New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
TRACTS For AMMUNITION.
Try TELEGRAPH TO rur TrInvXR.


TRACTS FoR AMMUNITION.
tRy TELEGRAPH TO rur TrinvXR.l
washington, March 1.-THE Administration is
,.,,ously pushing the work Of preparation for
any National emergency. The plans begun 10
,ut the military and naval services on an ef-
active footing are being pushed with added en-
orgy After long consultation this morning
...osn the President and the chiefs Of the
,,res departments of War. the Treasury and
yavv several new and important conclusions
,sre announced orders were sent TO san fran
.,.co directing the battle-ship Oregon TO sail at
o,ce FOR Callao, Peru. and there await further
,,s,ructions from Washington. From Calao the
o,eson's cruise will probably be extended to
VALPARAISO. Chilli from which port she can easily
50 summoned to clear Cape Horn and join the
Atlantic feet in West Indian waters. The trip
,rorn san Francisco to the Gulf Of Mexico would
,-obably occupy six weeks; but to have a bat
,ls-shlp like the oregon on her way TO the AT
,,,,ic as an available reserve would give
formidable additional strength TO the American
Zee, now in rendezvous near Key West
MAY roRTIFY THE DRY ToRTUGAs.
Another important result OF to-days confer
.nce seems 70 have been decision 10 turn tht
pry Tortugas into fortified military post. TO he
used especaly as base Of naval supplies one
OF the civil engineers Of the Navy was ordered
10 Dry Tortugas 10 inspect the buildings
there and 10 determine their fitness for the pur-
noses Of naval depot The island is now used
by the Treasury Department as quarantine
station but Jurisdiction over il will probably he
transferred al once TO the Secretary Of war.
The erection Of new military department
with headquarters at Atlanta Ga" marks that
point as the probable rendezvous OF the regular
,roops from the West and South in an
army is TO be modified on the Gulf coast.
Preparations are being completed to move the
troops sarrisoned in the West South and South
west to Atlanta at the shortest notice. while
Washington has apparently been designated as
the point Of meeting for the garrisons Of the
Lake and North Atlantic States. Fuller details
OF the rearrangement Of the military depart
ments were made public in an order issued by
the Commanding General Of the Army to-day.
AUXILIARY CRUISERS
Secretary Long to-day appointed Commodore
John c Watson Lieutenant Commander J. D. J.
Kelley. Chief Engineer Albert r. Dixon and
Naval Constructor John 6. Tawresey Board
for the inspection Of auxiliary cruisers. ordering
them by telegraph 70 report in Washington by
tomorrow morning at II o'clock, to meet the
Naval Board which has been holding confer
ences for the last few days on the subject If
securing domestic merchant vessels for war pur-
poses This board consisting Of Assistant Sec
retary Roosevelt. Captain A. {. Crownnshield
Chief Of Navigation; Captain Charles Nell
Chief Of Ordinance: Commander r. 3. Bradford
Chief Of Equipment and Chief Naval Con-
structor H!chborn has already selected fifty
which would be valuable scouts and impro-
al md iiet will be ed n
Commodore Watson's Board for investigation
into the practicability Of speedily making the
vessels ready The inspection. which Will begin
Monday morning al NewYork, will be directed
particularly to determining the condition Of boil
ers and engines. in order that no breakdowns
al sea Will occur if foresight prevent
The Roosevelt Board has decided that the
Navy will require thirty or forty such ships as
soon as they can be obtained. and that at least
ten should be available for purchase by tn end
q next week The practicability Of fitting them
cut win armament has been settled to the sat
lstacticn Of the Board. but great precauton is
deemed essential TO insure that all vessels pur-
chased will be able 10 stay at seq indefritely
with only the ordinary current repairs which are
inseparable from active service Lieutenant
Commander Kelley and Constructor Tawrcsey
have already been engaged in such inspection
work. tut confined 10 the limited field Of YES
sels availabl under the postal subsidy act. All
the latter class are in excellent condition. but
with the exception Of the four transatlantic pas
senger steamers Of the American Line, have not
sufficient speed to entitle hem to consideration
except as supply and transport ships.
AsIATIC FLEET TO Pc STRENGTHENED.
Arrangements have been perfected for re
irforcirc Admiral DewAys squadron in Asatic
waters and at the same time roplenishng its
ammunition stores most eXpeditously. The
training ship Mohcan. which left san Francisco
yesterday for Honolulu. took forty tons Of extra
powder and projectiles. and carried orders de-
laching the Baltimore from he Pacific station
and ordering her with all dispatch to Hong
Kong Admiral Mile will transfer his flag
10 the Bennington. and the Baltimore will
gather UP all the spare ammunition from the
other ships and start at one on her mission.
The Aslatic Squadron on her arrival will
consist Of six ships which is considered a sum
cient force to seize the Philippines.
The battle-ship oregon. sister Of the Indiana
and the Massachusetts and second only 20 the
hwa among the hiehest-powered ships Of the
Navy. has been ordered 20 Callao. Peru. go pro-
cstd with dispatch" While mat Is the extent
Hthe actual order. this formidable vessel is des-
tined to continue without loss of time 70 Key
West. where she viii in all probability report
In about month She was taking on fifty tons
Of ammunition at Marc Island. cal. today.
when The orders We're sent ~ her. She viii also
take deckload of extra coal I'm order to make
as Few ports as possible on her long voyage.
After Callao her next stop viz be at Monte
Nd=o, and then at Barbados.
lMPROVEMFNTS Al KEY WEST
cWn Engineer Adolpho Menocal has been
ordered To proceed Immediately from the League
Island Navy Yard 20 the Key West Naval sta
uon e superintepd important improvements
which are 10 be made at once. including lOPo-
''h coashed with wharvos to hold lJU0D addi-
uona' tons the contract calling for the compile