The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-03-17
SECRETARY OF WAR
Authorizes Capt Fiasier, the Chief Of ORD.
nance, to Procure Rapid Fire Guns fos
Coast Defense.

/
nance, to Procure Rapid Fire Guns 70
Coast Defense.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-Secretar,
Alger has authorized Gen. Flagler, ths
chief of ordnance, 70 make arrange
ments at once for procuring n larg.
number of rapid fire guns for seacoast
defenses. This action is taken with
out waiting for the allotment among
the various bureaus of the war and
navy departments of the $50. OOO. OOC
voted for the national defense. The
secretary felt that there was nc
reason for further delaying the nee.
essary steps for the procurement
Of these guns as it was felt
there would be no trouble in arriving
at an equitable adjustment Of the mon
ey available. Ever since the battle
ship Maine was wrecked in Havana
harbor the ordnance department has
been Fastening the delivery of guns
already finished and making arrange
ments for the supply of such n mum Der
OF additional ones as the officials felt
warranted in ordering without the ad-
ditional funds which have since been
put at their disposal The ordnance
bureau will take all these rapid fire
guns that can he procured within rea-
sonable time and they will be shipped
to the seacoast fortificatiOns as rap-
idly as possible. They constitute
what is known as the auxiliary defense
for the fortifcations and are a ma
terial assistance to the big guns, which
necessarily are slower OF movement
and firing. They also would be of in.
valuable assistance in keeping the en-
emys ships from the vicinity of sub
marine mines and other obscured
works of defense by maintaining a
constant fire over such places. Con-
tracts for the delivery of carriages for
these rapid fire guns have also been
authorized and will be shipped to the
fortlfications as soon as completed.
The carriages can be made and
delivered much quicker than the
guns, so that expedition in the manu-
facture of the latter is what the
of the ordnance bureau are
urging Quite a number of establish
ments throughout the United States
have responded to the departments
inquiries as TO whether they can assist
in making these guns. They include
the Army gun factory, the Bethlehem
iron works, the briggs Ordnance Co.
and the American Ordnance Co. The
guns are mounted without much trou-
bic so that haste in their manufacture
IS the essential in the present crisis.
1t is now admitted by the
ordnance officials that directions |
nave been given to the various |
irsenalS and armories controlled by |
he government to increase the work |
ng force to the fullest practical ex-
ient with view to hurrying the COM
'letion of existing projects. Likewise
I'll firms having contracts TO supply |
he government with ordnance have |
,een requested to work their men night |
md day in order to finish the work in |
land and to arrange their business
With view to increased orders.
Us to small arms extra ammuni-
ion orders have been already
placed with the Union Metallic Cart
idge Co. of Bridgeport, CT, and the
Winchester Arms Co. of New York.
he negotiations for the supply of
arge numbers of small arms, army
quipments and accoutrements are now
4 progress. The bureau officials have
OF yet indicated the exact number
'hich will be ordered but that the ag-
regate will be large is shown by the
lct that manufacturers have been
iven the cue to make all they can.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-The house
avail committee Friday placed in the
avy bill provision for an increase in
lie number of naval marines of 473. This
lcrease had been especially asked for
Y the secretary OF the navy and was
OF included in the regular recon-
endations. This brings the total
nmbcr of marines up to 3,073.
Negotiations are proceeding for the
lrchasng of the brazilian cruiser
mazonas and her sister ship the Bar
no, by the United States, but so far
the navy department is advised,
ave not yet been closed.