Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-26
FROM WASHING ION.
+ Cora .,ondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.]
WASHINGTON, March 26.


night and day to rush the work for
rapid delivery. The Bethlehem, Pa,
Iron Company this afternoon received
big order for disappearing gun car
riages to be finished as rapidly as pos
sible.
1t has been decided to assemble all
line old smooth-bore guns now at Fort
Griswold and other forts in Connect
cut, and mount them at the harbors OF
Bridgeport and New Haven. In each
of these cities are large factories for the
manufacture of arms and ammunition.
In order to expedite the enlistment
OF men for the naval service, which has
not been quite so successful owing to
severe requirements, the Navy Depart
ment to-day issued an order waving
the requirements as to length in the
case of all laudsmen and mess attend
ants. This applies to all recruiting sta
lions including that at the Washington
navy yard.
1t is stated to day that the govern
ment has decided to take, if it has not
already taken, definite action in the
Cuban affair by Informing Spain that,
while disavowing any interest other
than that dictated by sense OF honor
and Justice to stricken and starving
people, it must insist that hostilities be
brought to speedy termination. So
for as known no specific date is med.
toned.
No protest or representations of any
kind respecting the advance of the
Spanish torpedo hotilla have been made
up to the present time, 80 far as can be
learned in the best posted quarters.
The movements of this hotilla continue
to be watched with the keenest interest
by naval officials, and close estimates
are being made as to their location to-
day and the time intervening before
their arrival at Porto Rico. The Navy
Department calculates that the run
from the Canaries to San Juan, Porto
Rico, which is expected to be the first
stopping point, is $500 miles. 1t is be-
lieyed they have already covered about
400 miles of the distance. They are
moving slowly, being retarded by a coal
laden vessel which accompanies them,
and the balance of the trip will take
from II to II days.
An allotment to the signal office, of
which Gen. Greeley is the head, OF
S94 500, was made to-day, with which
to install an electrical system of sea
coast artillery fire control by which pro-
iectiles can be fred from guns with rea-
sonably we'll defined accuracy. The
money will be used also in connecting
the various forts and ports at sea coast
Notifications by telephone and tele-
graph. The War Department has also
cabied to London an additional sum in
part payment for the rapid fire guns re-
Gently purchased.
A Virginia Congressman talking to-
day about the Cuban imbroglio said
he really believed the President and
some of his conservative advisers were
doing all they could to avert war it
they deemed it possible to withstand the
apparent popular demand for it that
has been engendered and promoted by
the jingoes, filibusters. yellow journals,
and army and navy contractors. The
democrats in Congress, he said, as a
rule, were at heart opposed to war, but
would do nothing to prevent it, and
many republican members keep dis
cretely silent on the subject.
Among the Virginians here to-day
are Messrs. Jeffries and Pitcher, Of Fau-
quier; Johnston and Coombs, of Cul
psper, and O'Bannon, of Rappsban-
mock, who came to confer about the
proposed construction of an electric
railroad from Fredericksburg to Ram
ington, and possibly further.
1t is understood here that detectives
have pretty we'll determined the identi-
ty of the men who burglarized stores in
Warrenton last winter, and that the
law will soon have them in its clutches.
An order was issued from the Navy
Department yesterday that all the yes
sells in the navy, except the torpedo
boats, be painted black at once, and that
torpedo boats be painted dark green,
bat Mr.. Roosevelt opposed it, and so TO-
lay it was revoked.
Among the visitors at the Capitol to-
day was Colonel Pat McCaull, republi-
can candidate for Governor OF Virginia
at last falls election. The Colonel says
nothing IN the political line is going on
in his State now, that all the eggs in
the patronage basket have been distri-
uted, and that those who didn't get any
are now striving for things not politi
cal. 1t was supposed that in conse-
quence Of the republican vote the
Colonel received last November he
would be remembered by the admins
tration, but the executive committees
of his party in his State were against
him, and it was useless to strive for
any thing with their opposition.
1t is reported at the Capitol to-day
that the report of the Maine commits
sion will be sent by the President to
Congress on Monday, but whether or
not it will be accompanied with rec
ommendation is not stated. 1t is prac-
tically settled that when the report
reaches the Senate it will be referred
to the committee on foreign relations.
The hope is expressed by all the more
conservative Senators that it will be al
lowed to go to committee without any
debate, but they are not confident of
accomplishing this result.
Secretary Long to-day sent com.
munication to Congress asking for de.
fciency appropriation Of IS, 900 for steam
machinery 10 the Navy Department.
Gen. Daniel Sickles, who was q. S.
Minister to Madrid during the critical
period of the Virginius affair, was at
the War Department to-day. He said