Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-03-19

BETHLEHEM, Pa. March lS-The iron
works here and the Remington arms works
at lion. N. v. were worked all Of sun lay
on war department orders. The Bethlehem
plant has now 5000 men employed on coast
defense rifles. BY the end OF the present
week the force will be increased to 5000. In
four weeks time the plant will be increased
to II size suff icient to turn out 20 80 inch guns
per day. The Remington works are now rum
ming at full power. Every effort is being
made to increase the capabilities OF the es-
Enlistment. but ut present the company
cannot execute single order in addition to
those in hand. Never in its history have the
Remington works been 20 busy as now. The
war department has instructed the Reming-
ton Officials to place no limit on new material
delivery. Cartridges and small arms are the
main output at present OF this plant.
LONDON, Eng, March lS-The United
Stnt,s government has Just completed the
purchase of two gunboats built for the
BRAZILIAN government. They are the latest
and best products of the famous Armstrong
yards. One ship Is complete in every re-
spect, has her coal supply and ammunition
on board, and steam can be- raised ut any
time. There will be no trouble in bringing
this ship across, as an adequate force from
the local yards can DO secured for the ser
vice. The coal and ammunition ON board
passed with the sale to the United States.
The other ship has been launched, but it will
take some time to make 1t ready for
sea. There will be no difficulty in
bringing her over Immediately, II it Is de-
sired to make the move without delay. AS
can be tOwed and her own sail power utilized
for the trip. Thu, vessels will be extremely
useful additions to the United States navy
in either war or p' ace. They are steel
sheahed and coppered, with twin screws.
AMI will be the first OF the cruisers in the
United States navy to embOdy that most
useful feature OF naval construction. sheath
ing, for which Chief Constructor HichbOrn
has worked earnestly for many years past.
The Amazonas the flushed boat. is rated Mt
5000 tons displacement, with an indicated
horse power. under natural draught, OF
1900. which il calculated to develop 20
knots speed. Thus, while the ship Is about
the size OF the Charleston. she is much
faster. Her armament is also much more
the main battery is made up OF six
6-inch guns, hut these guns, as we'll
rs the four 4.7-inch guns, are of what is
known Rs 5O-calibers' length, giving them
an unusual range and power. In addition
to this. they have 10 6-pOunder quick-tiring
guns. four l-ponnders. four Maxim machine
guns and two boats or field guns. The
pttlO tuUoS uEc LuIoc lie
coal capacity IL $50 tons, giving the vessel
IN effective steaning radius OF 5000 knots
most valuable feature, rs 1t would enable
the ship to cross and recross the Atlantic
without coal. Such u vessel used rs u com
merce destroyer would be vastly more effcc-
tive than what appear to be more powerful
craft, because OF its ability to get along
on long cruises without touching II neutral
ports to coal, and thus exposing themselves
to capture. The cruisers carry no armor in
the ordinary sense but their machinery is
protected from The fire OF guns by an arched
steel deck just below the waterline. varying
in thick ness from IL to 3.5 inches. The bat
terry has an unusual train. being arranged
to fire three ahead and three astern OF the
not secured the battleship O'Higgins. and
that Chill will not sell her TO Spain.
DRY TORTUGAS. March 1s--Morc than
half a million dollars |, to he spent by the
navy in making this more valuable strategic
point than 1t IL in its present barren condi-
ton. Plans which are being prepared require
the construction In 80 days Of two roalho,lSes
near Fort Jefferson, which will accommodate
at least 70. 900 tons OF coal. Two coal wharves
will lie built and an electric light plant
erected which will furnish motive power for
search lights and for operating cranes and
make other improvements which will trans
form the barren key into magnificent coal
ing station. 1t il also proposedb, the OFF,
cials to dredge 3OO, 900 cubi, yards of coral
from the channel which flows around Fort
Jefferson. and the removal OF this amount
OF material will make the water of uniform
depth OF so feet. This will enable battle
ships to steam to the wharves and coal with
out any difficulty.
WASHINGTON. d. G.. March lS-The
Spanish government has made two impor-
tant demands upon the United States. The
first Is that the United States fleet ut Key West
and TOrtugas be withdrawn, and the second Is
that an explanation be- given fifth. purchase
OF two warships abroad. This j. the summary
of the two hours interview between the new
Spanish minister, Senior Polo y Bernabe. and
Assistant Secretary Day. The first repre-
sentations of Minis. er Bernabe were entirely
friendly, being to tho effect that Spain
was willing to make all amends for any
unto rtunate happening that may have oc-
Cured in connection with the blowing up Of
the Maine. thus Indicating that u report of
an outside explosion was anticipated, but
that Spain would not make 1t Il cause OF
trouble. Having made this statement how
ever, the minister laid before Mr.. Day an
other proposition which was extremely start
ling In its nature He said that the
elections were soon to be- held In Cuba,
and that it would bc impossible to secure
II free expression Of opinion II the United
States continued to demonstrate its friendli-
ness to the insurgents. 1t was. therefore,
deemed wise by the Spanish government to
suggest to the United States that the fleet at
Key West, which was, now a menace to
Spain should be disbanded and sent to other
parts, and that the war preparatiOns now In
progress should cease. The minister laid
great stress upon the profession OF friendli-
ness which the president uttered in the re-
cent speenh ut the White House when he
received the minister. and said that
the way to demonstrate the sincerity
OF these friendly wishes was to act IN II
friendly way. He did not consider that the
activity now apparent In the United States
was consonant with the presidents utter
ances. He went further than this and said
that the purchase OF the warshps abroad
was capable OF only one Interpretation and
that was an attack was contemplated upon
Spain. He thought that II Spain would
agree to settle the destruction Of the Maine
on an amicable basis. Spain ought to have am
pie opportunity to prove that the plan OF au-
tonomy was approved by the Cubans. This
would be impossible, he aided, If the United
States continued to give comfort and sup
port to the insurgents, even In IN Indirect
way. It Is not considered possible that the
demand will be- complied with, and 1t may
DE Oenl6O. ue spanish SitudtIoh HAS, NOW :
ever, taken new turn. and the demand Is
the most important event which has yet hap
pensc In all the diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 18-The members
OF the court of inquiry are here. Captain
Sampson the president. held consultation
with Admiral Sicard, and then the four men,
upon whose verdict, perhaps. depends peace
or war, began to formulate their report on
the Maine disaster. The president expects
this report will be ready by Satur-
day. SPANS new requests receive a
prompt refusal, and 1t il now known
that the dons sent copies Of the demands to
all the European capitals in the attempt to
place the odium OF the failure OF autonomy
upon the shoulders OF the United States.
1t is now known almost certainly mt
Madrid that there will be clash
betwee tho Spanish commissions re-
port on the Maine disaster and that
of the American board Of inquiry: Senior
Ceballos may be discredited. Spain has be-
gun her preparations for coast defence. is
planting submarine mines and assigning