New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-26
AMERICAN PORTS SECURE
RESULTS OF RECENT MILITARY AND
NAVAL ACTIVITY.
BOTH BRANCHES OF THE SERVICE READY FOR
EITHER DEFENSIVE OR OFFENSIVE OPERA
TIoNs-sPArN PREVENTED FROM BUY
ING wARsHIPs OR MUNITIONS.


TIoNs-sPA1N PREVENTED FROM BUY
ING wARsHIPs OR MUNITIONS.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrDUSk,
! Washington March 25.-The earnestness with
which the Army and Navy have been vying
with each other in putting their actual ana
1 available forces in condition for war has now
passed the limit Of mere regard for defence and
Is rapidly proceeding on the lines OF possible
offensive operations. Against any conceivable
assault that may grow out OF the present rela-
tions Of the United States with otter nations the
military branches OF the Government are conf
dent that practical security is already provided.
especially should desperate raid be contem-
plated by a single Southern European State un-
aided by one OF the great naval Powers. Both
services are satisfied that no Spanish feet. with
whatever reckless sacrifice. could force its way
! into single harbor where material punishment
could be inflicted on an American community;
certainly not into any Of the principal ports
the defence OF which has ever had the considera-
ton of this Government.
With the permanent defences already estab
lished. together with the expedlents for which
provision has now been perfected. attempt
TO menace the Atlantic Gulf Coast could. It
Is believed. result otherwise than in swift and
complete disaster TO attacking force. espe-
cially one dependent on base OF supplies and
OF reinforcements located three
thousand miles distant Assurance IL supreme
that the American Navy. as 1t exists and is dis
posed to-day could prevent the utilization OF
any nearer base OF operations from the outset.
While at the rate the auxiliary naval strength
has been rapidly improvised in the last ten
days. within another fortnight inimical bases
on this side Of the Atlantic would have their
essential feature OF free access irretrevably de-
stroyed.
EUROPE SWEPT BARE OF MUNITIONS.
/ one OF the chief results Of the energy Of the
Army and Navy is more apparent abroad than
at home 1t IS known there that the entire
stock OF salabe munitions Of war in Europe
has been exhausted and that the United States
alone has succeeded In securing everything
that has been sold notwithstanding the efforts
Of others TO circumvent the negotiations OF
American agents. The Congressional appropria-
tion OF $50 100000 swept the European market
OF every desirable cruiser and rapid-fre gun.
Every article which would become contraband
is protected by an American option. and Spain
has been forced entirely on peninsular resources
to prepare for conflict or TO carry on war IL
II is begun.
BY this successful stroke on the part Of this
country. the whole question Of the probable out
come Of hostties is resolved into a simple COM
parison OF the size. wealth. population, produc-
ing powers and intelligence OF the two countries.
SATISFACTION SUCCEEDS ANXIETY
Under these circumstances the feeling Of sat
isfaction apparent in the War and Navy de-
partments has It's justification. There was some
relief from the intense anxiety Of the last few
days, and the novelty Of the extraordinary press
ure noticeably wearing OFF. but the compre-
hensiye machinery that had been gathered and
set in motion continued it's ceaseless production
OF war material, both temporary and permanent
In the Army an additional allotment Of S3S1-
445 was no sooner signed by the President than
the ordnance officials awarded contracts for
number OF seacoast rapid-fre guns and car
riages FOR which bids had been required
satisfactory knowledge was possessed that the
prices asked were reasonable and that the de-
lveres would be prompt
General Greedy also secured an allotment OF
S9J 900 10 cover arrangements he had already
made for installations OF seacoast artillery fire.
control electrical devices for rapid-hre guns,
range finder connections and complete telephone
and telegraph systems at New-York and other
important harbor entrances
GUNS ORDERED SENT TO THE COAST.
All the reserve field and siege guns at United
States arsenals have been ordered shipped TO
coast ports for temporary use auxiliary
weapons where the disappearing gun emplace-
nerts are not completed. This supplements yes
terdays order 10 ship every similar gun from in
terror posts to the coast
As demonstrating the ceerity with which the
Army organization throughout the country is
now prepared TO respond TO any call It is
nounced that all the guns ordered yesterday
are to-day in transit 1t Is also declared
that the orders for mobzing the infantry
and cavalry In the departments Of the East
and the Gulf are still withheld because not more
than three days at the utmost would be
quired to set down every regular soldier east
OF Denver at Atlanta or Washington. While
the men remain at their regular posts they are
comfortably housed. and can devote more time
TO drill and preparation than in the temporary
quarters they would be compelled 10 occupy 10
no particular present advantage II they came
East.
The Army already possesses tents OF sufficient
number and size for all possible OF the
regular troops but the factories at
work making ten thousand OF various dmen-
sions. and arrangements have been made by
which thirty thousand be secured in the
next three weeks These would shelter
seventy-fve thousand men. General Miles has
undertaken to learn precisely how many mil
itIamen could be mobzed in five days at
Washington as a distributing centre.
SHIPS TO PUT on THEIR WAR PAINT
The most significant naval movement in
ticipation Of actual hostilities the decision
reached TO paint the ships in their war colors.
black for battle-ships cruisers and gunboats.
and dull green for the torpedo-boats. The trans
formation 10 be speedily effected by this order
will be marked. completely destroying their pict-
uresque appearance. TO give way 10 the grim
reality OF the purposes for which they were
constructed Tons Of the war pigment will be
promptly delivered at Key West, and rapidly
a. possible the white paint will be obliterated