The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-15

the revised status bearing on this SUBJ
ject provides as follows:
NO officer on the retired list Of the
navy shall be employed on active duty
except in time of war"
There are many officers on the re-
tired list in the full enjoyment of
health and mental vigor, despite the
fact that they are over 81 years of age,
whose ability and experience would
undoubtedly be of great advantage TO
.the nation in case ft proved necessary
to go TO war in the defense of its honor
and dignity. Notable among these is
Rear Admiral John G.. Walker, recent
fy retired for age and now engaged on
special duty as president OF the Mica
/ ragua canal commission.
NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Three new battleships, of the staunch
est type afioat, were authorized by the
house committee on naval affairs to-
day and provision for their cOnstruc-
tion inserted in the naval appropria-
tion bill. AT the same time, the COM
mfttee agreed ON a maximum price of
$40O per ton for armor plate for our
vessels, increased the force of naval
marines by 473 men and put matters
in fair shape for a decision tomorrow
on the location of dry docks, probably
four in number, capable of accomOdat-
committee was in session practically
all day and before the decision ON the
increase of ships was reached there
was a long and interesting discussion.
Representative Tate, democrat of
Georgia, while favoring an Increase,
believed that two vessels would be
ample and that further expenditure
beyond the point of necessity should be
| avoided. When the vote was taken
there HI dissenting
| Mr. Tatte insisted that two battleships
would be sufficient to meet present
needs.
The new warships provided for .will
| be of the finest pattern. IT will be two
| years doubtless before they can be
| placed in commission. One of them,
| the committee decided. should bear the
name of the Inflated Maine. The
appropriation for their construction
was not fixed, being referred to the
! subcommittee on appropriations
| which Will report to the full committee
| tomorrow. The cost, it MS expected,
| will tbe about So, 900 900 each, though for
| the fiscal year, covered in the bIIl the
amount of expenditure may not ex-
ceed So, 000 900 each.
The committee also agreed on pro-
vision authorizing the secretary of the
navy to purchase armor plate by con-
tract or otherwise at a cost of not eX-
ceeding $400 per ton. This was agreed
to, however, only on the express pro-
viso that this item should include the
| nickel used i'm the trmor for which a
large outside percentage heretofore has
been paid by the government. This
limit of aT1mOr contract price has been
generally expected and, with the eX-
ception of the insertion of the proviso
as to nickel, met with little opposition
in the discussion.
One of the most important features
of the work ON the oiQl was an agree
ment on an appropriation of $135, 900
for outfitting, ratfOning and uniform
| ing 473 additional marines This in
| crease in the naval force was made
| the subject of a special and urgent re-
| quest sent to the house after. the sub
| mission of the regular recOnlmen-
| dations.
With the amounts to he paid for dry
docks and for armOr plate in the ag-
gregate not yet determined, the bill as
| it stands carries in all something like
| $4,000, 900 which, however, will be
| largely augmented by the other items.
| Rapid progress has been made with
| the bill and it is likely lit Will be in
! shape to report to THE house Monday
or Tuesday.
| ORDERS TO MAN NEW FORTS.
Orders were issued at the war de-
| partment today for manning the newly
| established Notifications on the Atlan-
| tic coast from Boston down to Calves
| ton on the gulf. They include the Or
| ganiZatiOn of the two new artillery
| regiments, Nos. and Z, authorized by
| a recent act of congress. The Sixth
| regime mt will have it's headquarters at
| Fort Slocum, N. Y, and the Seventh
! regiment it's headquarters at Fort Nc
| Henry, Maryland.
The new fortified ton on Long Island
| head, at the entrance ITO the harbor of
| Boston, will be guarded by a battery
| of the Second artillery, now at Fort
| Adams, r. 1. For the operation of the
big guns on Sandy Hook, New York
| harbor, two batteries, now at Fort
| 81 i, one at Fort Hamilton and
all .r at Fort Wadsworth, will be
| utilized. 1t is expected that the Sandy
| Hook garrison will be established at
| once. Monroe, Va, is probably the
| strongest and best equipped station on
| the Atlantic coast and the garriso on
there will be called upon to man other
| fortificatiOnS, but not to an extent tha!
would weaken its own efficiency. One
| battery of the First artillery at Fort
ress Monroe will be transferred t
Fort Morgan, Alabama, which, in con-
junction with Fort Gains, commands
THE entrance to Mobile bay. Another
battery of the First artillery will b.
sent to Tybee island, Georgia, for the
| protection of the mouth of the Savan-
| nah river.
BATTERY I, SECOND REGIMENT,
ORDERED TO FORT }CASWELL.
The garrison headquarters band, ant
one battery of the First artillery
| stationed at ST. Francis barracks, ST
Augustine, Fla, will he transferred t,
duty at Sullivan's island. Charleston
harbOr The garrison at st. Franci:
barracks will be abandoned. Batter.
I, of the Second artillery, will be as
signed to duty at Fort Caswef, Oppo
site Smiths island,s near Wilmington
n. C.
For the better protection of the ma
tionat capital, one battery of tn
Fourth artillery at Fort Monroe ha
been ordere to Sheridan Point, Va
| This fort is nearly opposite For