Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-08

ing modern arms for the army even
on a war footing. as was anticipated
This is because certain private gun
makers have just brought out type
of repeating rifle very similar IN gen.
eral feature to the army rife, using
the same cartridge of SO gauge. ana
with about as great rapidity OF hfe-
The plants of these companies are SO
extensive that they could turn the arms
out very rapidly so that the Spring
fields in the hands of the militia could
be replaced in short order.
In connection with the subject or
purchasing naval ammunition it is SAID
that no contracts have been closed, but
the department has informed itself
| fully as to how speedily it could secure
every kind of ammunition and supplies
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
This inquiry has shown, in a general
way. that the facilities for this coun-
try are ample to meet any demand for
| powder, projectiles, cartridge cases,
| primers, fuses, etc. These supplies are
not kept in stock, however, and in case
of emergency they would have to be
! made on orders. It is said that the
! capacity of one firm for turning out
| the brown prismatic powder required
| by the navy is five millions pounds
| month, which would more than meet
| the demands of a conflict.
| While no exact estimate has been
! made of the share of the $4,000, GOO
| appropriation to be allotted to ammu-
milton, it is roughly estimated that at
| least $40 1000, 900 would be so assigned
| owing to the enormous cost Of refilling
| the ammunition chests of the warships
now in service. At present there is
| not enough ammunition on hand for
| one refilling beyond that now on board.
| A single refilling costs $4,000, Geo. Each
| first-class battleship carries 400 tons
| Of ammunition. With the amounts on
| hand, and the refills which are being
! calculated on, the navy would have
| an ample supply of ammunition, even
| if the ships were called into frequent
| action. Naval officers explain that d
refill will last through several engage
! ments owing to the limit of endurance
! of men while in action. If the guns
! could be worked constantly, refill
will be exhausted in one heavy en-
| gagement, but the guns, as we'll as the
| men, have their limit of endurance.
I These considerations have all been
! taken into account in the rough gen
1 era estimates that have been made IS
| to the reflls requisite for q suitable
equipment of the American fleet
The appropriation of $50 100000 For
the national defense for which pro-
| vision was made in the bill introduced
| to-day by Mr.. Cannon. will not involve
THE ISSUE OF BONDS.
| This announcement was made by the
| treasury officials. who stated that the
| 7-cI 10
| any demands that viii likely be enade
| upon it. On February the cash in
| the treasury amounted to 1856, 571 766.
! of which s204, 063 971 was gold, SILL
| S5S.834 silver, s107, 564,95S in paper
currency and s33, 0s4, COZ in disbursing
offices balances, etc.
The net available cash on hanes
| above all liabilities amounts to 500
/ 564 ,2G3
1T is not felt at the navy department
! that the people of the Montgomery are
| taking any particular risks in going
+. to Havana at this time. for it is said
! that even should hostilities break out,
| it is rule Of honorable warfare that
| they be given safe convoy out Of the
waters of the hostile country. OF
course, Gen. Lee and the members of
the court of inquiry at Havana would
| be equally exempt from molestation.
| The personnel Of the Montgomery
| is: Commander Converse, Lieut. Com
mander and Executive officer Beld
| Navigator Lieut. Hutchins. Watch Of
| ficers Lieut.. Field and Ensins Steig-
| uer Spear and Osborne: Surgeon, DR..
| Curtis, Paymaster Ramsey, Chief En-
| gineer Reeves, Assistant Engineer Al
| len. The ship carries a crew of 22S
men of all classes. Without delay the
officers of the Adjutant General de-
| partment to-day gave the necessary
| orders for the recruiting Of the new
| artillery regiments authorized by Con-
| gress. The purpose is to enlist such
men as have had service in the artil-
! lery wherever possible and 20 doubt
is entertained that plenty of material
| OF the right kind viii offer The names
Of the officers of the new regiments
are now being selected. AS for the
men, it is the plan to assign fifteen
| soldiers from existing artillery regi-
ments as the nucleus
OF EACH NEW COMPANY
| to take hold Of and break in the new
| men who are enlisted. and it is expec-
| ted that in very short time Uncle
| Sam will have two good regiments.
! The headquarters OF one OF these reg
| iments will be established at Fort
! Slocum, in Long Island Sound com
handing New York. as there are suit
| able quarters available there. The
destination of tie other regiment has
| not been decided upon.
| No report has come to the navy de-
| partment since Saturday relative to
! the work of the court of inquiry at
! IJo,r +ln - g.
| the reports of the newspapers, which
! are carefully scanned by the officers.
The Castine, which was locked at
I Port Of France, has sailed for Barba-
does. The torpedo boat Winslow has
! arrived at Charleston en- route to Kew
| West. The Oregon which has been
fitted with bilge keel, at the Bremerton
| dock on Puget Sound, has sailed to
| San Francisco.
CRAMP DENIES 1T.