the part of the navy department to lumber the navy with a lot of unserviceable craft in a spasm of fear, but rather to get few of the best vessels to be had.
 The offers of ships to the navy depart ment are now assuming definite shape. During the day Secretary Long received a can from A. F. Lane, representing the Maxim Nordenfeldt company and the agent for several war vessels now nearing com nistion in large foreign shipyards These include two cruisers of the type of the Cincinnati, which are designed to be 20- knot vessels, and two ironclads of IA knots, which would be called thrid-class battle ships under our rating. These are now open to purchase, and 1t is understood that MT. Lanes visit was in this connec- tion. He regards the ships as first-class in every particular, as they were designed on modern principles and are being built by one of the leading shipbuilding firms of Europe. They are well along toward com pietion, and all four, it is said, could be in commission within a few months. They were originally designed for one of the
 
 Ammunition Badly Needed
 There are things that are wanted much more than warships in case of trouble and the army shares these needs, so that fanr proportion of the $50, GOO would have to go to the war department. There are not abundant supplies of shot and shell pow der. The army is short as the navy of these essential stores It has been found greatly to the qualification of the army officers, that there will not be nearly as much difficulty in securing modern arms anticipated. This is because certain private gunmakers have just brought out a type of repeating rife very similar in general feature to the army rifle, using the same cartridge and with about as great rapidity of fire. The plants of these companies are so extensive that they could turn the arms out very rapidly and the Springields in the hands of the militia could be replaced in short order.
 In connection with the purchasing of naval ammunition 1t is said no contracts have been closed but the department has informed itself fully as to how speedily it could secure every kind of ammunition and supplies in case of emergency. This in- quiry has shown dn a general way that meet any demand for powder, projectiles,, cartridge cases, primers, fuses. etc.
 Filling of the Chests
 While no exact estimate has been made of the share of the $50, GOO appropriation estimated that at least $10,000,000 would De so assigned, owing to tine enormous cost of refilling the ammunition chests Of the war ships now in service. At present there is