Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-03-13

L IO Il1SCOIy VI IllS Z DIST OLA OeDJ 2
Shows What Your Uncle Sam
Can Do When He Is Threatened
and Decides to Prepare for Event
ualities--The Oregon Leaves San
Francisco and Will Move Leisure
ly Down the Pacific Till She Gets
to Valparaiso, Where She Will
Await Orders-A Big Order for
Projectiles to Be Used by the Re-
Gently Mounted Coast Defense
Guns.
Washington, March 12.--While to-
day was not marked by particularly
important events, the history of the
week just closed will form splendid
record of what can be accomplished
by the nation in short time under the
spur Of necessity to provide for the
national defense. Beginning with the
appropriation of $50, 900, 600 to be ex
pended by the President without limi-
tation there followed rapidly the plac-
ing of orders for enormous quantities
of war supplies, the institutions of
negotiations for the purchase of ships
abroad, the enlistment OF men for the
navy, the creation of two additional
regiments of artillery, the commits
sioning of monitors, cruisers and rams,
the manning of new posts along the
sea coast, and finally the rearrange-
ment of the great military departments
to meet modern conditions in military
practice.
The sending of the Oregon, now at
Mare Island, away from San Francisco,
is an exhibition Of the far-sightedness
with which the Secretary of the Navy
is observing the situation Of to-day.
The vessels orders are to cruise down
the Pacific coast, touching IN from
time to time at various ports where
cable connections exist, to receive any
orders that the department may have
to give. In this way it is expected that
she will work as far South as VAL
paraiso, Chile where she will await
orders. Valparaiso is very much
nearer to Cuba and to Admiral Sicard $
fleet than Mare Island, while If II
should be desired to send the hip q
the Asiatic Station, this can be uone
almost as conveniently from Valpar-
also as from San Francisco. At Val
paraiso, therefore, the Oregon will be
where she can be most usefully man
ipulated
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
The President held long conference
at the White House about noon to-
day with Secretaries Alger, Long and
Gage. 1t is presumed that their sub
iect of discussion was the finances OF
the situation, a subject when could not
be fully treated at the cabinet meet
ing yesterday, owing to the snort SEES
sion. After the conference the state
ment was again made with the empha-
sis that has characterized every utter
ance on the subject by the president :
constitutional advisors that up to date
the administration has aDsoluleiy no
knowledge Of the cause OF the disaster
of the Maine, and that 1t mas no re-
mort of any kind from the court OF n
uuiry or any one connected Will ~
The board of naval bureau chiefs
finds it impossible TO pass judgment
in Washington upon the htness lor
naval service of vessels that may pc
offered for the auxiliary branch OF the
navy at the various seaports, so tney
have been aided in their work Dy tne
creation of a special board, which Will
undertake to visit each Of the ports
where ships may be offered and make
careful personal inspection OF tne
various craft. The board will consist
If Cant. Rodgers, Lieut.. Commander
Kellv Passed Assistant Engineer Dix
~ Assistant Naval Constructor
Tawresv and Lieut.. Sargent. Lieut..
Kallv having been specially charged
With the inspection of merchant yes
coils suitable for naval service, Will be
If great service as member Of the
board.
The Nashville arrived at Key West
to-day while the Marblehead arrived
at Tamna. The naval officials will not
stata the purpose Of the Marblehead S
visit to Tampa
The war talk has had the usual ef-
feet Of bringing before the War and
Navy Departments perfect
FLOOD OF SUGGESTIONS
and inventions. Many of these are
most remarkable. balloons, flying ma
chimes. kites and the like, centipede-
like steamers with manifold propell-
ors and torpedoes OF fearful and won
derful construction.
All of them are given attention and
referred to the proper authorities for
investigation, but not much is expected
from them. The War Department on
Monday will open bids FOR one of the
largest orders of shot and shell for
heavy calibre guns ever given, includ-
ing armor piercing projectiles and
deck piercing and torpedo shells. The
number and character of these are as
follows
935 twelve-inch deck-piercing shells,
weighing 1000 pounds each.
124l twelve-iuch eckApiercing
shells, weighing 500 pounds.
ASH ten-inch piercing shells.
4S2 ten-inch almor piercing shot,
capped.
l49 eight Inch armor piercing shells
$50 eight-inch armor piercing shot.
capped.
These projcctiles are for the heavy for
tiication guns now mounted along the
sea coast. The purchase is not - be made
under the ffty million dollar defense APP
nropriation bill, but is in anticipation Of
the fertilization bin. which grants $4,000
for a reserve supply of proiectiles and
powder As the making Al rhe heavy pro-
ca,, -ife - Nc TINA