The western recorder., 1898-03-10
PLANNING FOR WAR
APPROPRIATION OF FIFTY MIL
LIONS.
All branches of the Government Unite In
Preparing to Meet spain's Attack
spain Does Not Insist Upon Lees Re
call.


washington. March s-There were
no less than five important events 10
day having bearing more or less di-
rect upon the troubled relations bc-
tween the United States and Spain.
viz. the introduction in Congress by
Mr.. Cannon OF resolution carrying
Atty million dollars for the public uc-
Tense the withdrawal by the Spanish
government of Its intimated objection
TO the continuance in office OF Consul
General Lee, the order for the cruiser
Montgomery to proceed to Havana IN
place of the Fern. the passage through
the House of the bill increasing the
army by two artillery regiments ana
the institutions of negotiations looking
to the purchase of warshlps Tor our
navy.
Mr.. Cannon's resolution probably ieu
nlI other topics In interest particular
Iy when II became known that II was
the result of n conference between the
author. the President. Senator Hale
and other leading spirits In Congress.
Mr.. Cannon's bill is as follows;
That there is hereby appropriated.
out OF any money in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated Tor the nation
al defense and for each and every pur-
pose connected herewith. to be cx-
-pended at the discretion of the Presl-
dent and to remain ayailnble unth
June 80. 1899, fifty million dollars
II was referred to the committee ON
appropriations -
As there has been no explanation so
far of the purpose which promoted me
Introduction Of Mr.. Cannon's resoi,i-
tion. II may he said that the money Is
wanted primarily as an emergency
fund 1t is said by officials who VIII
have the disposition OF TINS irehsure
that IT by no means follows because
Congress places such II sum OF money
in the control of the President thnt ne
will feel bound to spend nli oil IT.
Those who look for n wholesale pur-
chase of warships from the bargain
counters of European builders are
likely to be disappointed. The Navy
Department Mt present Is inclined 10
mike but one purchase of this kind,
Mt first at least. in the shape OF SUD
sfantial lronclad, II does desire 10 ger
nossesslon of several of the larger
class of torpedo boat destroyers, such
MS the Sekul of the RUSSIAN navy, YES
sells of 1,3O0 tons. able TO keep the sea
In bad weather, n weak point win our
own boats. and capable OF enormous
specd. such as thirty-two knots. But
such crafts are not for sale at all
times. They are built TO order gener-
ally, and could not be procured In tins
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 unserviccable craft In II
spasm of fear. but rather TO get Il rev
OF the hest vessels to he had.
The offers of ships TO the Navy De-
partment are now assuming dehnitc
and formal shape. During the day
Secretary Long received a call from n.
f. Lane, representing the Maxim Nor
deufeldt Company. and the agents FOR
several war ships now nearing compile
tion in large foreign ship yards. These
include two cruisers of the type of the
Cincinnati, which are designated TO be
twenty knot vessels, and two ironclnds
of fourteen knots. which would be
called third-class battleships under our
rating.
There are things that are wanted
much more than warshipS in case oil
trouble and the army shares these
= .ys,.ls. so that n fair proportion OF the
fifty million dollars would have to go
to the War Department. These are
abundant supplies of shot. shell and
powder. The army Is as short as the
navy of some essential stores.
While no exact estimate has been
made of the share of the fifty million
dollars appropriation to be allotted tc
ammunition. It Is estimated ut least
ten million dollars would be so con
signed owing to the enormous cost o'
refilling the ammunition chests OF th'
warships now in service. At presen
there is nj enough ammunition oil
hand for one refilling beyond that oil
board. as n single refilling costs three
million dollars Each of the battleship
carries 400 tons of ammunition. Witt
the amounts on hand. and the reiill
which are being calculated on. tn
navy would have an ample supply o
ammunition. even If the ships wer
called into frequent action.
Without delay the officers of the nd
iutnnt generals department to-da.
gave the necessary orders for the II
cruiting of the new artillery regiment
authorized by Congress. The purpos
| is TO enlist such men as have mad sery
| ice in the artillery wherever possible
ana nc doubt is entertained that plent
of material of the right kind will offel
| The names of the officers OF the neN
regiment are now being selected. a
for the men. it is the plan TO assig
fifteen soldiers from existing artiller
regiments as the nucleus of each ne'
company. to take hold of and break
the new men who enlist. and II is e,
pected that in very short time uncl
Sam will have two grand regiment
The headquarters of one of these reg
ments will he established at Fort Sl'
cum, on Long Island Sound. comman'
ing New York. as there are suitab
quarters available there. The destini
lion of the other regiment has not bee
decided upon.
1t Is not felt at the Navy Departmel
that the people of the Montgomery Al
taking any particular risks in goln
into Havana at this time. for 1t
said. should hostilities break out. it
n rule of honorable warfare that the
be given safe convoy out of the waite
of the hostile country. OF course. Ge
eral Lee and the members of the cou
of inquiry at Havana would be equal
exempt from molestation.