Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-08
CONSUL GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE.


cases. primers, fuses. etc. These sup
plies are not kept i'm stock, however, and
In case of emergency they would have TO
be made on orders. 1t is said that the
capacity of one firm for turning out the
brown prismatic powder required by the
navy is 100000 pounds month, which
would more than meet the demands OF
a conflict.
AMMUNITION.
While no exact estimate has been made
Of the share of the Sj00O0,OOO appropria-
ton TO be allotted to ammunition 1t is
roughly estima ted ts-at at least 100000 600
would be so assigned, owing 10 the enor-
nous cost of reflling the ammunition
chests of the warships now i'm service. AT
present, there is not enough ammunition
on hand for one reflling beyond that now
on board. single reflling costs 5000
900. Each frst-class battleship carries
400 tons Of ammunition. With the amounts
on hand. and the reflls which are being
calculated on, the navy would have an
ample supply of ammunition, even II the
ships were called into frequent action.
Naval officers explain that a refill will
last through several engagements owing
to the limit of endurance Of men while In
action If the guns could be worked con-
stantly. a refill would be exhausted In
one heavy engagement, but the guns. as
well as the men, have their limit OF en-
durance. These considerations nave all
been taken into account in the rough gem
eral estimates that have been made as TO
the refills requisite for a suitable equip
ment of the American fleet.
NO ISSUE OF BONDS.
The appropriation of 100000 for the
national defence, for which provision was
made in the bill introduced in the House
to-day by Mr.. Cannon, will not involve
the issue of bonds. This announcement
was made by the Treasury officials who
stated that the Treasury was amply pre-
pared to meet any demands that will
likely be made on it,
on February 1st the cash in the Trea-
sury amounted to SS651 ,766, Of which
s2OI O63.971 was in gold, 5ll,S5S34 in sill
yer, SlG7. .564, ,95S in paper currency and
S33 O8f. .OO2 i'm disbuTsing officers balances,
etc. The net available cash on hand,
above all liabilities, amounts to $225,J6i2J5.
RISK TO THE MONTGOMERY.
IT is not felt at the Navy Department
that the people of the Montgomery are
taking any particular risks In going 10
Habana at this time, for il Is said that
even should hostiites break out IL Is
rule of honorable warfare that they be
given safe convoy out of the waters OF
the hostile country.
OF course. General Lee and the mem
hers of the court Of inquiry at Habana
would be equally exempt from molesta-
tIon.
The personnel of the Montgomery is as
follows: Commander Converse, Leuten-
ant-Commander and Executive-Ohicer
Beldcastle, Lieutenant Hutchins, Leuten-
ant Fields, Ensigns Steiguer, Spear, ana
Osborne, Surgeon Curtis, Paymaster
Ramsey. Chief-Engineer Reeves, Assist
ant-Engineer Allen. The ship carries
crew of 22S men of all classes.
THE NEW ARTILLERYMEN.
Without delay, the officers of the adju-
tant-generars department to-day gave
the necessary orders for the recruiting
~ the new artillery regiments authorized
by Congress
The purpose is 70 enlist such men as
have had service in the artillery wherever
nossible. and no doubt is entertained THAI
plentV of material Of the right kind will
offer.
THE Officers of the new regiments are
now being selected. AS for the men, II Is
the plan % assign fifteen soldiers from
existing artillery regiments as the nucleus
of each new company. TO take hold Of and
break I'm the new men who are enlisted
and IL Is said that I'm a very short time
Uncle Sam will have two more good resi-
ments.
The headquarters Of one of the new
regiments will be established at Fort Slo
scum. on Long Island Sound, commanding
New York as there are suitable quarters
available there. The destination OF the
other regiment has not yet been decided
upon.
NOTHING FROM NAVAL COURT.
No report has come to the Navy De
partment since Saturday relative TO the
court of inquiry at Habana, and the
news "a confined to the newspaper reports,
which are carefully scanned by the offi-
cIals.
The Casrine, which was docked az
Fort of France, has sailed for Barba-
does. The torpedo-boat Winslow has ar
rived at Charleston en- route for Key
west. The Oregon. which has been
fitted by bilge keels at the Bremerton