The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-13

Washington. March 12-While today
was not markedly particular in impor-
tant events, the history of the week
of what can be accomplished by the
nation in a short space of time under
the necessity to provide for the national
defense. Beginning with the appropria-
ton of $50 000. 900 to be expended by
the president without limitation, there
followed rapidly the placing of orders
for enormous quantities of war sup
plies, the institution of negotiations for
the purchase of ships abroad, the en-
listment of men for the navy, the Gre
alton of two additional regiments of
artillery, the commissioning of mont
tors. cruisers and rams, the manning
of new posts along the seacoasts and
finally the Encouragement of the great
military departments to meet modern
conditions in military practice.
CRUISE OF THE OREGON.
The sending of the Oregon, now at
Mare Island, away from San Fran
cisco, is an exhibition of the far-sight-
ednesS with which the secretary of the
navy is observing the situation of to-
day. The vessels orders are to cruise
down the Pacific coast, touching in
from time TO time at various ports
where cable connection exists to re-
ceive any orders that the department
have to give. In this way it is eX-
pected she will work as far south as
Valparaiso, Chill, where she viii await
orders. Valparaiso is very much nearer
Cuba and to Admiral Sicard's fleet than
Mare Island, while u it should be de-
sired to send the ship to the Asiatic
station, this can be done almost as
San Francisco. At Valparaiso the Ore
gon will be where she can be most use
fully manipulated in case of an emer-
gency.
The president held a long conference
at the White House about noon today
with Secretaries Alger. Long and Gage.
1t is presumed that their subject of
discussion was the finances of the sit
} uauon, subject which could not be
fully treated at the cabinet meeting
yesterday. owing TO the short session.
After the conference the statement was
again made, with the emphasis that has
characterized every utterance on the
subject by the presidents constitutional
advisers. that up to date the admins
tratiOn has absolutely no knowledge of
the cause of the disaster of the Maine,
and that it has no report of any kind
from the court of inquiry, or any one
connected with it.
ACTIVITY AT NAVY YARD.
There is general activity at the
Washington navy yard, three shifts of
men working "A hours continuously.
The completion of the big guns there is
being pushed ahead with all possible
haste The rush has led to a large de-
mand for machinsts of all kinds. which
up to now has not been met. An enlist
nent office for bIuejackets was opened
at the yard today. Thirty marines have
been detailed from the yard to go with
the Columbia or the Minneapolis. They
are held in readiness to start at mo-
meats notice.
Some of the four-inch guns have been
completed this week and were shipped
to Indian Head to be tested. Not a day
passes but what guns of some calibre
are finished and taken down by the tug
Triton to the proving grounds to be
tested
Two or three of the monster 13-inch
guns, with the exception of few
finishing touches to be put to the
breech mechanism, are ready to be
tested.
SIGNIFICANT MOVE
Civil Engineer A. J. Menocal has been
detached from the League Island navy
yards and ordered to Key West. This
is regarded as significant and as indi-
eating a purpose on the part Of the
navy department to make immediate
and considerable improvements at the
naval station in Key West.
Brigadier General John Wilson,
chief of engineers of the war depart
ment, returned today. after a trip of
over 1900 miles, which he accomplished
inside of one week Naturally. his visit
to southern coast points, in which ex-
tensive forufication work is in progress,
has excited much comment.