The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-03-10

the expenditure of a portion of the ex-
pected appropriation of $50,000,000 in the
purchase of ordnance and ammunition
General Miles said to your correspond
ent:
'sWe do not know how much of the
new appropriation the president will de-
eide to allot to the war department 1t
is not likely that any definite appor-
tionment will be made to each depart
ment. but expenditures of different
amounts will be authorized according
10 the necessities of the situation.
"The foreign situation is confessedly
serious. but whatever may be the out
come we shall improve our opportuni-
ties to be prepared to meet any emer-
gency. The action of congress is en-
couraging as showing the substantial
support on which the administration
can count in the hour of necessity.
The ordnance department is consider
ing plans for the enlargement of the
Springfield arsenal, where all the krag-
iorgensen improved rifles used by the
army are manufactured, as well as a
large quantity of springfield rifles.
with which most of the state national
guards are now armed Should the
present serious condition of affairs con-
tinue the doubling of the capacity OF
the arsenal will be ordered.
Similar steps will also be taken in
case of emergency with regard to Rock
Island arsenal, which manufactures
gun carriages, cavalry and artillery
harness. ETC., and the Watertown and
Watervliet arsenals.
Major Charles Shales Of the ordnance
department met several representatives
of ordnance manufacturing and supply
firms and received from them assur
ances that they have ample facilities at
their command to furnish the depart
ment at short notice with large sup
plies of ammunition and guns of vari-
Gus calibers.
1t is expected that a large order will
be placed Immediately for rapid fire
guns of 5-inch and 6-inch and smaller
caliber. The American Ordnance corn
pany has on hand in this country, it is
understood a considerable supply Of
these guns, and through their agents
in France and England they are able
to put at the disposal of the govern
ment Immediately not less than $50
rapid fire guns, and this number could
be greatly increased very soon. Other
ordnance companies are able to either
furnish Immediately or to manufacture
rapid fire guns, and, if necessary, sup
plies could be drawn from the Creusots
of France, Krupps of Germany and
Elswicks of England
Steps will soon be taken by the en-
gineer department looking to the forti-
flying of all the more important harbors
with torpedoes. The department can
place these Immediately, and more can
be procured through the agents of ord
nance supply companies in this country
or Europe. If necessary, large quanti-
ties of improvised torpedoes can be
manufactured by the engineer officers
by the employment of casks and bar
rels in which may be placed about $50
pounds of powder. and which may be
equipped with double test tubes, one
filled with lsulphuric acid and the other
with potassium chlorate and other COM
binations of chemicals which will pro-
duce an explosion upon the breaking of
the test tubes by passing keel.
Work of the engineer department at
all Notifications is being hastened, and
the guns and carriages under copstruc-
tion are being hurried to completion as
rapidly as possible A duplication OF
the large shell and powder contracts of
last week has been Professionally made,
and this may be still further enlarged.
President Mckinley signed the Haw-
ley bill, providing for two additional
regiments of artillery to man the coast
defenses, this afternoon.