The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-03-24

washington, March 20.-An air OF
,snense was noticeable in the navy
,.nartment, due to the approach Of
.hs time for the delivery Of the report
. . the court of inquiry. 1t is not known
inst when the document will come to
washington, and, of course, in view Of
,ho reports OF the determination Of
,utsjde parties 10 obtain possession OF
| \ before the department receives the
,sDort, the officials, II they know. will
oot say how the papers are 10 be
brought TO Washington. All that il
Known definitely Is that the president
has suggested that the report be made
IS soon az possible. and in c0nse-
ouence 1t is expected to reach this city
in the course of two or three DAYS.
The cabinet talked over the matter
and the time stated was the general
onInjon OF the members when they
had heard all that Secretary Long had
10 report on the subject. There Is an
Impression that Lieut.. Mark will
bring the document. though it is with.
10 Admiral SiCard's power to choose
any Office.
A cabinet officer expressed the belief
that the report will require careful
consideration on the part of the pres
dent and his cabinet before being
given to the public. which would seem
10 postpone publication to some time
about the middle Of the week, although
nothing is certain on that point.
Beyond the Amaz0nas, her sister
ship Abreuall and the MayfiOwer, no
purchases Of ships have been made by
the navy department. A number Of
feet steam yachts owned in the Unit
ed States are being offered TO the de-
partment, and it is probable that some
Of these
VIII He Purchased
The navy department is convinced that
the Spanish government has not ac.
CURED possession of the Varese, the
Italian armOred cruiser. 1t would not.
however. be Il matter of deep concern
il the report were true. The depart
ment itself had the vessel in mind as
a possible acquisition, but abandoned
The idea upon learning that she could
not be made ready for service in less
than three or four months. which praC-
tealy put her out of consideration aS
an emergency purchase. Some idea Of
The activity prevailing in naval circles
sgiyen by the statement that the pay
roll Of the construction department.
Only one of several departments, in
the Mare Island navy yard for March
was $4,000. This great expenditure
per month, 1t is said, was not equalled
turing the late war. Recruiting is GO
hg on aDaCe at all stations for the
army and navy. The Michigan. at
Erie, Pa, has enlisted fifty-fve men
70 far, and good reports come from all
quarters.
The Marblehead Is at Tampa. The
lttle Bancroft. on her way across the
'cean, reported by cable on her arrival
II Horta, Fayal. She seems to be
making about as good time as her
set arrived at Key West, as did the
montgomery, while the Detroit sailed
rom that port for Tortugas. The
lachias has arrived at Boston, where
ne will have slight repairs made. The
runance bureau Of the war depart
nent has awarded contracts for
arge number of steel armOr piercing
nd deck-piercing projectiles for the
cast fertilization guns. There were
everal bidders, but instead of giving
ne contract to one concern the bureau
ivided the contract so that supplies
III be coming from several quarters
the same time.