The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-13
Sailors and ArtiIIerymen Enlisted,
ers and Rams Commissioned.
BIG ORDER FOR PRoJEcTILES
MILITARY DEPARTMENTS REORGAN-
lied BY SECRETARY ALGER.
Departments OF the Gulf and of the
Lakes to Take the Place of Depart
ments of Texas and of the Missouri.

| WASHINGTON. March 12.--While to-day
was not marked by particularly important
events, the history of the week, just closed
will form splendid record of what can be
accomplished by the Nation in short space
of time under the spur of necessity to pro-
vide for the national defense. Beginning
with the appropriation of s5OOOO0OO to be
expended by the President, without limlta-
tion, there followed rapidly the placing of
orders for enormous quantities of war sup~
plies, the institutions for the purchase OF
ships abroad, the enlistment of men for the
navy, the creation of two additional regi
ments of artillery, the commissioning OF
monitors, cruisers and rams the manning;
Of new posts along the seacoasts and
finally the Encouragement of the great nil
itary departments to meet modern condi-
tions, in military practice.
The sending of the Oregon, now at Mare
island away from San Francisco is an ex-
hibition of the foresightedness 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 connections exist, to receive any or
ders that the department may have to give.
work as far south as Valparaiso Chile,
where she will await orders. Valparaiso is
very much nearer to Cuba and to Admiral
Sicard's fleet than Mare island, while If it
| should be desired to send the ship to the
| Asiatic station, this can be done almost as
conveniently from Valparaiso from San
| Francisco. At Valparaiso therefore, the
Oregon will be where she can be most use-
fully manipulated in case of an emergency.
The President held a long conference at
| the White House about noon to-day with
| Secretaries Alger, Long and Gage 1t Is
presumed that their subject of discussion
was the finances of the situation, subject
| which could not be fully treated at the
Cabinet meeting yesterday, owing to the
short session. After the conference the state
ment was again made, with the emphasis
that has characterized every utterance on
the subject by the Presidents constitutional
advisers, that up to date the administration
has absolutely no knowledge of the cause
Of the disaster of the Maine, and that 1t
has no report of any kind from the court OF
inquiry or any one connected with 1t.
The board of Naval Bureau chiefs finds IL
impossible to pass judgment in Washington
on the fitness for naval service Of vessels
that may be offered for the auxiliary branch
of the navy at the various seaports, so they
have been aided in their work by the crea-
ton of a special board, which will UNDER
take to visit each of the ports where ships
may be offered and make careful personal
inspection of the various craft The. board
will consist of Captain Rodgers, Lieutenant
Commander Kelly, Passed Assistant Engi-
neer Dixon, Assistant Naval Constructor
Tawresy and Lieutenant Sargent. Lieut..
Kelly, having been specially charged with
the inspection of merchant vessels suitable
for naval service will be of great service
as a member of the board. The Nashville
arrived at Key West to-day, while the Mar
blehead arrived at Tampa The naval ofli-
cials will not state the purpose of the Mar
biehead's visit to Tampa.
The war talk has had the usual result OF
bringing before the War and Navy Depart
ments perfect flood of suggestions and in
ventions. Many OF these are most remark
able balloons, flying machines, kites and the
like, centipedelike steamers with saanifold
propellers and torpedoes of fearful and won
derful destruction. All of them are given
attention and referred to the proper au-
thorities for investigation, but not much is
expected from them.
The War Department on Monday will
open bids for one of the largest orders Of
shot and shell for heavy caliber guns ever
given, including armor-piercing projectiles
and deck-piercing torpedo shells. The num-
ber and character of these are as follows:
Nine hundred and twenty-three twelve-inch
deck-piercing shells weighing 1000 pounds
each. 12n twelve-inch deck-piercing shells
weighing 500 pounds each, 4S1 ten-inch ar
mor-piercing shells, 482 ten-inch armor"
piercing shot (capped), 149 eight-inch arnaor-
piercing shells, $50 eight-inch armor-piercing
shot (capped.) These projectiles are for the
heavy fortifcation guns now mounted along
the seacoast. The purchase il not to be
made under the $50.OOO,OOO defense appro-
priation bill, but is in anticipa-
ton of the fortihcations bill.
which grants $4,000 for a reserve
supply of projecties and powder. As the
making of the heavy projectiles wilT take
considerable time the contract will be let
ahead of the passage of the bill. assur-
ances having been given from men In Con-
gress that no question would be raised as
to the regularity of this proceeding. The
entire amount is designed to give all the
heavy guns now installed and those to be
put in place during the coming year a full
quota of proiectiles and powder. The
twelve-inch shot are among the largest
made. The cost of single round of this
class of projeetiles is $511. Aside from the
large order to be placed Monday the emer-
gency bill will permit additional orders to
meet the requirements OF such fortHcatiNn
guns as may be mounted for emergency.
The present order is for the actual nseds cf
the guns now mounted, without references
to any existing emergency although it has
been made all the more imperative by tho
Spanish crisis.
The Spanish minister, Senor Polo. re~
ceived a dispatch to-day from Captain