The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-11
WAR PREPARATIONS.
Negotiations for Ships and Activity
in Army Circles.


Negotiations for Ships and Activity
in Army Circles.
WASHINGTON, March 10-Secretary
Alger spent some time to-day in consulta-
ton with President Linderman, Vice Presi-
dent Davenport and Mr.. Meigs, of the
Bethlehem Iron Company. This corpora
tion has a contract for supplying one hun
dred heavy rifles for coast defense. Many
Of these have been delivered already and
the secretarys purpose in inviting the rep
| resentatives of the company to meet him
| was to ascertain the extent of their re-
| sources in case of emergency, and TO in
duce them to press the work in their hands
with all diligence In both of these un-
dertakings the secretary was successful.
While this conference was in progress at
| the War Department, Secretary Long was
| engaged in an earnest consultation with
President Griscom of the American line OF
steamers. Mr.. Grscom has just returned
from Florida and had stopped here on his
way to Philadelphia for the express purpose
of meeting Secretary Long. presumably to
inform the department as to what can be
done in the way of converting the vessels of
the American line into auxiliary cruisers of
the navy, under the terms of the subsidy
|
of the fine steamers of this line, the depart
ment has already provided itself with full
information as to all technical points of
| construction, however, such as the ability
| to carry guns, war stores and such matters,
| so that what is wanted of Mr.. Griscom
| probably is information as to when the YES
sells can be had, their sailing schedules and
such points.
| A good many cable messages were re-
ceived at the Navy Department over night
and this morning. It wa said that there was
not among them any word from the court
Of inquiry or from Admiral Sicard, but that
| they were almost altogether messages from
| United States naval attaches abroad rel
ative to war ships under construction and
| subject to purchase in the countries in
which they are accredited. For obvious and
| prudential reasons the department is not
| giving publicity at this stage to any Of
these dispatches.
A railing was erected over night in the
| Navigation Bureau of the Navy Depart
| ment thus separating the public, including
| the newspaper men, from the officers at
their desks Probably this precaution was
very necessary in view Of the crowded con-
| ditions Of the offices at this time. 1t Is
| recalled that this particular railing had
| history in that 1t has always made its ap-
pearance in the same place on all occa-
sions of ''war scare" during recent years,
| such as the Chilean affair, the Italian i'm
broglio and like incidents, only to be taken
down as soon as conditions had resumed
their normal quiet.
The Navy Department is renewing it's ef-
forts to secure the enlistment of machinists
and to this end Commander Hawley Chief
| 1d IN ha
selected have been appointed board to
make special effort to secure recruits in the
middle and Southwest. Going first to Cleve-
land, Ohio the board will work on south
| ward to Mobile and New Orleans, possibly
going as far westward as Galveston. Ma
chinists are pretty well paid as naval sal
| aries go, the lowest grade receiving $40
month, while chief machinists in charge of
engine room watches are paid So In both
cases there is an allowance of rations,
clothing and other supplies that, taken In
connection with the salary, make the places
rather desirable.
This being diplomatic day at the State
| Department it would not be a matter Of
note in ordinary times to see the British
ambassador among the callers on the sec
retary of state and Judge Day as he was
to-day. But in view of the publications of
late touching alliances between the United
States and Great Britain and the reported
British refusal to allow us to purchase
war ships in England more than usual in
terest attached to his visit. The ambassador
himself refused to make any statement
for publication relative to these matters, be-
ing visibly annoyed at the prominence that
had been given to these publications, but
the State Department denied both these
| stories. AS to the war ships the best proof
of the fact that no prohibition had been
laid on their purchase in Great Britain is
the satisfactory progress of the negotia-
tions through our naval attaches and other
government representatives abroad for the
procurement of options on such ships as
are deemed desirable as additions to our
navy.
NJ Cambon, the French ambassador, went
over to the Navy Department after paying
a weekly call on the secretary Of state for
a short visit on Secretary Long This, it
was said however, was nothing but a
formal CALL the new ambassador up to that
time having failed to make the usual visit
of ceremony on members Of the Cabinet.
The new Spanish minister, Senor Polo Y
| Bernabe, arrived here early to-day and was
met at the station by oenor Du Bose, the
Spanish charge, and other Spanish officials,
who gave him a cordial welcome and es-
corted him to the legation. Later Senior Du
Bose called at the State Department and
arranged to present Senor Polo at HIS
o'clock tomorrow morning. At that time
the minister will be introduced to Secre-
tary Sherman and Judge Day but it is
not yet settled whether his presentation
to the President will follow at once, as
the Cabinet will be in session at that time
| Pending his meeting the officials here the
new minister asked to be excused from
discussing the present status of Spanish af-
fairs. 1t is realized aS the State Department
that the lot of American consuls in Cuba
| is a very hard one it has been difficult
for many ana is no better now. Still, the
department is gratified at the manner in
which these officers have discharged their
duties and remained by their posts So far
/. as can be learned at the State Department
none of them has resigned and stories to
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