Kansas City journal., 1898-03-09
NAVY DEPARTMENT ACTIVE.
Secretary Long Putting the Navy ut
Its Highest State of Ef-
HCieucy.

Washington. March S.-There was very
strong suggestion Of the state of affairs
that might exist in time of actual war in
the busy scenes presented at the navy and
war departments to-day. There was an
almost unbroken succession of conferences
between officers and officials Of various de-
grees and throughout both these branches
of the war establishment the greatest activ-
,ity was exhibited.
Secretary Long was particularly busy.
Before 10 o'clock he had been obliged to
retire to his private office and deny him.
self to callers in order to hold a confer
ence. Senator Lodge was present, as well
as Chairman Hale, of the senate naval
committee Chairman Boutelle, of the house
committee, Captain Crowinshield, chief
Of the navigation bureau. Captain Brad
ford, chief of the equipment bureau. Cap
tain Bronson and Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt. Chief Constructor Hichborn
and Admiral Matthews, chief of the bureau
of yards and docks, were also called to
the conference by the secretary TO deal
with special phases Of the question under
consideration. The conference had to do
with the preparations for putting the navy
at the highest state of efficiency, and the
fact that Secretary Long is consulting at
every step with the representatives of the
legislative branch of the government shows
the strict spirit of the constitution.
Secretary Long found time during the
progress of the conference to talk mo-
ment with Mr.. Lane, who has submitted
to the department proposals for the sale of
certain warships now building in Europe at
private shipyards. What passed between
them is not known, but Mr.. Lane hastened
Immediately to the cable office. at the con-
clusion of the conversation, to communicate
li,., tlrysru -, to rrtn mir lie ", Etrrn
The secretary made it plain to the legis-
lators at the conference that the depart
| ment is very much better prepared than
! has been supposed in the matter of accur-
ate Information of the shipbuilding in prog
ress in European ship yards. But the point
| up on which the department now seeks to
| inform itself goes beyond this. and looks
| to securing information as to which Of
these ships can be purchased Immediately.
1t was shown that very many more difficult
| ties exist than the public Is aware Of in
the requirement of such property as war
| ships. Most of these craft under construc-
! ton are being built under special orders
| for various governments. and only few,
| and those perhaps not of the most desira-
| BILE type, are in the builders hands, in such
shape that they can at once be disposed of.
| In the case CT some of the European pow
ers under a strong monarchical form of gov
ernment 1t is possible for permission to
| be given at once for the sale of a ship to
another nation, but in the case Of more
, complex forms of government. such as
those as exist in the South American re-
lpublics, which have ordered ships now un-
der construction in Europe, 1t is feared that
grave constitutional and legal objections
exist to the transfer Of the rights Of these
countries in their ships to the United
States, necessitating recourse to the legis-